The Washington Capitals haven't wasted any time coming out of the gate strongly in the 2011-12 season. They're 7-0 (just the fifth team to do so, but neither of the previous four have won the Stanley Cup). Of course, it still matters more what they do in April, May (and maybe June) than October, but that shouldn't take away from the performance of new goalie Tomas Vokoun.
"He was great," Coach Bruce Boudreau said of the goalie's play in last night's 7-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. "He's been great ever since the 15-minute mark of the second game. He's been outstanding."
In six games so far, Vokoun is undefeated with a 1.80 goals-against average and .944 save percentage. Both would be career bests for the Czech goaltender.
"Vokoun made saves and gave their guys an opportunity and our guy [had] a tough time," Wings Coach Mike Babcock said last night.
How often has Boudreau come up with a quote similar to Babcock's during his tenure? The bottom line is that Vokoun gives the Caps a player who can steal a game, and that's something that's essentially to winning a Stanley Cup.
Meanwhile, the Caps' offense is leading the league with 4.14 goals per game and giving up just two (good for seventh). The power play is back on top of the league at 29.6 percent, while the penalty kill has been pedestrian at 81.8 (18th). This is certainly the balance Boudreau is seeking, although the PK needs some TLC -- and the power play will come back to earth.
All in all, the Caps are doing a lot right, but still have room for improvement. There still are lulls during games and their PK must improve. But, that being said, you can't ask more than winning ever game -- even if it's only October.
October 23, 2011
October 11, 2011
Two and Oh-So-Close
Although just two games have been played during the 2011-12 regular season, so far the Washington Capitals have made it seem that their run-and-gun ways are back -- or that their defense is way behind their offense in terms of development. A 6-5 shootout win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night followed a 4-3 overtime victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on opening night.
Those two wins give the Caps 4.5 goals per game (second in the NHL), but also a 4.00 GAA (26th). The reality is that they'll probably finish somewhere in the middle of those two numbers. However, heading into their next two games -- Thursday at the Pittsburgh Penguins and Saturday at home against the Ottawa Senators -- the Caps need to start tightening up on offense.
Each goalie has started once and neither has looked overly impressive. New acquisition Tomas Vokoun gave up three soft goals against the Lightning, while Michal Neuvirth didn't dominate. That's nitpicking, yes, but with a small sample size that's the only available evidence so far.
No conclusions are drawn in October, so the basic goal remains the same: establish good habits and play the right way. All the rest should take care of itself.
Those two wins give the Caps 4.5 goals per game (second in the NHL), but also a 4.00 GAA (26th). The reality is that they'll probably finish somewhere in the middle of those two numbers. However, heading into their next two games -- Thursday at the Pittsburgh Penguins and Saturday at home against the Ottawa Senators -- the Caps need to start tightening up on offense.
Each goalie has started once and neither has looked overly impressive. New acquisition Tomas Vokoun gave up three soft goals against the Lightning, while Michal Neuvirth didn't dominate. That's nitpicking, yes, but with a small sample size that's the only available evidence so far.
No conclusions are drawn in October, so the basic goal remains the same: establish good habits and play the right way. All the rest should take care of itself.
October 5, 2011
This is the Caps' Year, Take III
The Washington Capitals, once again, went through a makeover during the off-season in the hopes of finding the right formula to win the franchise's first Stanley Cup. But this year's recruits -- Joel Ward, Troy Brouwer, Jeff Halpern (for his second stint with the team), Roman Hamrlik, and Tomas Vokoun -- have a different feel than previous additions.
For one, they're all going to play Coach Bruce Boudreau's system -- which indicates that GM George McPhee finally acknowledged that getting players to adhere to a system is easier than changing the ways of existing players. Secondly, only Brouwer has a Stanley Cup and, at age 26, is extremely hungry for more.
And, finally, bringing in Vokoun indicates that McPhee and Boudreau have officially acknowledged that the former starting tandem of Michael Neuvirth and Semyon Varlamov wasn't enough to get them over the proverbial hump. (Neuvirth is still the Goalie of the Future -- for now -- while Varly's trade to Colorado yielded a first-round draft pick that could be a top-five selection come June.)
Keys to the Season
* Motivation: Although this should have been decided long ago, this team needs to show that it won't take a night off and will not play less than a full 60 minutes every game. This is the season to prove everybody wrong -- and one where how they play matters more than whether they win or lose.
* Playing for Each Other: This is perhaps the most important trait of a champion. Teams that win aren't selfish and don't care about any trophy except the Stanley Cup. It's time to put aside all of the "playoff style" comments and show that they're striving for excellence from day one. The new folks made the team deeper and more balanced, and now they've got to prove it on the ice.
* Tougher Competition: Like it or not, the Caps have a major target on their back. Not only have they won the Southeast Division four times in a row and the Eastern Conference twice, but they've got to improve to keep up with the competition. The defending champion Boston Bruins won their division but, seeded third, were somewhat quiet throughout the regular season before dominating in the playoffs. The Philadelphia Flyers are undergoing a chemistry experience that could end up being downright scary for their competition (or their locker room), while the Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning are only getting better. It's time for the Caps to go deep into the playoffs and prove that they're for real.
Predictions
Best Case Scenario: As we've said for a while, the Caps' only ideal ending to the season is a Stanley Cup. They've got the roster to do it and GMGM always finds a way under the salary cap to make the right moves. It's up to the players to make history.
Worst Case Scenario: As in previous seasons, there's always the possibility that this group is a disaster, injuries hit like wildfire and the team falls apart -- leading to Boudreau's firing. Doubtful but possible.
What Should Happen: The team wins its fifth-straight division title, Vokoun has a career season and everything goes according to plan. I'm not saying they'll win the Cup, but a berth in the Eastern Conference finals should be a given unless the wheels fall off the wagon (as detailed above).
League-Wide Picks
Regular season division winners: Flyers (Atlantic), Bruins (Northeast), Caps (Southeast), Detroit Red Wings (Central), Vancouver Canucks (Northwest), and San Jose Sharks (Pacific).
Eastern Conference playoff teams (in no particular order): Flyers, Bruins, Caps, Penguins, Lightning, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Western Conference playoff teams (in no particular order): Red Wings, Canucks, Sharks, L.A. Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Nashville Predators, Chicago Blackhawks, and Dallas Stars.
Playoff conference champions: Flyers and Red Wings.
Your 2011-12 Stanley Cup champion: Flyers (as I first predicted in June).
For one, they're all going to play Coach Bruce Boudreau's system -- which indicates that GM George McPhee finally acknowledged that getting players to adhere to a system is easier than changing the ways of existing players. Secondly, only Brouwer has a Stanley Cup and, at age 26, is extremely hungry for more.
And, finally, bringing in Vokoun indicates that McPhee and Boudreau have officially acknowledged that the former starting tandem of Michael Neuvirth and Semyon Varlamov wasn't enough to get them over the proverbial hump. (Neuvirth is still the Goalie of the Future -- for now -- while Varly's trade to Colorado yielded a first-round draft pick that could be a top-five selection come June.)
Keys to the Season
* Motivation: Although this should have been decided long ago, this team needs to show that it won't take a night off and will not play less than a full 60 minutes every game. This is the season to prove everybody wrong -- and one where how they play matters more than whether they win or lose.
* Playing for Each Other: This is perhaps the most important trait of a champion. Teams that win aren't selfish and don't care about any trophy except the Stanley Cup. It's time to put aside all of the "playoff style" comments and show that they're striving for excellence from day one. The new folks made the team deeper and more balanced, and now they've got to prove it on the ice.
* Tougher Competition: Like it or not, the Caps have a major target on their back. Not only have they won the Southeast Division four times in a row and the Eastern Conference twice, but they've got to improve to keep up with the competition. The defending champion Boston Bruins won their division but, seeded third, were somewhat quiet throughout the regular season before dominating in the playoffs. The Philadelphia Flyers are undergoing a chemistry experience that could end up being downright scary for their competition (or their locker room), while the Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning are only getting better. It's time for the Caps to go deep into the playoffs and prove that they're for real.
Predictions
Best Case Scenario: As we've said for a while, the Caps' only ideal ending to the season is a Stanley Cup. They've got the roster to do it and GMGM always finds a way under the salary cap to make the right moves. It's up to the players to make history.
Worst Case Scenario: As in previous seasons, there's always the possibility that this group is a disaster, injuries hit like wildfire and the team falls apart -- leading to Boudreau's firing. Doubtful but possible.
What Should Happen: The team wins its fifth-straight division title, Vokoun has a career season and everything goes according to plan. I'm not saying they'll win the Cup, but a berth in the Eastern Conference finals should be a given unless the wheels fall off the wagon (as detailed above).
League-Wide Picks
Regular season division winners: Flyers (Atlantic), Bruins (Northeast), Caps (Southeast), Detroit Red Wings (Central), Vancouver Canucks (Northwest), and San Jose Sharks (Pacific).
Eastern Conference playoff teams (in no particular order): Flyers, Bruins, Caps, Penguins, Lightning, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Western Conference playoff teams (in no particular order): Red Wings, Canucks, Sharks, L.A. Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Nashville Predators, Chicago Blackhawks, and Dallas Stars.
Playoff conference champions: Flyers and Red Wings.
Your 2011-12 Stanley Cup champion: Flyers (as I first predicted in June).
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