Caps Routed!

Capitals 1, Flyers 8

And I was so hoping for a shootout in this game. Three words describes this game: 8 unanswered goals. The Caps did a good job in this game working hard, until Chris Clark scored for the Capitals.

Overall Grade: D-

Caps need to put in the effort, and in many cases, this is just talent overcoming growth. The Caps were hurting too with three top players out of the line up with injuries. Matt Bradley, Dainius Zubrus, and Petr Sykora all sat this one out. Their contributions on special teams were sorely missed.

This season is turning out to match my prediction for this team a month ago. The Capitals will have plenty of blow-outs losses and close wins. So far, so good. Caps need to again learn from their mistakes and apply it to the next game which is tonight against the Thrashers.

TV note - Caps game will be on News Channel 8 tonight, as the Wizards vs. Knicks will be on Comcast Sports net. Sunday, WB50 will carry the game at 5 pm.

If you really want to read the gory details, go ahead and read the Wash Post. I am going to practice my amnesia and look forward to the game tonight at the MCI Center.

Flyers Future Faces Capitals

Preview Capitals vs. Flyers

The future looks bright for the Capitals, but they won't be the only youth on the ice at the Wachovia Center tonight. Ken Hitchcock will be starting three rookies in the center position against Washington tonight. Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, and R.J. Umberger will be the rookie players in very important positions.

This won't be the all-star lineup Flyers that we have seen in Philadelphia's previous games. Keith Primeau will be out of the lineup, nursing a concussion.

This is a great opportunity for the Caps to steal one away from the Flyers, if they continue their hard work and disciplined system. Hitchcock's team will be ready for the Caps, and it should be pretty entertaining.

Capitals recall Nolan Yonkman and Tomas Fleischmann from Hershey. Fleischmann is 10th in the AHL in scoring with at least a point in each of last nine games. Yonkman is returning after a short stint for conditioning.

By the Numbers:

• 0-3: Capitals' record when they are the first team to score (Vancouver is a perfect 8-0 when scoring first).
• 11.2%: Capitals' power play percentage, good enough for 29th in the league (only the Blue Jackets are worse).
• 24: Number of hits credited to Alexander Ovechkin.
• 25:50: Amount of time per game (minutes:seconds) Jamie Heward has been on the ice (ranked 12th in the league among all players).

TV - Comcast Sportsnet, Radio - 570 AM. Go Caps!

Jappy Jagr

Is it any wonder that Jaromir Jagr is now a superstar scorer after the NHL cracked down on hooking and holding? Not Really. Jagr has always had the potential to be a great goal scorer and produce goals on a consistent basis. In 46 games with the Capitals during the '03-'04 season, before being traded to New York, Jagr accumulated a mere 16 goals. This season, in 13 games, he has already managed 12.

Jagr is an elite European player, which means when it comes to playing in the North American style (i.e. smaller rinks, hooking, holding), Jagr would get frustrated. Watching him play in D.C., Jagr would be hooked and held extensively in the first half of the game. Then he just gave up. Spending the rest of the game along the boards and dumping the puck.

In Pittsburgh, Jagr could depend on Mario Lemieux to give him the space needed to play well. It was the support he needed in Washington, someone to take the sticks so Jagr had room to create. However, for the Capitals, Jagr was the one that had to take the sticks, and that role didn't fit well with him there.

Now that the North American style of play has been laid aside, Jagr is finding new life, and space, to score goals. Helping the Rangers to take 3rd in the Eastern Conference standings. A surprise since many thought the Rangers were to be the worst team in the league.

Many players that have played well in the league before almost look like a fish out of water. Players that had the ability to create with a stick in their belly, now look like they almost don't know what to do with the puck when it lands on their sticks. John Leclair is one of those players that would grind it out in front of the net and get garbage goals. Now his muscle has to be used for something else.

Players like Leclair, or Mark Recchi will soon start to adapt. They are great players that know the game of hockey, it will just take time. Jagr on the other hand made the transition rather quickly, and the Rangers are benefiting.

-- Other Notes --

• The Capitals have now taken legal matters against Alexander Semin, saying he was in breach of contract. Both Semin and his agent are being sued for failure to report to the Caps. General Manager George McPhee used this only as a "last resort" against the talented forward. Go get 'em George!
• Mats Sundin will practice with his teammates after the Maple Leaf star's left orbital bone was broken after a puck hit him in the face. No word on when he will be able to play again or if he will be wearing a visor. He will probably do both.
• The Carolina Hurricanes maybe the Southeast Division's new power house. The Hurricanes have an Eastern Conference best 8-2-1. It's definitely Hurricane season.
• Rich Hammond explains how things aren't that rosy for the NHL. He makes a few valid points.

Heartbreak in Tampa

Capitals 2, Lightening 4

Sorry I haven't posted all weekend, but had a chance to catch the game and what a game it was. Alexander Ovechkin had two spectacular goals to put the caps in the lead twice. But the Stanley Cup Champs were just too much for the young squad.

I loved the Capitals work ethic in this game. It was even a better performance than in Buffalo, it's just the puck wasn't bouncing our way. The Caps can not lose faith in their new system, which seems to be working. Head coach Glen Hanlon is doing a much better job of selling his system to the club, and the players are responding.

Overall Grade: C+

The Caps need more goal support, Ovechkin can't do it alone. A bright side is that the veterans seem to know it's do or die time. Chris Clark is being more and more aggresive on the ice, Andrew Cassels passes are finding their mark, and Jeff Friesen is getting is signature slap shot closer to the mark.

Players that need to get it together, Dainius Zubrus. Of the 5 or 6 oppurtunities he had on an odd-man rush, he failed to convert. Zubie, shoot it or pass, but do something! Also lost in the fold is Brian Sutherby, I have hardly heard anything from Sutherby in all 11 games he has played.

Ok Colorado, You Had Your Night

... Now move on.

I expected the game to get out of hand on the other side of the boards as fans show Todd Bertuzzi exactly where he can go. I expected the fans to boo, to curse, to yell, to make obscene gestures and to make Bertuzzi's night uncomfortable.

Some of it was actually funny, a couple of guys in a cardboard prison and wearing stripes saying they were being Bertuzzi for Halloween. Some of it was not funny, like a fan pouring his beer over the head of a female fan wearing Bertuzzi's jersey.

I understand the emotions coming from the Avalanche faithful and it was their night to be upset at a player that took one of their own away. It may be unfair that Bertuzzi can play while Steve Moore is struggling through physical therapy. Some say Bertuzzi should have been suspended until Moore could play again, others think he should have been gone for a year, and others who felt he had served his time.

With all that said, it was the Denver's night to let Bertuzzi know their displeasure. But now it's time to return to civility, and let the game go forward. I wouldn't mind the heckles each time Bertuzzi touched the puck at the Pepsi Center, or a few boos if he scored a goal. But for the good of the game, let the recklessness end. Let the game go on.

No more dressing up in prison wear, no more pouring beer on other people. Let the action on the ice speak for itself. I implore every Avalanche fan to conduct themselves higher than just an unrulely mob of miscreants.

If any Colorado fans wish to leave a comment, please do so with some language restraint.

-- Other Notes --

• The Pittsburgh Penguins have won a game. (damn, now my knock knock joke doesn't work anymore, Me - "Knock, Knock!" My Pens Friend - "Whose there?" "Oh" "Oh, who?" "Oh and 9 baby, Ha ha ha!" *click*) Mario Lemieux willed this win to life with 5 points. Sidney Crosby's tiny little point seemed to be buried in the Lemiux and Sergei Gonchar goals.
• Brendan Witt returns after coming to the aid of his wife and two young daughters that were in Florida when Hurricane Wilma pushed through. He will be dressed for tonights game. The full story of his experience is chronicled on the Wash Post.
• If you want to know how Hurricane Wilma has affected the Panthers. Good editorial.

Game tonight against the Lightening in Tampa Bay. Go Caps! Preview

Putting A Good Game Together

Capitals 3, Sabres 2

The Caps finally turned on some offensive pressure. If you can believe it, the Capitals out shot the Sabres in all three periods. I know! I had to take a double take on that stat as well. The Caps have been giving up about 40 shots a game until now.

I am extremely happy that Jeff Friesen and Petr Sykora got goals. Friesen's goal came just 22 seconds after Ales Kotalik power play goal for the Sabres. The Capitals seemed almost more relaxed and more confident. The Capitals finally used their speed and offense to keep the Sabres off kilter.

Brendan Witt was a healthy scratch for the game, and I didn't even miss him. Witt is still in S. Florida with his family after Hurricane Wilma ripped through the state. Without Witt, the only penalty against the Capitals was in the third period was Jeff Halpern's holding call early in the frame.

To be honest with you, I gave this game to Buffalo, and taped the game to watch later. My wife and I watched Martha Stewart's apprentice (not as good as the Trump) and I tried to push the game out of my head. When my phone messenger went off alerting the game had ended, I checked it twice.

It's the reason this post is a little late, because I had to watch the game. And I was giddy watching the game. Maybe I need to stop watching the games live.

Overall Grade: B+

The Caps put together a great game, and the grade would have been higher except the Caps need to be more consistent with their play. The grade should improve, if the Caps next game shows as much improvement as they did in this game. I would like to see Chris Clark and Andrew Cassels pick up their pace and get some goals. Jury is still out for bringing Brooks Laich up from Hersey.

Wash Post picks up the rest of the gorey details.

-- Other Notes --

• Predators lose to the Blue Jackets. If I said that 2 years ago, it would mean very little, but the Blue Jackets finally hand Nashville their first loss of the season off a Overtime goal by Adam Foote.
• Was it just me or was that the most boring World Series ever?!! When one of my friends called me and told me the White Sox won, I actually yawned. I am not a big Baseball fan to begin with, but I could have done without 6 hour games.
• This just in, Penguins still suck! Sorry Pittsburgh fans. But the Steelers are still playing so I won't show too much sympathy. (10/28 Penguins win first game agianst Thrashers)

Next Caps game against the Lightening on Friday 10/28, 7:30 PM.