The Washington Capitals may be Team Turmoil this season but, through 41 games (exactly halfway through the season), the Caps are just four points behind the Florida Panthers for the Southeast Division lead with a game in hand (both teams play tonight). And they're tied with the reeling Pittsburgh Penguins for the eighth and final playoff spot, three points behind the seventh-place Toronto Maple Leafs.
Watching the team lately, it's easy to see that bright times are ahead. They're playing great defensive hockey and winning home games. They're still a little rusty away from Verizon Center, but are in the second game of a four-game homestand. If things go well, they could be leading the division by the all-star break.
It's also important to remember that GM George McPhee hasn't made any trades yet, but it's apparent that Jeff Schultz isn't in the long-term plan after spending a lot of time as a healthy scratch this season. Schultz has two years left on his deal after this one. John Erskine hasn't played much either, and he's signed for next season as well. It'll be interesting to see what happens over the next 45 days before the trading deadline and which players will be given an extension and who will be sent out of town.
Remember that there are several important players who aren't yet signed for next season, including Alex Semin, Mike Green, Dennis Wideman, Mike Knuble, Jeff Halpern, and John Carlson. (Green and Carlson are restricted free agents, the others are unrestricted.)
Speaking of Wideman, he and Alex Ovechkin will participate in the all-star game later this month. Ovechkin will be making his fifth-consecutive NHL all-star appearance, tying the Caps' club record held by Peter Bondra. Ovechkin leads the team in goals (17), shots (156) and power-play goals (six) and ranks second on the team in points (33) and hits (133).
Wideman will be making his first appearance at an NHL all-star game. He currently ranks fifth in the league among defensemen in points (29), tied for fourth in goals (eight), tied for fifth in assists (21) and leads the Caps in average ice time (24:08).
Finally, as you've probably heard by now, the NHL and NHLPA couldn't agree on the amazing realignment proposal set forth last month, so it appears everything will stay the same for next season.
January 13, 2012
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1 stormer(s) wrote:
"They're still a little rusty away from Verizon Center"....
YOU DON'T SAY?!?! A PAIR OF 5-2 PASTINGS ON THE ROAD THIS PAST WEEK WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE CAPITALS ARE THE SAME WEAK-KNEED, MISTAKE PRONE CLUB THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN AWAY FROM HOME WHENEVER THEY'RE FORCED TO GO UP AGAINST STRONG SKILLED CLUBS ON THE ROAD, HOMER...
"If things go well, they could be leading the division by the all-star break..."
YEAH, AND HOW LONG WILL THAT LAST WITH THEIR SPOTTY GOALTENDING ON THE ROAD AND THE PREDICTABLE LOSS OF MIKE GREEN FOR YET ANOTHER LONG STRETCH ON THE DISABLED LIST--(NOT TO MENTION NIKLAS BACKSTROM'S). THEN THERE'S THE PERENNIAL ISSUE OF ALEX SEMIN LOOKING LIKE THE SECOND COMING OF JARRI KURRI ONE NIGHT AND ELMER FUDD FOR THE NEXT TEN NIGHTS. GOOD LUCK WITH THIS BUNCH. IF IT WAS ME I'D KEEP BACKSTROM AND ONE OR TWO OTHERS, DYNAMITE THE CLUB AND START OVER AGAIN WITH SOLID TWO WAY PLAYERS WHO ACTUALLY KNOW HOW TO BACK CHECK AND FORCHECK FOR 60 MINUTES AND PLAY SOLID POSITIONAL DEFENSE..
CLIFFORD
SANTA MONICA
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