Caps Escape Atlanta with a Win, Again

The Caps seem to make a habit of playing down to their competition and not competing for a full 60 minutes. Last season, that cost them several games -- and probably the top seed in the Eastern Conference. So far this season, they've managed to win those games (earning points in all but two contests) -- but still haven't learned their lesson.

Tonight in Atlanta, the Caps raced out to a 3-0 lead and were pretty dominant through 40 minutes of play. But instead of finishing a weakened Atlanta Thrashers squad, they eased off the gas and the let the Thrash come within one goal before escaping with a 4-2 win at Philips Arena.

It's the Caps' sixth consecutive win, but it's not exactly time for celebrating. Atlanta had no business being anywhere near the Caps tonight and yet they were. The Caps played too loose in the third period, especially on the Thrashers' second goal when most of the team was caught up ice and Todd White scored on an easy breakaway.

Not coincidentally, the Alex Ovechkin-Nicklas Backstrom-Alex Semin line was on the ice at that time. This is yet further proof that those three cannot play together regularly at even strength because any defensive awareness they boast goes away. When Backstrom and Ovechkin play with Mike Knuble, they're much more responsible in their defensive end and still amazing offensively.

I'm not going to repeat my tirade on Semin, but he was the only member of that line without a point tonight.

The Caps host the Islanders Friday night at Verizon Center.