Well, my assumptions and posts have been wrong so far. I still can not believe that Bruce Boudreau started Simeon Varlamov in Game 2. Even though I was wrong, I strongly believe it was a critical error in judgement by Boudreau. The decision reeks of desperation and sends the wrong message to the team. I will be the first to admit that the goal tending was not in any way the reason why the Caps lost game 2 (unless of course we are talking about Henrik Lundquist). The loss simply gave the Caps no other options. Where does Boudreau go with respect to goal tending now?
The biggest problem with the Caps in game 2 was the lack of grit and ability to get anywhere need Lundquist. The vast majority of the shots the Caps fired on Lundquist came from above the circles. The Caps need to drive to the net or circle off with the puck and let some traffic get to the net.
This series is not over. The Caps have been the better team so far. The Caps will need to come out with a renewed intensity and get on the board early. If they can get the lead early, the Caps should come away with their first win in the series. One win will make this task much easier.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Goaltending Controversy?
Game 1 was clearly a disappointing loss from the Caps perspective. The Caps outplayed the Rangers in nearly every facet of the game with the exception of goaltending. Jose Theodore was too far back in the net on all four goals that were scored by the Rangers. He seldomly challenged shooters and simply did not make a big save in the game. The last three goals scored by the Rangers were good shots but when Theodore went down into the butterfly, the targets above his glove hand shoulder and blocker shoulder were huge due to the fact that he was not out challenging the shooter.
As for a potential goaltending controversy, there is no reason to even consider it yet. There is no way that Simeon Varlamov is going to start Saturday in game 2. I would not be surprised to see Varlamov if Theodore struggles at all. Clearly, Bruce Boudreau is having some fun with the media, putting the pressure squarely on the shoulders of Theodore and ensuring that Varlamov is mentally ready should he need to come in in relief.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the undressing of Jeff Schultz on Brandon Dubinsky's winning goal. That play made Schultz look like he belonged back in Pee Wee. I've read that he has some sort of injury (my confidence would be badly bruised after that incident) and will not play on Saturday.
I should also mention that I thought that the Caps did not play with a sense if urgency after the Rangers scored their fourth goal. Saturday's game will be pivotal in assessing the true development of the team.
As for a potential goaltending controversy, there is no reason to even consider it yet. There is no way that Simeon Varlamov is going to start Saturday in game 2. I would not be surprised to see Varlamov if Theodore struggles at all. Clearly, Bruce Boudreau is having some fun with the media, putting the pressure squarely on the shoulders of Theodore and ensuring that Varlamov is mentally ready should he need to come in in relief.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the undressing of Jeff Schultz on Brandon Dubinsky's winning goal. That play made Schultz look like he belonged back in Pee Wee. I've read that he has some sort of injury (my confidence would be badly bruised after that incident) and will not play on Saturday.
I should also mention that I thought that the Caps did not play with a sense if urgency after the Rangers scored their fourth goal. Saturday's game will be pivotal in assessing the true development of the team.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
First Period
It was a great first period and demonstrated why the playoffs are so awesome to watch. The intensity and level of play cranks up substantially. The Caps dominated the period in about every phase of the game but the Rangers did a good job of weathering the storm. Periods like the first can sometimes be dangerous. How many times do you see the team being dominated get a bounce or simply get an easy goal to turn the game completely around? Henrik Lundquist is clearly in the flow of the game and Jose Theodore has yet to be really tested. The Caps will need to keep the intensity level high and not start to coast.
I'm Back
Well, I guess I took the regular season off but I'm back for the playoffs. A brief post before it all gets under way. There has been a lot of discussion about the goaltending in this series with much of the attention focused on Jose Theodore. I actually think Theodore will be strong in this first series. He was outstanding in Colorado last year and I expect him to rise to the occasion again. The Caps should win this series in six games. More to come...
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
The Long Summer
Well, it has been some time since I posted something. I need to make some time to reflect on the season, collect my thoughts and put something meaningful together to post. Nevertheless, I came across this story today from TSN that some of you might find of interest. It waxes poetic about the off-season plans for the Caps. The link follows below.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=239645
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=239645
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Game 2 Recap/Series Outlook
The Flyers simply outplayed the Caps as a team on Sunday. The Caps did not falter from a lack of effort but had way too many individual efforts and not nearly enough team efforts. It can be a fine line but they were mostly out of sync on Sunday.
The Flyers have done a great job of putting people in front of the net and bumping/interfering with Cristobal Huet in both games. They have been penalized for some of this activity but I believe the Caps must respond to this strategy at both ends of the ice. The defense needs to do a better job of clearing the net and, if need be, literally clobbering someone even if it leads to a penalty. Additionally, the Caps need to get more traffic in front of Martin Biron. They need to bump him and potentially knock him over a few times even if it leads to a penalty. They need to especially do this on the power play. In fact, I will suggest that they need to consider putting Donald Brashear on one of the units to wreak havoc in front.
The Caps will also need better puck support in all phases of the game. The individual efforts will not get the job done alone in the playoffs. The Caps will need to at least match the intensity level of the Flyers on Sunday to continue to compete in this series. Tonight’s game may prove to be the deciding factor in this series. Huet will need to play better in net and the Caps will need to play a more consistent, intense game throughout the series for the Caps to have a chance to move on to the second round.
The Flyers have done a great job of putting people in front of the net and bumping/interfering with Cristobal Huet in both games. They have been penalized for some of this activity but I believe the Caps must respond to this strategy at both ends of the ice. The defense needs to do a better job of clearing the net and, if need be, literally clobbering someone even if it leads to a penalty. Additionally, the Caps need to get more traffic in front of Martin Biron. They need to bump him and potentially knock him over a few times even if it leads to a penalty. They need to especially do this on the power play. In fact, I will suggest that they need to consider putting Donald Brashear on one of the units to wreak havoc in front.
The Caps will also need better puck support in all phases of the game. The individual efforts will not get the job done alone in the playoffs. The Caps will need to at least match the intensity level of the Flyers on Sunday to continue to compete in this series. Tonight’s game may prove to be the deciding factor in this series. Huet will need to play better in net and the Caps will need to play a more consistent, intense game throughout the series for the Caps to have a chance to move on to the second round.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Cardiac Kids Strike Again
The Cardiac Kids did it again. Even if you are a minimal fan, how could anyone not love watching this team play? Down 4-2 after two periods (in the playoffs to boot), the Cardiac Kids scored three goals in the third period to come away with a 5-4 win in their first playoff game. Erasing a two goal deficit is never easy and to accomplish this in the playoffs is quite a feat. The Caps never quit and simply seemingly willed themselves to victory. I also loved seeing the Verizon Center rocking even though I witnessed it via television.
There is no denying that there is something special if not magic about this team right now. Sometimes I wonder if the nucleus of the team is simply too young to know any better. No panic button exists with this team. Mike Green's goal early in the third ignited the team and the building and you knew then that the train was a rolling. The Caps simply steamrolled the Flyers in the third. Not surprisingly, the goal by Mike Green was made possible by an unbelievable touch pass from Sergei Federov who is really the only player with substantial playoff experience in the lineup (Olaf Kolzig surely has plenty). Four of the five goals for the Caps came from players playing in their first playoff game. Does it surprise anyone that Alex Ovechkin got the game winner? That was an unbelievable play.
Let's also remember that the Caps have a "minor league" coach behind the bench. I like that the fact the Bruce Boudreau never deviated from his game plan. However, I thought he went away to quickly from the fourth line early in the game. I would have answered the Flyers third goal with the fourth line. They basically scored the first two goals and seemed to provide some energy and a nice change of pace. They played with controlled emotion and generated some scoring chances.
The goaltending was not superb tonight. I'm sure Cristobal Huet would like to have a couple of those goals back. The Flyers did a good job of crowding the net and making it difficult for Huet to see the puck. The Caps defensemen will need to do a better job in clearing the front.
One game will not win the series and I'm sure the Flyers will respond accordingly on Sunday. Let's see how the youth handles the second game of the playoffs. Huet should be better in goal, but the Caps will need to bear down and find a way to beat a more determined team on Sunday. Stay tuned to this series. It is being broadcast on a national basis on Versus. Sit back and enjoy.
There is no denying that there is something special if not magic about this team right now. Sometimes I wonder if the nucleus of the team is simply too young to know any better. No panic button exists with this team. Mike Green's goal early in the third ignited the team and the building and you knew then that the train was a rolling. The Caps simply steamrolled the Flyers in the third. Not surprisingly, the goal by Mike Green was made possible by an unbelievable touch pass from Sergei Federov who is really the only player with substantial playoff experience in the lineup (Olaf Kolzig surely has plenty). Four of the five goals for the Caps came from players playing in their first playoff game. Does it surprise anyone that Alex Ovechkin got the game winner? That was an unbelievable play.
Let's also remember that the Caps have a "minor league" coach behind the bench. I like that the fact the Bruce Boudreau never deviated from his game plan. However, I thought he went away to quickly from the fourth line early in the game. I would have answered the Flyers third goal with the fourth line. They basically scored the first two goals and seemed to provide some energy and a nice change of pace. They played with controlled emotion and generated some scoring chances.
The goaltending was not superb tonight. I'm sure Cristobal Huet would like to have a couple of those goals back. The Flyers did a good job of crowding the net and making it difficult for Huet to see the puck. The Caps defensemen will need to do a better job in clearing the front.
One game will not win the series and I'm sure the Flyers will respond accordingly on Sunday. Let's see how the youth handles the second game of the playoffs. Huet should be better in goal, but the Caps will need to bear down and find a way to beat a more determined team on Sunday. Stay tuned to this series. It is being broadcast on a national basis on Versus. Sit back and enjoy.
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