Tuesday Caps Clips: Road Kill

I’d say the Pens are even more depleted. But they are a better team so I still expect it to be a battle.

The Caps should just strategically forfeit West Coast games. They never even seem to be competitive in them. Forfeit the games and stay in DC to practice and rest up for the upcoming home slate.

IOW, it wasn’t the coach.

No, I don’t see it that way at all.

Still prone to bad periods of play? yes.

Same frequency? no.

And most importantly, IMO, the team seems to be playing more physical. I know that phrase is used a lot, but I really think it is true.

Hunter seems to understand that no matter how talented the offense, if a team isn’t anticipating a physical, hard game, they’re not going to fear the caps. And without any fear or reservation, people won’t be scared of the Caps, especially in the playoffs where you can’t have inferior teams feeling fully confident in their ability to beat you.

Going by Fenwick, two years ago, the Caps were mediocre with the score tied but still elite in other situations. Now, they’re strong with the score tied, but bad in other situations.

By no means do I think the score tied Fenwick is representative of the Caps’ score tied play in either case, but I find that interesting nonetheless.

My tweet from last night:

Caps one of the few teams I think that get outshot when trailing by two or more goals. No life. No ooomff. Just, bleh.

I have to say that these Fenwick timelines are so full of win.

I must confess I didn’t watch the game last night (since staying up until 1:00 am and working the next day are not exactly compatible). Given the Caps’ track record against the Kings (and the fact they don’t do well against them) and the fact the Caps were w/o both Backstrom and Green, I didn’t have high expectations for their performance.

If they are to win a Cup, at some point they are going to have to.

Further to that, in between San Jose and LA the last time the Caps won at either place was 12/14/2005. Over all-time, the franchise has an 18-39-7 record at both rinks.

Seems the team shares in your shoulder shrug. If they are going to adapt that attitude, why not just treat threse as preseason games: call up a bunch of Bears, leave anyone injured at home and have a good time?

Not too bummed out. We never, ever win out West.

I definitely expected more effort and that the Caps would come out with more fire than they did. I was hoping the winning streak would give this team an energy boost and hopefully some confidence so they don’t give up when, say, they go down 3-1. But once again, it’s one step forward, one step back with this team. It’s getting old.

What’s the opposite of rats fleeing a sinking ship?

The first thing I thought of when I saw that is that Cox should stick to tennis. Then I thought, Imagine this team, right now, without Ovechkin (and with Green and Backstrom injured)…

28-21-20
25-90-42
15-85-22
26-83-50

…ugh.

He’s bitter because no one wants to buy his book. He should be use to people making him look like an ass.

?

The Lightning jumped Anisimov when he pulled that stunt after scoring a goal. The Caps complained to the media afterwards.

I thought it was funny, and perhaps the Caps knew they were playing like shit and the goal may have been the nail in the (early) coffin.

I don’t see the difference between Tebowing and any number of other accepted celebrations. People go down on one knee to celebrate goals all the time. Briere always does his move where he dips down and does an uppercut, AO has his drop to a knee, kiss his glove and point to the sky. I don’t see what the big deal is.

Also, Alzner has a problem with high fives across the bench? That’s done after literally every goal in the NHL.

Easiest way to prevent stupid celebrations is to keep the opponent from scoring goals…

The Washington Generals.

Luckily it’s not a scratch-n-sniff…

It’d be hilarious if you scratched off the #55 over and over to see if you won a prize.

Disband it!

The latter. This team isn’t a contender with or without Lubo, and he’s not exactly having a great year either. Definitely would not be giving up two first round assets to make anything happen.

I would lean towards the second as well. I am starting to doubt whether the Caps are even a playoff team this season. I think if they do somehow make the playoffs, they’re out in the first round – no point in giving in valuable picks/prospects.

The funny thing is that I think even if the Caps were to make some trades that would be perceived as re-tooling for next year, they still would have a decent shot at making the playoffs. I believe the team should be shopping Knuble, Schultz, Ward, and Vokoun. I don’t know if giving up one of the 1st round picks is the best idea in a deep draft, but if it solidifies the 2C spot for the next few years, I’m all for it. The problem is I don’t see a player that could fill that gap being available. At this point, I think they need to re-build the Young Guns. I’d clear as much cap space as possible, and make a run at Parise (if he hits FA) or Suter in the offseason.

The latter. Is there really any reason to believe this team is one piece away?

Even I was down after two periods last night, but I don’t think we can throw the towel in just yet. I don’t know the answer to your question. Is it possible the Caps can make a run? Sure. Just as the Flyers did two years ago. We’re not that far back and haven’t even played half our games.

At the same time, I am not interested in mortgaging the future for a run, that much I agree with. One player will not put this team over the top. This team playing like a team will put it over the top. Show me in the next 20 games that you can pull it together, then we’ll talk about individual trades.

Was actually thinking about this this morning. I think the Caps shouldn’t give up a higher than a 3rd round pick/middling prospect at the deadline if the want depth to make a run, or if keeps going the way it has, trade assets for picks/players to help next year. If Dale is in this for more than this year, I have to think he and GMGM will spend quite a bit of time figuring out what kind of team Dale wants on the ice and acquire players to make that happen.

The Caps presumably acquired Dennis Wideman to fill that role when Green was on the shelf last season. If the Caps are going to add a defeseman, I do not think what they need is one of the Green/Poti/Wideman type but a more rugged type with some skill. The Caps just don’t seem to compete very well in front of their own net. They need to get a lot better in that regard. But I don’t think that asset is going to be available, nor make that much of a difference with this team. There is still the matter of that yawning chasm behind Backstrom in terms of center depth that has neither been adequately developed or acquired.

For 2011-2012, this is pretty much the team they’ve got. If they are going anywhere, they are going to have to find it from within. I’m not holding my breath.

I’m starting to think that what might be best for the team would be a mini-rebuild. Trade TV, 22, 28, 6 for whatever picks and prospects that they can.

I’d rather see the team stronger next year than being buyers at the deadline, eaking into the playoffs and getting waxed by the Ranges or B’s.

The latter. Unless this team goes on a miraculous run with the pieces in place in the next month, I’d start shopping Semin, Knuble, Schultz and really any other non-core assets. Even Vokoun if the price is right.

I think the Caps can put themselves in a position to reload quickly and change their identity in time for the start of next season and once again be competitive for several years, if they play their cards right.

It’s a nice trick, though.

The Prezbo of the Rink.

But you make it look so easy, look so clean.

I don’t think that one style versus the other is inherently better or worse… if the leading by example is actually being done.

If the Caps miss the playoffs, or the team flails in the postseason (i.e. loses 4-1 in the first round), I suspect you’ll see a coaching change. And I half-suspect that Randy Carlyle might end up behind the bench.

While it’s still too early to definitively judge his tenure, the early returns haven’t been good. He looks like he’s shoving square pegs into round holes. Improving the team defensively is one thing, but this team has all but abandoned its ability to control the puck.