2013 Southeast Division Champions Caps Vs. Rangers

[Warhead36]

I swear Hockey is the only sport where it is obvious people don't get it. I don't know any other sport with so many games where people talk about not making the playoffs after ONE FREAKING GAME.

There can be no intelligent conversation about last nights game.

We have a brand new coach and just came off a lengthened lockout.

In the case of last year our team got better as the team learned hunters style of play. This team will too.

As in EVERY year, we have a question mark at goalie and on our defensive make up.

As for this year, we will be able to talk after 10 games.

Voice of reason.

[SpringfieldSkins]

I didn't catch the end of the game last night.

I'm not worried about one game though. We looked like a team that had a new coach, several new players and only had a week to get everything to mesh. It's no big deal.

---------- Post added January-20th-2013 at 11:37 AM ----------

Also, news about Kuznetsov.
http://www.russianmachineneverbreaks...ochi-olympics/

I'm one who will believe it when I see it. If that article holds true he won't be here until after next season (or midway through next season).

[Lloyds' Mongolian Beef]

Ribeiro and Wolski look like they have a good chemistry and that second line looks solid. I hate you Jeff Schultz.

[Sticksboi05]

It was one game. We have a new coach, new system, new players, coming off a lockout with ONE WEEK of training camp, obviously there is going to be a rough learning curve. Chipwhich speaks the truth.

[HBnotBlades]

Also, news about Kuznetsov.
http://www.russianmachineneverbreaks...ochi-olympics/

I'm one who will believe it when I see it. If that article holds true he won't be here until after next season (or midway through next season).

I've always been fairly confident that Kuznetsov would make it over here, but that it probably wouldn't happen until the 2014/15 season. I didn't fault him for staying an extra couple years, he makes more money, he gets to stay and home, and his agent (correctly) predicted he would have a shortened season due to the lockout if he came over. Besides, if he takes an extra few years to develop overseas that means he'll stay a restricted free agent longer into his prime than he would have otherwise. Good deal for the Caps.

[Popeman38]

Tom Poti has to go. NOW. He got abused last night. Schultz is Schultz. He hasn't changed yet, he isn't going to. But Poti is old, slow, out of shape, and wasn't good when he hurt his groin 2 years ago.

[Koala]

I dont mind being patient, but lets not forget this is a shortened season.

I dont think it was that bad a start, actually, we dominated in the 1st part of the game, but Tampa can beat us despite getting outplayed AND they can outplay us.

Agree the Holtby looked shaky though, never mind the goals -- he gave up a lot of tasty rebounds.

Why is recurring nightmare known as Jeff Shultz still out there? A 6'5 guy who skates like he's 7'5" and hits like he's 5'5"...It defies all logic

We still need a physical defenseman that isnt a catastrophe on skates, way too much traffic in front of Holtby last night.

What do yall think of Ovi on the PK? Smart way to get him more involved, or are we sabotaging our PK units. On one penalty kill, he destroyed some guy open-ice, which I liked, but then I noticed him drifting too far up-ice while TB still had the puck down deep, a couple of times, tho they didint take advantage of this ...I dunno about this over-all..

[endzone_dave]

It's just one game but our defense has a huge lack of a talent. If you are throwing Poti, Schultz, and Hamrlik all out there on the same night, it's going to be rough going.

[Heisenberg]

Only reason they "dominated" the first part of the game was the fact that they were on the PP quite a bit. They were outplayed handily at full strength for the entire game.

[BRAVEONTHEWARPATH93]

If everyone could fill out this survey about the game last night, it would really help me in my sports marketing course

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/W2W75XG

thanks

[Zazzaro703]

it's one game dude

Yeah it's one game that we have seen for the last 5 years. Same players, same lack of focus penalties at the worst time and leaving the ice looking like you gave up in the 3rd period. Guess we will see because yes it is one game but I don't see how the same group of cord players will miraculously pull it together. They would have done so by now.

[Popeman38]

If everyone could fill out this survey about the game last night, it would really help me in my sports marketing course

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/W2W75XG

thanks

Done

[darklight1216]

I dont mind being patient, but lets not forget this is a shortened season.

I dont think it was that bad a start, actually, we dominated in the 1st part of the game, but Tampa can beat us despite getting outplayed AND they can outplay us.

Agree the Holtby looked shaky though, never mind the goals -- he gave up a lot of tasty rebounds.

Why is recurring nightmare known as Jeff Shultz still out there? A 6'5 guy who skates like he's 7'5" and hits like he's 5'5"...It defies all logic

We still need a physical defenseman that isnt a catastrophe on skates, way too much traffic in front of Holtby last night.

What do yall think of Ovi on the PK? Smart way to get him more involved, or are we sabotaging our PK units. On one penalty kill, he destroyed some guy open-ice, which I liked, but then I noticed him drifting too far up-ice while TB still had the puck down deep, a couple of times, tho they didint take advantage of this ...I dunno about this over-all..

Your write up on Schultz is hilarious. It's also a little sad because it's all true.

I didn't see the game, but it seems like I didn't miss much of anything.

That's the thing that irks me about hockey. I can miss dozens of games and not be dissapointed because they simply don't matter.

I digress. Can anyone tell me how Backstrom and Johannson played?

[Bibby]

Your write up on Schultz is hilarious. It's also a little sad because it's all true.

I didn't see the game, but it seems like I didn't miss much of anything.

That's the thing that irks me about hockey. I can miss dozens of games and not be dissapointed because they simply don't matter.

I digress. Can anyone tell me how Backstrom and Johannson played?

Backstrom didn't seem to have the puck much, making the passes we are used to seeing. I remember one time he almost connected with Ovechkin for a possible goal. That was as nice as it got. As for MoJo.. can't tell you anything. He didn't do anything to raise attention. Ribeiro was the center seeming to do it all. A forgetful night of hockey.

[RonArtest15]

I think I'm more worried about overall team toughness. I watched the Sabres/Flyers game yesterday, and the Sabres of all teams, bullied the Flyers. Drew Stafford dropping the gloves...guys like Steve Ott and Kaleta doing what they do best. Etc etc. Do we have that on the Caps? Tom Wilson can't get here soon enough LOL.