With 25 regular season games remaining, the Caps find themselves 5 points out of SE Divisional leading Tampa Bay and the number 6 seed in the playoffs which would match them up with Boston in the first round.
The Caps defense and Penalty Kill has been much better this season as compared to last year. However, their PP and offensive scoring has been WAY down compared to last year. We all know what happened in the playoffs last year and everyone talked last year that we weren't built for the playoffs and defense wins championships and all that so while I haven't been thrilled with the Caps play this season, I have largely held off on my judgements and will reserve them come playoff time.
Honestly, it doesn't matter what this team does in the regular season. This team will be judged by what they do in the playoffs. Still, we have got to get the PP going and have got to get some more scoring. I'm all for strong defense but if we don't score goals, we can't win games.
I remember last year there were times we were 3 goals down but we had the fire power to just turn it on and we were able to come back. That feeling is not there this year. I'm fine with that. As long as the coaches and players are good with it, I'm good. Again, the test will be when the playoffs start.
5 comments:
I'm basing my comments on a few recent games that I've watched. It seems to me that the offensive issues are the result of just a few problems that can be resolved with a little time and attention to detail.
1. The offensive strategy is not as aggressive as it was in previous seasons and one the results has been that the weak-side defender plays WAY behind the blue line. Well...the forwards use a fore-checking technique that requires the puck to be wrapped around the back of the goal to set up the offense. We lose the puck a lot because that weak-side is not manned. I'm not sure how to fix that. If I did, I'd apply for the HC job. I just think it can be fixed with some tweaking.
2. The little things. When we get out on a break, our passes aren't crisp and many times we have two forwards that are too close to each other. The spacing isn't there and the opposing defenders just crowd us in and diffuse our breaks before they start. It's really frustrating to watch, but it too can be fixed.
3. The power play. This just has to be fixed. We get a little too cute looking for the perfect shot. The players just have to be aggressive and take shots when they're available. Also, again, the spacing isn't there. We run a lot of triangles in a corner and don't switch the puck to the other side of the rink. Better movement will open up the defense and get the goalie out of position.
There you have it. Deepie's three-steps to CAPS success. Stanley Cup, here we come!
Fire Gabby. This team is just not responding to him.
I also wonder about Ovie's leadership as captain.
I don't know enough about hockey systems/strategy to understand what the issues are. I do know that the system was changed from last year to be more focused on defense; hence, the better stats for GAA and the decrease in goals.
Robs comments are silly. Don't fire Gabby yet. The players seem to enjoy him. He seems to have a good relationship with McPhee. That comment is a more knee jerk type of reaction common of typical fans we criticize about in football. Gabby has done enough to earn the right to try and fix this thing. Again, this team will be judged by what they do in the playoffs. Lets see what they do in the playoffs before any decision is made on Gabby.
The comment on Ovie is a little bit more understandable. When Ovie was named captain last season, the team went on a tear. However, it may be better to strip him of his captaincy and give it to a respected vet like Knuble and then let Ovie be Ovie. The problem with that is that if you strip Ovie of his captaincy, he will take it as an insult and the media would make a big deal about it and it would cause more of a disruption than it would be worth so that wouldn't work.
My take is to sit tight. Allow Gabby and the team to fix this thing. Let see what they do in the playoffs and lets make a determination of steps/plans for the future based on their playoff results.
Well, he definitely did something different last night. They gave up 6 goals and scored 7. His post game comments were complimentary of the team for coninually coming back from deficits. How about not getting yourself into such crap, scoring 2 or 3 goals and calling it a night? They are trying to do everything possible to not be like the team from last year. So, the thinking is that they will perform better in the play offs? We'll see.
We rolled through the regular season last year and then stumbled mightily in the playoffs.
We complain all we want now but honestly, this team will be measured by what they do in the playoffs.
Last year, when we were ousted, everyone said that we weren't built for the playoffs and that we didn't have good defense, etc.
We have better defense now but aren't scoring as many goals. That's what people wanted last year. Now people are complaining that we aren't as high flying or scoring as many goals.
Again, we shouldn't push the panic button yet. We'll see if these guys can win in the playoffs. If they do, great. If they don't, it may be time for change.
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