Capitals 8 - Senators 6 Prognosis

The facts:

• 14 goals total were scored. Neither starting goaltender got the hook last night. How in the world did that happen?
• On the Washington end, the absence of Brent Johnson was probably the reason. Boudreau said he wanted to play the backup a little more. Letting in 6 goals on 22 shots (a .727 save percentage) is more evidence for that move. Maybe Olie Kolzig should come on in relief a little more like he did in Pittsburgh?
• Somewhere Ray Emery is smiling. 7 goals on 29 shots (.758 save percentage) is more leverage for Martin Gerber to grab some pine. I'm guessing when the Sens come to DC on New Year's Day, Emery will get the nod.
• There were 14 goals scored and only 52 shots on goal total. That means the goalies combined for a ghastly .730 save percentage. Ouch.
  
• The Senators are good. They're very good. They're not as good at home for some reason (12-6-2 vs. 13-3-0 on the road). Last night, they didn't look like the best team in the East though.
• The Sens will probably end up as the #1 seed in the East. They'd better hope the Caps don't crawl into the playoffs as the #8 seed because right now Ottawa has no answer for DC.
  
• Alex Ovechkin had his first 4 goal game and his first 5 point game in his career. How did it take this long.
• Ovechkin is now just 4 points behind Cindy "the Kid" Crosby. He has more assists (18) than Crosby has goals (16) this year.
• Ovechkin is now just 2 goals behind Ilya Kovalchuk for the league lead. He has 30 goals in 39 games.
• Ovechkin is on pace to score 63 goals this year.
• Ovechkin is now the leading goal scorer over the last 3 years (since he entered the league).
• Alex Ovechkin is the man.
• If you had told me before the game a Senator would get a hat-trick, I'd have believed it. I didn't think it would be Mike Fisher.
  
• 14 goals scored, Dany Heatley didn't have one. Think that might have affected the outcome?
• Little note to Michael Nylander: that is why you shoot more. Scoring two goals is fun isn't it?
• 6 defensemen (3 from each team) had assists tonight. Think they'd trade them in if they could take a couple goals off the board?
• Welcome to the new NHL: 14 goals scored, 14 penalties taken.
  
• Donald Brashear had a fight in his second straight game. He's still the NHL's middleweight champion after knocking Chris Neil around.
  
• Alex Ovechkin is the man. Why doesn't the man have a new contract?
• Niklas Backstrom is just 7 points behind Patrick Kane for the rookie scoring title.
  
• Let's not forget Alexander Semin had a 3 point night (1 G, 2 A). So did Niklas Backstrom by the same token. Backis also took 2 penalties.
• Daniel Alfredsson was 1 goal away from the trick. He made Kolzig look silly on that short-handed penalty shot goal he scored. Probably watched the shootout game against Detroit.
• Alfredsson was the only man to score in the first two periods. Oh captain my captain...
• He also had a 3 point game.
• Did I mention Ovechkin is the man and should have a new contract?
• Mike Fisher was one empty net goal from getting the full basket of goals. He had a shortie, a PP goal and an even strength goal.
• Ovechkin was just one shortie from getting the basket as well.
• One last time: Ovechkin is the man.

Bottom line: When Gary Bettman envisioned the new NHL, this is probably the game he was dreaming of. Lots of goals, lots of excitement, not a blowout, and a down to the wire game. One of the league's great young players finished the year by scoring a ton of goals (any guesses as to who it is?) while an incredibly savvy team never stopped battling. The Caps offense should get full marks for putting up the kind of goals they did on Ottawa and even the D should get a nod for only allowing Ottawa 22 shots. This game could have been a 3-2 struggle, but instead it was probably one of the more exciting games of the year.

Prognosis: Positive
Game MVP: Alex Ovechkin (4 goals, 1 assist)

Peng-whiners 4 - Caps 3 (OT) Prognosis

The facts:

• This was another case of a game where the Capitals basically dominated the game but for a few brief moments. In those brief moments, the other team managed to capitalize and drag us back down. 1 point escaped us and it wasn't because Pitt was better than we are, but rather because they scored when we let our guard down.
• Brucey's system is working incredibly well. The Penguin Scum had basically no running room all night. The homers getting on the Crosbettes made me smile. The boos from the fans were deserved, because they recognized their team was getting thoroughly outplayed. Were it not for two $#!tty deflections off Milan "Lurch" Jurcina, this game is a 3-1 Capitals win.
• Cindy Crosby was the number one star of the game. He had two assists. So did Niklas Backstrom (the number 2 star of the game). Crosby got one of his patented secondary assists (aka an "I'll-let-the-other-guy-do-all-the-work" assist). The second was on the OT winner, but it was not a set-up but rather more of a broken play that went $#!ttsburgh's way. Just FYI, both of Backstrom's assists were primaries.
• I'll take Ovies goal to Crosbaby's two assists any day. And if Ovechkin isn't hurt for most of the 3rd period and all of OT, this game has a completely different take. You can't tell me that losing him didn't take some air out of the player's sails.
• Can't hang this one on Olie. Godzilla played well in relief basically pitching a shutout until the Jurcina "goal." He made some critical stops as the game was winding down to get the game into OT.
• Brashear vs. Laraque Round 2: Laraque - 0 points, 1 fight, -1 +/-, and 9:52 of ice time. Brashear - 1 goal, 1 fight, -1 +/-, 9:31 of ice time. Brashear wins this round easily. And that was a sweet goal.
• Brian Pothier is the new Jeff Schultz, 3 goals and 4 points in his last 5 games. We gotta start breaking other defensemen's thumbs.
• The Power Play was anemic. These guys gotta learn to shoot more (looking at you Nylander) and crash the net to get the garbage goals they got against Tampa.
• The PK looked great...until the very end.
• Laich has to win that face-off, Jurcina has to block that shot. If they do either, it's even strength, 2 minutes left and the Scum is in panic mode.
• Gordon or Backstrom (both with faceoff % over 50 last night) should have taken that critical face-off.
  
• I didn't see the Morrisonn penalty and no replay was shown. If it was legit, than shame on him for allowing the Whiners to get a shot at life. I wouldn't be surprised if the refs called a ticky-tacky penalty to give Crosby another shot. Uncle Gary works his magic again.
• A 2 goal lead is always better than a 1 goal lead. The Caps have only themselves to blame for sitting back in the 3rd period and not trying to lead the knockout blow.
  
• Evegeni Malkin was a better player than Cindy was last night. He got close to scoring on a number of chances. The fact that he doesn't get rewarded for that and the Crybaby does stinks.
• The above fact might be due to the fact that the Caps defense basically gave Cindy no running room all night.
• When Jurcina dropped the girl "on his wallet" (Joe B's words, not mine) I laughed. Hard. I want to see teams do this more often. It looks like Uncle Gary's been spreading it around the league not to hit the golden child. Other teams take a lot of liberties at Ovechkin, why not bury the Kid into the ice. Well...it might be because Crosby never hits anyone whereas Ovechkin plays with more intensity.
• Could someone please tell Ovechkin if he's gonna pass to anyone, don't make it Viktor Kozlov. The guy hasn't scored a goal this decade it seems (actually it's 3 on the year, and 19 assists, but a lot of those are of the BS Crosby variety).
• That said, sit Kozlov. It helped Pothier regain what he once had in Ottawa. Maybe Kozy sitting a few games will have the same affect. And recall Laing again. That guy played with such heart and intensity, he deserves to be a regular or at least semi-regular.
• A lot of people are down on Fleischmann, but his fore checking was pretty good last game. That said, he only had 1 shot last game and has only recorded 1 point in the previous 5 games. He could also get some benefit from getting a night in the press box.
• Having Gonchar score the game winner is adding insult to insult. Having Crosby get the only assist, just makes me physically sick.
• Since Ovechkin has entered the league, we are 1-7-2 against the Scum. Does that make anyone else want to vomit?
  
• If we had this same result against any other team, we got a point and couldn't seal the deal. Since it's against the Crosbette's it just sucks because now the rivalry is under scrutiny and we have to deal with obnoxious Pens fans (who don't have that much to jeer about considering they're a full 7 *gasp* points ahead of us in 8th place).

Bottom line: my dad said last night "at least they got a point." True, but 2 points is always better than 1. The opportunity to leapfrog the 'Ning out of the basement in the East and get closer to the 8th place cut-off (we'd have been 4 points behind $#!ttsburgh rather than 7 behind Barfallo if we'd have won this game in regulation) was there and we didn't get it. Ottawa is ahead and it's another "gotta win" game. There are some games that mean more to players and some which mean more to fans. This was one that fits both bills and its stinks to let a team as hated as this one off the hook.

Prognosis: Negative
Game MVP: Niklas Backstrom (2 assists)

December 6 Word of the Day

Expectations

Tomorrow night will be the first real time that Capitals fans will get to see Bruce Boudreau's fabled "system" which won him a Calder Cup in Hershey two years ago. Boudreau has been very hush-hush about this new system, holding as many details about his system in and being as vague as possible to prevent other coaches from preparing against him (no Bill Belichick in the NHL eh?). So tomorrow night will be Boudreau's first real crack at making a stance in the NHL.

Now Capitals fans have been thrilled with the 3-2-1 start Boudreau has had (set in comparison to the 5-9-1 start) but he hasn't really had a chance to implement his system in the players. They've still been doing what former coach Glen Hanlon taught them (dump the puck, pray you get it, hit no one). Boudreau is said to have a more aggressive style, which is something Caps fans have been longing for a while. And the team has certainly been playing more aggressively and better under Boudreau than Hanlon, but there's no reason to be too optimistic.

Now, Boudreau has had some success in hockey previously to be sure. I mean he made the Calder Cup finals twice and won once in the last two years (a bit like winning the Arena Football Championship) so his resume is solid. But the problem is that Boudreau is the third consecutive coach to make his NHL head coaching debut in Washington (1 winning season in 5 years, notice the trend?). Now everyone had these same sorts of expectations when Bruce Cassidy took the reigns in Washington. And for a while we were enthralled with him as the bench-box. I mean, he was named one of DC's most handsome men (that gorgeous hair...those dreamy eyes...). But then the team started winning, Cassidy started riding the vets, and pretty soon we wanted him gone (the way his voice peakes when he insults the player's families...).

And then we had the same sorts of expectations for Glen Hanlon. I mean, after Cassidy, we were willing to take ANYONE (Randy Carlyle?). And we gave ol' Hugs a pass for a few years because we were rebuilding, we didn't have anyone on our team who could compete in the NHL (not named Alex). Finally, he answered the question that the ESPN pundits had been asking: what will he do with a team that on paper is legit? (The answer: nothing). So Hanlon was gone.
So Capitals fans before you all start nominating ol' Gabby for the Jack Adams award, remember it is early in his reign, he's getting his feet wet, and this team could regress to where they were in November. So don't raise those expectations...

Panthers 4 - Capitals 3: Word of the Day...

Chant

Last night, the Capitals lost their 4th straight game, their 3rd in 4 nights, to the lowly Florida Panthers. The same Florida Panthers who were 2-8-1 on the road entering this game and basically played it automatically against Washington. They jumped to the lead 1-0 on a David Booth redirection early. While Brooks Laich struck back with a shorthanded goal, the Cats then scored the go-ahead goal with less than a minute left in the 1st. From there, it was all FLA who improved the lead to 4-1 in the 3rd. The Caps made another late but futile charge and made it a 4-3 loss, but this game was far more lopsided than the score indicates.
The highlight of the night, however, was when the fan's finally turned hostile. A chant of "fire Hanlon" along with a melody of boos began to drift down towards the ice near the end of the game. And honestly, how could you blame the fans? The Capitals played like a team that had been pumped full of vallium before the game and just wanted to go to sleep, not a team that was in last place in the NHL and clawing their way back to respectability.
Afterwards, the players defended Hanlon. In particular, Olie Kolzig said:

"I'm sick of being asked about coaching changes. That's the furthest thing that needs to happen here. How many shocks do you need? I don't know."

While it's admirable that Olie wants to stick behind his coach, the game last night should have crystallized everything for the front office on Hanlon's ineptitude. But for posterities sake, let's take a look at the facts for Hanlon's eviction:

• Despite acquiring Viktor Kozlov, Michael Nylander and Tom Poti to improve the power play, they have only a 14.6% effectiveness, 23rd in the league. The power play continues to consist of abysmal passing, holding the puck while waiting for one of the defensemen to move and open up a shooter (because they don't move at all) and sloppy entering and possession. I saw the Caps dump-and-chase on a 5-on-3...that's bad.
  
• Thier 2.30 goals scored per game is the 3rd worst in the league, despite having the great scoring threats of Ovechkin, Nylander, Backstrom and Kozlov (I leave Semin out because he was injured). In 7 of their 20 games this year, they've scored 1 goal or less. In 14 of those 20, they've scored 2 or less.
  
• Speaking of Ovechkin, he has more than 28% of the team's goals. He has 13 on the year. Add up the number of goals scored by the 3 goals directly behind him, Nylander, Tomas Fleischmann and Laich, and you've equaled his 13 goals.
  
• They have a 1-10-1 record when surrenduring the first goal, a 1-7-0 record after trailing after the 1st period and a 0-12-1 record when trailing entering the 3rd. Basically, they fall apart once they fall behind.

So fans, go ahead and chant. Please. Wear your paper bags and continue to boo this team. They need a shot in the arm, a reality check or whatever you want to call it. They need to play with some pride, some passion and heart. Maybe they will once they realize how it looks from the outsider's perspective. Or maybe the owner will respond to the complaints of the customers (the fans). Maybe we can turn the sinking ship around. Just chant...

A JET Sermon...PIMS

Welcome, welcome all you sinners. Welcome back from that sit in the "sin-bin" which happens to be the topic of our sermon today, one of the greatest sins a hockey player can commit: taking penalties.

Now there are many misconceptions about the PIM stat. Many GMs, coaches and fans love a guy with a high count in this area. It implies that the player is tough, an enforcer, a nostalgic slice of that old-tyme hockey that fans hold near and dear to their hearts. But what does the stat really mean?

To answer this question, my children, first let's examine how a PIM is committed. However you want to gussy it up, or articulate it, a penalty is always the result of a defensive mistake. That mistake might not have been committed by the player assessed the penalty. The mistake might not have been an action that directly lead to the penalty, but somewhere along the line some mistake was made by someone that caused another player to commit a penalty. Now let us talk about all the types of penalties there are.

There are four very simple types of penalties, there are 1) mental errors 2) accidental penalties 3) retaliatory/matching penalties 4) the rare "good" penalties.

The first is the most common and worst penalty. It occurs when one player does something stupid, to be frank, and takes a penalty. It could be a two handed slash across the wrist, running into the goaltender or flipping the puck out of play. Either way it implies that the player consciously knew that his actions would result in a penalty, but did it anyway. Additionally, the timing and place of a penalty can make it a mental error. Any penalty taken on the penalty kill is the stupidest and worst act to commit. On a 5-on-3, most any team can score a goal if they have enough time. Taking penalties on the power play, or in the offensive zone kill a team's momentum. Anything after the whistle is, again, stupid because the now your penalty had no bearing on the play and is more likely to be called. Donald Brashear's penalty against the Lightning is a prime example of a stupid penalty: in the offensive zone, on the power play, after the play ends, in plain view of the refs.

The second type of penalty is known as a "sin by ignorance" but ignorance is no excuse. Sticking your twig between your opponent's legs (please don't laugh children, or I shall smite thee with a "game misconduct" and send you back to your box) and he falls, its your mistake. Players must always be in control of their stick and skates. Players should always be aware of where other people are on the ice, whether or not hitting this player would constitute charging, or when to change, a mistake is a mistake, but it still hurts. As mentioned before, penalties in the offensive zone or ill-timed are more crippling that simple accidental penalties.

The retaliatory or matching minor will result in a penalty, but should (hopefully) not result in a penalty kill. While this doesn't put your team at a necessary disadvantage, in terms of man power, it could if your player is undermanned because of injuries or penalties, or if the player you have matched penalties with is of a lesser skill than yourself. If Brashear and Ilya Kovlachuk both take matching penalties, who comes out on top? Why the Capitals who have just sacrificed one of their less talented players to take out Atlanta's most talented. Note to all those, however, who think retaliating against your fellow man is not folly. Most often, the man who strikes back is dubbed the sinner and not the other. So retaliation could put your brothers shorthanded and it might be best to turn the other cheek and forgive the other's sins.

Finally, there is the instance of the rare "good" penalties or "sins for the greater good." The long and short of this is that this is any sort of penalty which directly prevents a goal from being scored and goal is not scored on the ensuing power play/penalty shot. These are rare as it requires many conditions to be true to make a sin selfless. To commit an act which either prevents a goal or a chance for a goal is admirable. However, should that act be in vain, it is a penalty like any other.

So other than the obvious bad consequences of a penalty kill, what are the other bad consequence of penalties? For one, the most obvious, is that it puts more of a strain on the penalty killers, often a group of 6-8 who now must play 2 full minutes together. And if the sinner happens to be one of these "chosen ones" he puts more of an onus on the others. Secondly, it gives the other team extended time in the offensive zone and momentum. Unless their power play is completely shut down, the team will record a few quality chances or shots which could give them a boost. Thirdly, it (usually) keeps your star players off the ice while putting their stars on the ice. Any excuse to play the other team's stars more against a ragged penalty kill unit while keeping your scoring threats off the ice is great. Finally, the "last protector"/your goaltender is now forced to keep you in the game. Putting any sort of pressure on this "gatekeeper" will lead you to ruin.

So ultimately, my children, we see that taking a penalty is always an act of atrocity. Now our "beloved children," the Capitals are 6th worst in times short handed (89 on the year) and thus they suffer dearly. Of the teams ahead of them, only Detroit has a winning record and Carolina is the only other team in the bottom 10 which has a winning record. So we can see, children, how penalties can hurt a team's chances of getting that elusive "W."

Now onto those sinners in our midst, children: those who have more than 10 PIMs on the beloved Washington Capitals. 11 players have more than 10 PIMs this year. Of those 11, only 3 have plus ratings (ironically the 3 with the most PIMs), but two of them are +1 (Brashear and Erskine) while Brian Pothier has a +6 with 18 PIMs. Only 4 of those players are mulit-goal scorers (Nylander-5, Green-3, Laich and Clark-2). And only 1 of them has more than 10 points (Nylander 16). Green is next closest with 7 points.

So for the rest of these sinners repent your sins! Play solid defense, refrain from taking meaningless penalties and one day perhaps you will be like the saintly New York Islanders who, despite having one of the least talented teams (as touted by the pundits in the pre-season) have the fewest Times Shorthanded and are thus 4 games above .500!!!

5 Game Benchmark: Games 11-15

06-07 Record: 3-2-0 (6 points)
07-08 Record: 1-3-1 (3 points)

06-07 Record Total/Projection: 6-5-4 (16 points)/33-27-22 (88 points)
07-08 Record Total/Projection: 5-9-1 (11 points)/27-49-5 (59 points)

06-07 Goals For (Period/Total): 16/47
07-08 Goals For (Period/Total): 10/34

06-07 Goals Against (Period/Total): 17/50
07-08 Goals Against (Period/Total): 13/42

06-07 Shots For/Game: 27.2 (408 Total)
07-08 Shots For/Game: 28.9 (433 Total)

06-07 Shots Against/Game: 36.0 (540 Total)
07-08 Shots Against/Game: 29.8 (447 Total)

06-07 Power Play Efficiency: 16.9% (13 goals, 77 opportunities)
07-08 Power Play Efficiency: 15.7% (11 goals, 70 opportunities)

06-07 Penalty Kill Efficiency: 83.7% (14 goals, 86 opportunities)
07-08 Penalty Kill Efficiency: 80.0% (16 goals, 80 opportunities)

All I can say is thank God those 5 games are over. As ugly a stretch as could be seen, but there is still something to look for. This team still has as many problems as last year, but some are easily corrected. The goals should go up once shots start going through and the PK should improve as they take less penalties.

Thrashers 2 - Capitals 1 (OT): Brought to You by the Number

1

Obviously it was the number of points the Caps managed to escape with and the number of goals they were able to score. But the number 1 also holds many other significances in terms of continuing trends throughout the season...

- 1 more game in which Alex Ovechkin didn't record a point (that's 2 straight and 3 of his last 5).
- 1 more game in which the Caps effectively dominated the first period (16 shots for, 6 against, went to the power play 3 times) but did not win
- 1 more game where the momentum of the first period was erased by a lazy second period (7 shots for vs. 13 against, 4 times shorthanded)
- 1 more game in which they went shorthanded more than 5 times (the had 6 TS) and lost the game
- 1 more game they lost despite outshooting the opponent (32 shots to Atlanta's 31)
- 1 more game where they ran into a hot goaltender (who has Ondrej Pavelec on their fantasy team)

So granted, the team got a point, but there's no reason to be encouraged. They only got an OT loss against a team that was tied with them for last in the Eastern Conference and is now ahead. Now, as the Peerless informs us, all is not lost. The playoffs are not gone, but with Ottawa on the horizon, this Caps team needs to correct these consistent problems if they want to avoid another year of April golf

Capitals (5-8-0) @ Hurricanes (8-3-3): 3 Stats to Remember...

1. -5

The goal differential in the 2nd period, the Capitals' undoubtedly weakest period. They score the least goals and allow the most in this period. Their 8 goals for in the second period are tied for 2nd worst in the lead (the Rangers have the worst with 3) and while their 13 goals for are in the median of the league, this is still the period that seems to be the Caps' "make-or-break" time.
Even worse for the Caps is the fact that the 'Canes have only allowed 10 goals in the second period and scored 19. The middle stanza for the Caps could be the most critical, and possibly the most painful.

2. 20

Points by Rod Brind'Amour this year. Brind'Amour has scored on 15.8% of his shots this year and is number one in the NHL in terms of assists.
But Brind'Amour has scorched the Caps in his career. 36 goals and 74 points in over 80 games against Washington in his career. Even worse, he has 7 game winning goals. The Caps' top defensive pairing (Jurcina and Morrisonn) needs to keep him off the scoresheet.

3. 0

The number of wins both when the Caps trail after 2 periods of play and the number of wins the Caps have when going shorthanded more than 5 times. That means consistent early play and discipline will be the keys to winning this game.
Consequently, when the Capitals are leading after 2 periods (has happened 4 times) they have never lost. Similarly, they are 4-1-0 when they have been shorthanded 5 times or less. These stats will be important to remember for the Capitals.

Washington Capitals Player of the Week: Alex Ovechkin

Games: 3

Goals: 3
Assists: 3
Points: 6
+/-: +5
PIMs: 0

Honorable Mentions:
Michael Nylander:
Games: 3
Goals: 2
Assists: 3
+/-: +4
PIMs: 2

Mike Green:
Games: 3
Goals: 2
Assists: 0
Points: 2
+/-: +1
PIMs: 4

Viktor Kozlov
Games:3
Goals: 0
Assists: 3
Points: 3
+/-: +4
PIMs: 0

Capitals 7 - Maple Leafs 1: Brought To You By the Number...

5

Which is the number of players who struck for their first goals last night to propel the Caps to their fifth win. That group included Jeff Schultz (who notched his first NHL goal), Matt Bradley, Brian Sutherby, Boyd Gordon, and Matt Pettinger (who scored the game-winner). Together those players collectively accounted for 9 points.

The Caps have needed for their secondary scoring to improve, and after weeks of the brunt of the offense being accounted for by Michael Nylander (11 points on the season, 3 assists last night) and Alex Ovechkin (15 points on the season, 2 goals last night), the rest of the team found their swing, getting scoring from some unlikely sources.

- Gordon has the games opening goal and another assist. He came into the game with 0 points.
- Pettinger had 1 goal, a power play strike, his first of the year.
- Schultz's first NHL goal was also his first point for the year
- Bradley scored a shothanded goal (Washington's first on the year) and had 2 assists for 3 points. Not only was it his first 3-point game in his career, but his first 3 points of the year.
- Sutherby had his first goal of the year in his first game of the year.
- Tomas Fleischmann notched his second assist of the year, while John Erskine got his third.

So the seven players with less than 5 points recorded a point last night, and four of them recorded their first point(s) of the year. The added scoring depth has allowed the Caps to snap the brief slump and climb back closer to .500.

5 Game Benchmark: Games 6-10

06-07 Record: 1-2-2 (4 points)
07- 08 Record: 1-4-0 (2 points)

06-07 Record Total/Projection: 3-3-4 (10 points)/25-25-32 (82 points)
07-08 Record Total/Projection: 4-6-0 (8 points)/33-49-0 (66 points)

06-07 Goals For (Period/Total): 14/31
07-08 Goals For (Period/Total): 13/24

06-07 Goals Against (Period/Total): 18/33
07-08 Goals Against (Period/Total): 17/29

06-07 Shots For/Game: 28.5 (285 Total)
07-08 Shots For/Game: 27.9 (279 Total)

06-07 Shots Against/Game: 36.6 (366 Total)
07-08 Shots Against/Game: 29.3 (293 Total)

06-07 Power Play Efficiency: 16.7% (9 goals, 54 opportunities)
07-08 Power Play Efficiency: 14.0% (7 goals, 50 opportunities)

06-07 Penalty Kill Efficiency: 80.3% (12 goals, 61 opportunities)
07-08 Penalty Kill Efficiency: 78.9% (11 goals, 52 opportunities)

So the Caps are off to a worse start than last year. They've lost more games, though they have won 1 more than last year, and are scoring few and fewer goals (particularly on the power play). Luckily, the defense is better this year and they are taking (relatively) fewer penalties. Still all that matters is the points and the Caps need to start winning and accumulating some more if they want to be fighting in the spring.

Washington Capitals Player of the Week: Brian Pothier

Games: 2
Goals: 1
Assists: 2
Points: 3
PIMs: 2
+/-: +4

Honorable Mentions:
Michael Nylander
Games: 2
Goals: 0
Assists: 2
Points: 2
+/-: +1
PIMs: 2

Chris Clark:
Games: 2
Goals: 2
Assists: 0
Points: 2
+/-: +1
PIMs: 2

Alex Ovechkin
Games: 2
Goals: 1
Assists: 2
Points: 3
+/-: +1
PIMs: 2

Caps 5 - Lightning 3: Brought To You By the Number...

26.3

That would be the percentage of goals scored by the Capitals this season that were recorded in last night's game. That's right, the Capitals scored for than 1 quarter of this season's goals in one game. It was a significant game for a number of other reasons, including a few players notching their first goals of the campaign. David Steckel scored his first of the season, which also happened to be his first NHL goal! Chris Clark, back on a line with Alex Ovechkin (who notched the clinching empty netter with 4 seconds left) scored twice last night, recording his first two goals of the year. Brooks Laich also got his second of the year.

26.3% makes it seem like the Caps put up huge numbers last night, but they only scored 5 goals, their first game with more than 3 goals offensively this year. The remarkable thing is that the Caps have only scored 19 goals (2nd fewest in the Eastern Conference) without ever being shutout this year. Also incredibly, they are 4-4-0 despite scoring few goals.

The return of Alex Semin (who didn't record a point) definitely alleviated the pressure from Ovechkin, but the return of Clark to the top line was really what sparked the "O." The Power Play still remains woeful with another 0fer night (they had an extended 4-minute PP they were unable to cash in on). The fact is, having Ovechkin out there with Nylander on the PP would allow for the Caps to have better balance on their top line and finally put Ovie with a player who could distribute to him.

Still, the Caps looked good last night, snapped the streak, and came away with a huge win.

Pens 2-Caps 1: Brought to You By the Number...

1

It's a lonely number that represents the total number of shots on Marc-Andre Fleury on the Power Play. The Capitals had 5 chances on the PP and generated 1 shot. This can in part be due to Joe Motzko's fumbling of the puck on the point, or the power play setup of having Alex Ovechkin sitting out in space rather than moving into a shooting channel. It could be because two of our best set-up men, Nicklas Backstrom (5 assists) and Michael Nylander (3 assists) are on the second-line of the Power Play passing to each other. Perhaps it's because Mike Green (4 points), who's shown flashes of offensive brilliance is still being confined to the second line behind a career AHLer who's perceived to have a "hard shot."

In any case, this game against Pitt was the epitome of the Cap's offensive woes. Inability to cycle the puck, no movement without the puck, and the inability to set up a clear shot. This season, the Caps are 4-35 with the man advantage and have NEVER scored on a 5-on-3, despite having several extended chances. Even though the Caps have added the offensive talent, it does not appear to be used correctly. Viktor Kozlov (2 goals) hasn't gotten a point since the Caps' last win and seems to be useless as a set-up man to Ovechkin. Meanwhile, that top line is without a premiere right wing (Motzko and prospect Tomas Fleischmann, which has allowed other teams to gang up on Ovechkin.

If the Caps want to snap their losing streak and find their offensive identity, they must generate more offensive chances then they have.

In Honor of the Pens-Caps Rivalry, Some Little Known Facts About Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby

- Alex Ovechkin can score a hat-trick with two goals...Sidney Crosby misses a shot and asks the referees for a do-over.
- Ovechkin's slapshots are faster than most Indy cars...Crosby's have barely beaten a Jalopy down the ice.
- Alex Ovechkin loves to hit guys, especially if they are in his way...Crosby will also hit guys, but only if he is sure they will not retaliate, if he's within short skating distance of the bench (aka, his "safey safe") and as long as the other player is in the 5th grade.
- Before games, Ovechkin listens to hip-hop, rap, and hard rock...Crosby listens to the soundtrack from "Annie."
- Most guys get up and eat a bowl of nails for breakfast. Ovechkin eats the entire hardware store, no milk, then washes it down with motor oil (to keep him skating fast). Crosby skips breakfast to watch his weight.
- Alex Ovechkin has been speared by opponents in the groin often, yet he keeps playing. This is not because Ovechkin wears a cup or because he is just tough. He has an extra grapefruit so he plays knowing he will always be able to reproduce...Crosby wimpers to the bench when his foot falls asleep.
- Ovechkin's tears contain the cure to HIV, unfortunately he's never cried...Crosby's sperm have the cure to cancer, unfortunately he has no balls.
- Chuck Norris once challenged Ovechkin to a roundhouse kick vs. slap shot showdown. The force of the collision caused a rift in the space time continuum. Freddy Kruger challenged Crosby to a slap fight. Unwittingly, Crosby accepted and was shredded to pieces.
- Satan blessed Alex Ovechkin with an incredible slap shot in exchange for Alex's soul. Ovechkin agreed, and then fired a puck off Satan's head and snagged his soul back. Satan later laughed, admitted he should have seen it coming and now Ovechkin and Satan have a regular card game together...God once told his son that he planned on blessing Sidney Crosby with incredible hockey skills. God's son's answer was "I'd rather be nailed to a two by four." The rest is history.

*Editors note: these are all humorous comparisons, many taken from Chuck Norrisisms. I'm not denying that Crosby is a fine player, but merely pointing out all the ways in which Alex Ovechkin rocks.

Brian Pothier...Go Fall in A Volcano!

I spend a lot of time perusing the Washington Capital's Message Boards and was stunned to find a thread entitled "Brian Pothier Go Fall in a volcano." I was surprised that the fan base was being so cruel towards one of our better defensemen. At $2.5 million a year, Pothier was brought in to be a stable point man on the Power Play and to solidify the back line. While he didn't do so last year, it can largely be attributed to a significant jump in his minutes, causing him to get overtired. I hoped that I could show that Pothier, now playing less minutes (15:55 per game, 13th on the team) his production would rise. But just 5 games into the season, the signs don't look good.

• Pothier has only recorded 2, count 'em, 2 hits in 5 games. Ahead of him are, of course, hitting machines like Donald Brashear, Alex Ovechkin and John Erskine. But also ahead of him are some not known as much for their physical play: Matt Pettinger, Mike Green and Viktor Kozlov. To put it in perspective, Joe Motzko and Brian Sutherby, who have each played 1 game, have as many hits as does Pothier.
• Brian Pothier has also only blocked 3 shots. Ahead of him are the defensive-minded Milan Jurcina (10) and Shaone Morrisonn (5), as well as new addition Tom Poti (9). But Pothier is last in terms of defensemen with blocked shots.
• But Pothier does lead the team in one category...giveaways. He has 6 on the season, 2 more than anyone else on the team (John Erskine and Tom Poti have 4 each).
  
• Luckily, Pothier doesn't hold the distinction of being the worst defenseman in terms of takeaways...Poti holds that honor (Pothier has 2, Poti has 1).
• There are 4 defensemen who consistently play on the Power Play: Pothier, Poti, Jurcina and Green. EACH of the others have at least 1 PP point.
  

So there you have it. It may be early in the season and this is a correctable problem, but Pothier must improve from his horrific last season and current start if he wants a shot at winning the hearts of Caps fans. Until then BP...avoid Hawaii. A stray Caps fan might push you over the edge.

Washington Capitals Player of the Week: Alex Ovechkin

Games Played: 2

Goals: 2
Assists: 0
Points: 2
+/-: 1
PIMS: 2

Notable Mentions:
Olaf Kolzig
Games Played: 1
GAA: 3.00
Shots Against/Saves: 38/41
Save Percentage: .927

Mike Green
Games Played: 2
Goals: 1
Assists: 1
Points: 2
+/-: 2
PIMs: 2

5 Game Benchmark: Games 1-5

05-06 Record: 2-1-2 (6 points)
06-07 Record: 3-2-0 (6 points)

05-06 Record Projection: 33-16-33 (99 Points)
06-07 Record Projection: 49-33-0 (98 Points)

05-06 Goals For: 17
06-07 Goals For: 11

05-06 Goals Against: 15
06-07 Goals Against: 12

05-06 Shots For/Game: 30.4 (152 total shots for)
06-07 Shots For/Game: 27.2 (136 total shots for)

05-06 Shots Against/Game: 33.6 (168 total shots against)
06-07 Shots Against/Game: 35.4 (177 total shots against)

05-06 Power Play Efficiency: 11.1% (4 goals, 36 Power Play Chances)
06-07 Power Play Efficiency: 15.4% (4 goals, 26 Power Play Chances)

05-06 Penalty Kill Efficiency: 77.8% (6 goals, 27 Times Shorthanded)
06-07 Penalty Kill Efficiency: 81.5% (5 goals, 27 Times Shorthanded)

So Ted wasn't exactly right that the rebuild is over, since the Caps apparently got off to a comparable if not better start, last year. But this year, the Special Teams have gotten off to a better start. The Capitals need to especially work on limiting shots and getting more rubber on net (which will lead to more goals). Still, the Caps were competitive until December of last year, so getting off to the same pace isn't a bad thing. They just need to keep it going past New Years.

Stats of the Week: October 13

The Good: Goaltending

• 1.25 Goals Against Average (3rd in the League)
• 85.0% Penalty Kill Percentage (13th in the League)
• 27.5 Shots For/Game (16th in the League)
• 1.000 winning percentage when leading after 1 period
• 1.000 winning percentage when outshooting their opponent
• .750 winning percentage (5th in the League)
  

The Bad: Scoring and Defense

• 2.00 Goals For Average (25th in the League)
• 31.0 Shots Against/Game (25th in the League)

The Ugly: The Power Play

• 14.3% Power Play Effectiveness (20th in the League)

Rangers 3 - Capitals 1: Brought to You by the Number...

37

Which is the number of shots Washington allowed in the first 2 periods of Friday night's game. Washington, who had looked good in their first two games defensively, has now forced goaltender Olie Kolzig to stand on his head and keep the team in the games in two straight. Against the New York Isles, they forced Kolzig to stop 30 of 31 shots. Tonight though, Olie was mortal, allowing 3 goals on 41 shots total (still a .926 save percentage).

Again, the Caps had trouble scoring, only mustering 25 shots against the Rangers, despite having 6 power plays (they mustered only 2 power play shots). Also, the penalty killing, which had been perfect so far this year, surrendered 3 power play goals to the Rangers who hadn't scored on the PP until last night.

On a positive note, Alex Ovechkin scored his 100th goal last night on a gorgeous move to beat Henrik Lundqvist and tie the game at 1 in the first. Unfortunately, the team played flat in the first as they did against the Islanders and weren't able to come back. The 37 shots alone were more than Kolzig or Johnson have had to face in previous games and the 16 shot deficit is the worst the Caps have had this year.

Washington Capitals Player of the Week: Olie Kolzig

Games Played: 2
Wins: 2
Goals Against Average: 0.50
Shots Against/Saves: 54/53
Save Percentage: .981

Notable Mentions: Brent Johnson (G)

Games Played: 1
Wins: 1
GAA: 1.00
Shots Against/Saves: 29/28
Save Percentage: .966

Viktor Kozlov (C)
Games Played: 3
Goals: 2
Assists: 1
Points: 3
+/-: 2
PIMs: 0

Capitals 2 - Islanders 1: Brought to You By the Letter...

O

"O" is for Olie Kolzig, who followed up a shutout performance against the deadly Carolina Hurricanes with a 1-goal showing against the Isles. What's even more impressive is that the boys from the Island don't, on paper, appear to have the same offensive pop (comparing Satan and Guerin to Staal and Brind'Amour), they have 3 players in the top 15 points scorers this year: Mike Comrie (6), Ruslan Fedotenko (5), and Bill Guerin (5). None of those players recorded a point against the Capitals today.

But the Capitals especially needed "Olie the Goalie" today, as they gave up the most shots in their first 3 games, 31. Kolzig only had to 23 shots Saturday against the Hurricanes, meaning Kolzig's stopped 53 of 54 shots so far. The Caps also took 4 penalties and only managed to put up a slight offensive effort (12 shots, 6 in the last two periods). Kolzig faced more shots in the second period (17) then the Caps put up in the whole game. Still, Olie made key saves, including a few nice ones down the stretch, a critical one being a stonewall on Miro Satan in the dying minutes.

So while the "O" was not potent for the Caps, and the "Big O" (Ovechkin) wasn't able to muster a single shot (a feat not many defenses can claim) "O"lie was able to keep the Capitals in the game and managed to author the team to their first 3-0 start since the 02-03 season.

Capitals 3 - Thrashers 1: Brought to You by the Number...

29

The number of shots allowed by the Capitals, against a team in the Atlanta Thrashers who was known mostly for their offense last year. The Caps out shot the Thrash 40-29 in their win, dampening the spirits of Atlanta on the night they raised their Southeast Division Champions banner. Nylander, Erskine and Kozlov each recorded goals for the Capitals.

Last year, Washington was 2nd to last in the league in shots allowed per game (33.3), a far cry from the year before when they allowed 35 per game. This pre-season, though, they allowed 28 per game, and showed a great deal of improvement in puck possession and defensive positioning. Atlanta was 11th in the league last year in shots per game and 16th in goals per game with 2.92 goals per game. By contrast, the Caps allowed 3.35 goals against last year, 5th worst in the league.

Last night, the Capitals drew more penalties (though they were unable to convert on 2 5-on-3's), moved the puck efficiently and kept good positioning in the defensive zone. Brent Johnson looked good last night and could have had a shutout if not for Bryan Little's fluky goal in the 2nd. But the Caps shut down the dynamic offense which included Ilya Kovalchuk and Marian Hossa. Even without Alexander Semin, Washington peppered Kari Lehtonen with 40 shots and got the win.

The Southeast Divsion: How They'll Fare

1. Tampa Bay
2006-07 Record: 44-33-5, 2nd Southeast

Who Came In?
- D Brad Lukowich
- F Michel Ouellet
- F Chris Gratton

Who Went Out?
- F Ruslan Fedotenko
- D Cory Sarich
- F Eric Perrin

Why They Will Finish 1st:

The three-headed monster known as Lecavalier, St. Louis and Richards will rise again. Even though the Lightning have been without a star goalie since their Cup run in 04, they have made the playoffs both years. They might not have the stellar goalie that teams that have won this division had the past few years (Ward and Lehtonen), but they still have the talent to make the playoffs, while other teams have regressed.

Why I might be Wrong:

If that three-headed beast fails, the Lightning don't have a lot of depth in scoring. Tampa lost top defenseman Sarich which will hurt Tampa's already weakened defense (Tampa finished 7th worst in the league with a 3.16 GAA last year). The bigger question is will one of their goaltenders, Holmqvist or Denis, be able to keep them in games?

2. Washington Capitals
2006-07 Record: 28-40-14, 5th Southeast

Who Came In?
- F Michael Nylander
- D Tom Poti
- F Viktor Kozlov

Who Went Out?
- F Kris Beech
- F Jiri Novotny

Why They Will Finish 2nd:

Because of all the teams in the Southeast, no team has improved more than Washington. They added free agents Nylander, Poti and Kozlov while discarding the rubble of Beech and Novotny. The Caps improved in key areas and fortified a squad containing established superstars Alex Ovechkin and Olaf Kolzig. The Caps can also count on scrappy performances from Alex Semin and Chris Clark as well as rookie Niklas Backstrom.

Why I Might Be Wrong:

The Capitals failed to adaquately address defense, only adding Poti. Washington was fifth worst in GAA last year 3.15 even with Kolzig and Johnson protecting the nets. Washington is also banking on players like Backstrom, Fleischmann and Green stepping up and playing key roles in Washington's line-up. Maybe some of the prospects aren't as good as they thought. Worst yet, if the free agents and young players don't gel, it could be diasterous.

3. Atlanta Thrashers
2006-07 Record:
43-28-11, 1st Southeast

Who Came In?
- D Ken Klee
- F Todd White
- F Eric Perrin

Who Went Out?
- F Scott Mellanby
- D Andy Sutton
- D Shane Hnidy
- F Eric Belanger
- F Greg de Vries
- F Jean-Pierre Vigier

Why They Will Finish 3rd:

Atlanta lost the most quality players of any team in the Southeast and made only modest gains. Captain Mellanby, as well as two quality defensemen are now gone and now the Thrash will require some young-uns to step in. The Thrashers don't fall too far because of the incredible talent on the front line (Kovalchuk and Hossa) and Kari Lehtonen will look to have another stellar year.

Why I Might Be Wrong:

I don't think Atlanta will fall too far, unless the injury bug catches some key players. If the players gel and the stars can continue to lead the younger players (Atlanta does have a LOT of younger depth) and Lehtonen plays outside his mind, Atlanta might be able to challenge for the Southeast crown. It's a lof of "if's."

4. Carolina Hurricanes
2006-07 Record: 40-34-8, 3rd Southeast

Who Came In?
- F Jeff Hamilton
- F Matt Cullen

Who Went Out?
- F Josef Vasicek
- D Anton Babchuk
- D David Tanabe
- F Eric Belanger

Why They Will Finish 4th:
Only modest gains from last year, where they were close, but not close enough to making the playoffs. A lot of other teams in the Southeast have gotten a lot better, while Carolina still doesn't have the dependability on the back line that they did once. A lot of Carolina's success will depend on how well Cam Ward plays, especially now that his backup is Michael Leighton, and he still has not shown to be a dependable goaltender.

Why I Might Be Wrong:
Either Florida plays better than I think, or one of the teams above them plays worse. Either way, Carolina needs Eric Staal and Ward to play well. The days of the Stanley Cup lore are far behind them, but if Erik Cole and some of the younger kids can step up their games, Carolina could finish higher.

5. Florida Panthers
2006-07 Record: 35-31-16, 4th Southeast

Who Came In?
- G Tomas Vokoun
- F Richard Zednik
- F Radek Dvorak

Who Went Out?
- G Ed Belfour
- F Martin Gelinas
- D Alexei Semenov
- F Chris Gratton

Why They Will Finish 5th:
Florida lost a lot of quality talent from a team that was not very good last year. Many think that Vokoun will bring Florida to the playoff level, but the Panthers weren't winning back when they had Roberto Luongo. Olli Jokinen is a superb player, but around him are a lot of "maybes" (Weiss, Stumpel, Horton). In short, Florida doesn't have the everyday talent and they lost a lot of it over the summer.

Why I Might Be Wrong:
If those "maybes" step up and play well, and Vokoun is indeed the missing piece of the puzzle, then the Panthers might be the surprise team that many believe they are. If Florida can manage to somehow bolster that struggling defensive core, and the offense gains some consistency, they could make a push.

Capitals Team Preview Part 3: Offense

If we're talking offense, we'd be hard-pressed to not mention the "Alex and Alex Show." Ovechkin and Semin were the driving force behind the Caps' offense last year. With a combined 84 goals and 165 points, the Alexes were probably the NHL's best 1-2 punch in terms of forwards. The biggest problem was the falloff after the Alexes.

But the Alexes had the misfortune of playing alongside less than stellar centers and were surrounded by few scoring threats. Dainus Zubrus, Ovechkin's long-time pivot in the middle, again only put up modest numbers last year before being traded to the Buffalo Sabres. Kris Beech proved emphatically that he couldn't feed off a slick scorer like Semin. Beech only recored 26 points in 68 games last year.

Beyond the centers, no one else on Washington could put the puck in the net. Chris Clark was the only other Capital to have more than 30 goals or 50 points (30 goals, 54 points) and Matt Pettinger recorded 16 goals as the only other member of the team to have more than 10 goals. Of the 210 goals scored by Capitals last year, the Alexes recored 40% of them.

But the Caps have added offesnive prowess this year through free agency. Michael Nylander comes to the Capitals after a career year in New York centering Jaromir Jagr. Nylander recorded 26 goals and 83 points last year and is Washington's top free agent. Nylander was expected to center Ovechkin, but has been playing more with Semin and newcomer Niklas Backstrom. Hopefully, playing with Nylander will boost Semin's fabulous numbers and give Backstrom the opportunity to learn from a top Swedish playmaking center. But Ovechkin will also get some help in the form of Viktor Kozlov, who just finished a 25 goal season on the Island. Many are skeptical of whether Kozlov can bring that goal touch he acquired last year to DC, but as many (Clark and Zubrus) will attest, playing with Ovechkin is a great thing for one's numbers. The real surprise is Tomas Fleischmann, who has earned a spot in the top 6, presumably playing with Ovechkin and Kozlov. Whether this will give Flash a boost or merely drag down the other two remains to be seen.

The checking line, which will likely consist of Boyd Gordon, Pettinger and Clark, could be a deadly one. With a combined 53 goals and only -13 rating, those three could provide one of the most deadly checking lines in hockey.

The fourth line is likely to be occupied by Donald Brashear and Brian Sutherby (unless he is traded), but the other spot(s) is up for grabs. Dave Steckel made a good showing at camp, while Brooks Laich and Matt Bradley have provided small chunks of poise during their tenures in DC.

One thing is for certain: Washington's biggest problem last year was not scoring, and it won't be this year. With great offensive depth and a balanced line-up, the Caps should expect to exceed their 2.85 goals/game average from last year (17th in the league). The newcomers (Backstrom, Nylander, Kozlov) should provide great assistance and aid to the Alexes and become a deadly offense.

Capitals Team Preview Part 2: Defense

You can't win without good defense, that's been proven. The last two Stanley Cup winners (Anaheim and Carolina) had a solid defense to protect their netminders. Anaheim boasted a combo of Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger, while Carolina sported a combo of Sean Hill, Niclas Wallin and Glen Wesley, all proven defensemen.

The Caps have proven this adage over the past few years with their defensive efforts--and win totals. Washington allowed the second-most shots against per game (33.3) in the NHL and thus were ranked 26th in goals allowed per game (3.35). Of Caps defensemen who played more than 30 games, only 3 had a +/- rating of even or better: Jeff Schultz (+5 in 38 games), Shaone Morrisonn (+3 in 78 games) and Milan Jurcina (even in 70 games). In addition, most of Washington's regulars from last year (Eminger, Green, Pothier) were -10 or worse last year. And the Caps didn't help the offensive cause either, with Pothier leading defensemen in points with 28.

In a summer flush with new faces, only one will be joining the defensive core: Tom Poti. Poti had a lot of success on Long Island, boasting -1 rating in 78 games (in which he logged an average of more than 25 minutes per game) and was second in scoring for defense with 44 points. The points will surely help the defensive core, but the fact remains that only adding one defensemen to a struggling squad won't boost it too much, unless the younger players step up their game.

The major problem of only adding Poti to the defensive core is that it does not address the glaring problem of toughness. Last year, Poti recorded only 61 hits, placing him 5th on the Islanders' defense. Washington did not have a defenseman register over 120 hits last year (Shaone Morrisonn led the team with 112 hits). Poti also only recorded 40 PIMs last year, which shows good discipline, but not the grit the Caps need on defense. But Poti will help in the blocked shots department. He blocked 170 last year, which was 14th best in the league.

This year, the Caps defense depends a lot on players improving. Morrisonn has established himself as a steady defensive d-man who has shown improvement over the last few years. Pothier was asked to play 1st-pairing minutes with perhaps 2nd-pairing talent, and his numbers might improve now that Poti can alleviate some of the ice time. Jurcina finished strong last year after coming over from Boston for next to nothing. And Poti will certainly add some veteran stability on the blue line and eat a good chunk of ice time.

Those four have basically guaranteed spots with the Caps, but the last 3 (or perhaps 4) defensive slots are open. Mike Green's strong preseason has given him the edge to perhaps make the Caps opening night roster on the 3rd d-paring. Alongside him might be John Erskine (added to give the Caps a little grit on defense after he showed great determination last year) or Josef Boumedienne (as perhaps a second power-play unit quarterback). The preseason was riddled with injuries for Steve Eminger, but he's still in the mix to make some noise and be on the Caps opening night roster, either as a player or healthy scratch. Jeff Schultz will likely start in Hershey, despite his impressive numbers from last year, simply because of the competitive defensive unit this year. And last but not least, Jame Pollock could still get a shot on the team after an impressive year.

In short, the Capitals have what they lacked last year: depth in the defensive core. The defensive unit might not be as intimidating as others, but could be able to tread water if the dynamic offense can provide goals.

Capitals Team Preview Part 1: Goaltending

The Capital's goaltending begins with Olaf Kolzig. "Olie the Goalie" has been a given on the starting roster since he emerged as the Caps' dominant net minder in the late 90s. With a career 2.96 GAA and .908 save percentage, Kolzig is one of the more dominant goalies in the league. But of late, Kolzig's numbers have slumped. His GAA since the lockout have been 3.00 or over both years and he's only had 1 shutout in 2 years. Kolzig has not had a winning season since the 02-03 campaign, and with expectations higher, Kolzig should be expected to carry most of the workload.
The man behind Kolzig, however, has changed in recent years. From Ouellet, to Stana, to Billington and now Johnson, Kolzig has never faced much pressure from his backup. This year will be no different with Brent Johnson. Johnson was superb earlier in his career with the St. Louis Blues, as a starter but with the Capital's he has been consistently terrible. Johnny gave up almost 100 goals on 900 shots last year and has only won 15 games in 56 appearances with the Capitals. In short, Johnson has become a stopgap goaltender, someone to bridge the gap between Kolzig and the next generation goalies (Neuvirth, Varlamov).

It was important that these two younger goaltenders to get a crack at making the team. Unfortunately, neither were mature enough to find a spot in the Caps' system and were both sent back to their respective Junior leagues. Thus, Kolzig will spend another year merely comfortable and secure in his spot as the starter. We will see if, this time, Johnson can provide even adequate support of if GM George McPhee will shop around and find another goalie who can challenge Kolzig for his starting job for the first time in years.

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