I love that the Washington Post's instant reflex is to create a quarterback goalie controversy whenever possible.  Last year's Huet-Kolzig-Johnson drama was a dream-come-true for the Post.  But it's a little rediculous for Tarik to be fanning the flames on the competition for the backup goalie position for the playoffs, don't you think?

This topic has been discussed at the bottom of this thread, and the consensus seemed pretty straightforward.  If healthy, Theo's going to play just about every minute of the playoffs for the Caps.  Since there shouldn't be any minutes available in Washington, Varlamov would develop as a player more in Hershey where he'll be playing and helping the Bears try to win a championship of their own.  So it's better for the Caps and it's better for Varlamov for him to be in Hershey and for a healthy Brent Johnson to be the game-to-game backup in the NHL.

Now if Theo either gets hurt or falls apart, then maybe you bring Varlamov up and give him a start.  But otherwise, no matter how good Semyon's been, it'd be better to have him playing in Hershey than sitting in DC.

I'll even take it a step further.  If Johnson isn't ready to play, I'd like to see Varlamov and Neuvirth trade off games in Hershey and DC.  That way both of them are playing.  Varlamov has obviously proven that he's good enough to be an NHL backup, but I think Neuvirth has as well -- at least for one game if something happens to Theo.  So rather than cost either of them an entire playoff series of real experience, it'd be better to shuttle them back and forth.