It's been an average start to the beginning of the Dale Hunter Era, as the Washington Capitals (15-14-1, 33 points) are 4-5 since their onetime captain took over behind the bench.
Overall, the team is ninth in the league in goals per game (2.90), but 23rd in goals against (3.06). Some of that is expected, as the team has been asked (for the second straight season) to do a complete 180-degree turn in playing style midway through the campaign. However, with Hunter behind the bench now (as opposed to former Coach Bruce Boudreau leading the charge last winter), improvements are very slow to materialize.
The only advantage the Caps have right now is time: they've only played 31 games and are just two points behind the last playoff spot. The disconcerting stat is that their goal differential is minus-five (ninth in the East), whereas they were plus-27 last season. If they can buy what Hunter is selling -- and do it effectively -- then all of that will change.
But for a team that had high hopes coming into the season, it is quite painful to watch right now. They suffered through a 2-1 loss at Colorado last night and squeezed by the Jets in a 1-0 win at Winnipeg Thursday night. And let's not forget the embarrassing 5-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers at Verizon Center Tuesday night.
The team hosts the Nashville Predators Tuesday night before traveling to face the New Jersey Devils Friday night and Buffalo Sabres on Monday.
December 18, 2011
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1 stormer(s) wrote:
Washington, ironically, needs SCORERS, since the handful of players on their roster who used to be able to do that at will are either gone or, like The Great-8, have morphed into pedestrian, dime-a-dozen 20 goal scorers at the rate they're going this year..
A few solid TWO-WAY players sprinkled throughout all four lines wouldn't hurt either. With those bases covered, it's more likely that their goal tending would improve--WHOEVER is between the pipes for their new coach...
LET'S GO COMMON SENSE!!
Clifford
Santa Monica
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