Caps had a HUGE win on Tuesday against Carolina. Still, with the win and tying up the Hurricanes for the division lead, they find themselves on the outside looking in to the playoffs. Carolina holds the tie breaker. The way it stands is there are two games left. The Caps have 90 points. They sit 2 points behind division leader Carolina who won last night. They sit 1 point behind Philly for the 8th spot and 2 points behind Boston for the 7th seed.
Basically, the Caps need to win their final two and still hope for help. It's essentially playoff hockey now. They play TB tonight who is coming off of a 6-2 drubbing at the hands of Carolina last night. They may be tired having played last night and having to travel and they aren't playing for anything since they are out of the playoff picture. Still, they may want to play the spoiler and if they have any pride, they will want to redeem themselves from last night's drubbing. Bottom line, the Caps have to play knowing the season is in the balance. It will be interesting.
3 comments:
Who's in goal tonight? Pat Riggin? Al Jensen? Pete Peters? Bob Mason?
How are Rod Langway and Mike Gartner doing this year?
Those are the guys that I remember when I was truly a Caps fan. Now, I just don't follow the team. In fact, I would struggle to name more than 5 players on this year's team. I can think of Ovechkin, Ollie, an aging Federov, Brashear, and Semin (I believe he is also Russian). I know they have a new goalie that cambe by trade but I don't even know his name.
I may try to get back into hockey and the Caps. If they make a run, I'm sure I will follow more closely - of course that means they have to make it in.
I was like you. I remember the days of Kelly Miller, Mike Ridley, Dennis Maruk, Bengt Gustaffson, Jorgen Pederson, Alan Haworth, Calle Johanssen, Larry Murphy, Scott Stevens, Dino Ciccarelli, Dale Hunter, etc.
I lost track of them after the Jagr experiment failed and they went into rebuilding mode. However, I have started to pay attention the last several weeks and gotten to know the team pretty well. I now know the names of many of the players out there and they are a young and exciting team.
George McPhee, the GM, has done an incredible job by first getting the superstar (Ovechkin) and building young talent around him (Semin, Backstrom, Green). Then at the trading deadline he didn't go for any big names but went for quality needed veterans (Federov (tremendous passer), Cooke (good grunt guy), and Huet (really hot goalie)). It's been a great combination.
The goalie you are trying to name is Cristobal Huet and he's been unbelievable during this 9-1 stretch they are in. He has successfully supplanted Olie as the #1 goalie.
This team finds ways to win and seem to be destined for the playoffs. Craig "Locker" Laughlin calls them the "cardiac kids" for their flare for the dramatic.
Seriously, Boudreau deserves coach of the year consideration. Ovechkin should be hands down the league MVP. And McPhee should be the executive of the year.
LETS GO CAPS!!!
I'll try to watch the next two games. Maybe I'll get to see the next Bobby Carpenter.
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