Wednesday Caps Clips: Theo's Thievery

BB’s got to learn how to adjust properly. I’ve argued before that his systems are still too AHL-y and it showed last night when the Caps simply could not get to the points because the Wings are just too fast at moving the puck. And they will continue to get burned if that doesn’t change.

I think the latter as well. There are already pieces here to have a successful (though your mileage may vary as to what that really means) season, IMO.

No question, the team could use some upgrades, and, as YLM points out, there’s cap room to make a move. The team also has tradeable assets. But I question just how much is really going to be available – you can have all the demand in the world, but if the supply ain’t there, the price is too high or there’s nothing to purchase. So I think GMGM could potentially whiff if there’s a deal he doesn’t make, but Gabby has to make the most of what he’s got, and the pieces are already there for that to be special.

The Caps

might not be rugged enough for the different sort of game they will face the deeper they go into the playoffs

Agreed. There’s a question in this regard about some of they guys carrying the team during the regular season. I worry about Green in particular. Last night, as is often the case, the “sloppiness” factor on his part seemed to escalate as he got more tired. Playing 25 mins a game every game during the year may not leave him too fresh for the playoffs (despite the Olympic break) and then playing the tough brand of playoff hockey. Unfortunately, regardless of how the Caps do overall, I wouldn’t be surprised if Green doesn’t live up to expectations during the playoffs.

Spot on.

 Although I do think we are better suited for a playoff run this year than last. While our defense and goal tending situation is largely unchanged, the offense has been equipped with the parts needed to sustain the fire power once the game changes from the free wheeling regular season to the hard nosed style of the playoffs. Adding Knuble and Chimera really gives this team the edge we lacked the last two years which we are starting to see show up now that Knuble is healthy and Chimera is becoming acclimated to his surroundings. Having an offense that can score from in close and through hard work in front of the net will go along way as opposed to the highly skilled perimeter game that works wonders in the regular season but dries up once the playoffs start and teams tighten up.

I really hope we can keep the pieces together for a few more years because with an experienced Varlamov and a defensive top 4 of Green-Schultz-Alzner-Carlson combined with our current offense we would be a really tough team to compete with. My only concern is that our offensive development is too far ahead of our defensive development and that by the time our young defenders/goaltenders are ready the offense will have already peaked.

I am of the opinion that the Caps don’t need a Guerin, Weight, Whitney, Kunitz or other gritty yet skilled forward. Do they need that shutdown d-man (who will cost them so dearly, to be sure)? Perhaps, but maybe not the high octane type we’re thinking of (a Nieds or Pronger).
Look at the Pens and last season. As late as St Valentine’s Day, their season was on the brink – they got crushed 6-2 by a horrible Toronto team and Therrien got fired. Let’s face it: who was afraid of Gonchar, Letang, Gill, Eaton, Orpik, Scuderi? They defied expectations because of their aggressive o-ffensive style kept most teams skating backwards. In the SCF, the Pens D and forwards stunned the Wings by shutting down Detroit’s offense. It was a complete team effort.
I think we can make an upgrade at D, but nothing drastic. It’s mostly up to Bruce, I believe.

In fact, of all the teams that might make the playoffs, Chicago is my pick as most likely high-seed to be eliminated in the first round.

Couldn’t aree more. Huet has never won a playoff series, and has only played in 16 NHL playoff games total, or 3 more than Varly. Huet is 34 years old. Varly is 21.

With respect to matchups, I say bring on the Devils if they can get past the first round. That team is only going as far as Martin Broduer can drag them and Marty is on another 70+ games, 4,000+ minute pace. He turns 38 in May and had broken down at the end of season for the past four years. Why would this year, with the compressed schedule, be any different? The Devils can’t score, the Buffaslugs outgun them, and if Marty starts letting them in, how will they win in the playoffs?

You’re spot on with the Buffaslugs and if Miller carries the load for the US, it will only hasten their demise.

As for Pittsburgh, sorry but it really does depend upon the zebra crew and NHL Front Office directives. Yeah, go ahead, laugh at, and dismiss the KoOkY KoNsPiRaCy ThEoRiSt. But explain the 21 seconds before you do.

With Detroit and Anaheim lurking around the bottom of the Western Conference Playoff spots, Chicago and San Jose should be very worried because if Detroit and Anaheim end up 7 and 8 out West then Chicago and San Jose are going out in the first round. However because Detroit and Anaheim are going to have to expend so much just to make the playoffs, they won’t last more than one round which really opens things up in the West.

If we can get through the East, and avoiding the Penguin Scum would greatly increase those chances, then this very well could be our year.

As for last night, I don’t read too much stock into the game, because as mentioned before, Detroit will be fighting for their playoff lives for the rest of the season. They need every point they can get and are well aware of that fact. It would take a monumental collapse for the Caps to fail to make the playoffs. Despite not matching the urgency/intensity of the Red Wings, the Caps still found a way to win last night and played the type of game they’ll need to play come April on Sunday against the Flyers.

My only concern is that the Caps fail to “turn it on” at the right time again this year. But with our schedule over the last few weeks and a chance at the President’s Trophy and #1 seed in the East, the Caps should have plenty of focus and drive for the final few games despite wrapping up a playoff spot and division title rather early.

What are you doing on Feb. 6?

I think he had food poisoning.

All I could think during the game was, “why does everyone have to have a bad night at the same time?” I totally missed the third goal until the replay. I got caught looking down or something, I can’t remember what. Who expected two goals so close together with the way they were playing?

no doubt, around the 3rd period the comment I made to the guy next to me was they had cement in their boots and looked slow last night. He said that he was just thinking they had an anchor in tow. I know they can play better, but when you have a first period like that you would think it would get better immediately, not wait until the last 15 minutes of the game.

They can, but they have to work for it.

This to me is the $64,000 question with this team come playoff time.

Two girls, one OFB mug?

Your sig line just made me snort wayyyy too loud.

Those should only be held on the weekend (so I can do them and not look like I’m completely blowing off work).

I didn’t know they were married

There were a lot of fluky bounces last night, but there was also a lot of stick in the wrong place, not on the ice, etc. going on.

And they weren’t going for the puck. It was maddening!

They were not even one-on-one battles though, most of the time it wasn’t a battle. A Red Wing would skate to the puck in open ice and then skate away with it.

That sounds like a one-on-one battle to me. There should have been a red jersey in the open ice you refer to.

Id have never guessed that the caps blocked more shots. So many of their shots never made it through to Osgood.

I said it last night, and then went to bed (so I have no idea as to the reactions it got :-), but I can’t remember the last time I saw a team as dominant as the Wings were last night. Years, decades, maybe even ever. Every time a Wing passed the puck, it was on another Wing’s tape. Every time they shot and missed, they got it right back. It was the most amazing loss I think I’ve ever seen. Luckily, Jose was amazing.

Point being, I don’t think the Caps played poorly, or even a little lackadaisically; Detroit just destroyed them in all but one of the ways in which it mattered…

Until the last 10 minutes of the game, when they pooped out.

Face looking weird again.

That’s the worst Carlson has ever looked in Red, White, and Blue.

Does he endeavour to wear a different number every time he puts on a sweater?

For British eyes only!

my dad is a Caps fan. The rest of my family is Bruins fans. So, Bruins fans on one side, and a Wings fan on the other. My dad and I keep fighting the good fight.

I’m inclined to agree.

Lots of disposable income in this area.

Dude with the jersey in question was sitting with the C’naut Sunday in Section 101, about 10 rows in front of me.

Some would call it a butt-ugly year. Some would say that’s somewhat fitting.

He’s had rough years for the last couple as well.

What else can I say? They aren’t going to take the C from him, it’s not going to turn them around, and who were their other serious options? If it were my call, Gleason would be wearing the C. But when you literally have only one franchise player on your team it makes sense I guess.

I think Ward has already been locked up for like 6 years.

GMJR?

zing!!

We once caught a Canadiens broadcast in French way down in Southern Maryland

Either way, you should probably F5 the home page from 1:30 onward.

In perfect time for the viewing party.

“First one to retrieve a lock of hair from the vanquished Penguins captain gets to spell ‘Cindee Crysby’ in red paint on center ice at the Igloo”.

Pretty close, right?

He seems like is a genuinely nice, humble guy and he beat up Patrick Roy!

corrected.

And didn’t have his glove hand up high. I thought the Steckel goal was more forgivable than the Backstrom goal. Baxter’s was a nice move to get to the slot but not an overly hard shot and it just went five hole. IMO, that was the one he really needed to stop.

oh snap

Wayne Simmonds bobbleheads make Georges Laraque bobbleheads look like Jean-Luc Grand Pierre bobbleheads.