I've been silent for the most part over the past week as I dig through a mile of schoolwork and other commitments in the final moments before Thanksgiving break at school.  No postgame writings, so I haven't had a chance to discuss the Caps after every night like I normally do.  So here it goes: Caps hockey analysis, comin' in hot!

Man, what is wrong with this team?  The Capitals started the year on fire, winners of seven consecutive games out of the gates.  They had everyone talking for the right reasons: Tomas Vokoun was being a rock, the offense had, for the most part, returned, and DC was also managing to play some sound defense.  They were a complete hockey team, or at least it appeared so.

Since then, however, your Washington Capitals have looked disoriented and just downright bad at times, compiling a 3-6-1 record since their 7-0 start.  This came to a head Thursday night in Winnipeg when the Capitals suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Jets, who are and will continue to be one of the worst teams in the league.

Mike Green's absence hurts and there is no doubt about that.  Green is one of the Caps' best players and their best defenseman; not having him in the lineup is a tough hole to plug.  But it's not an excuse.  The Capitals want to be considered a team of champions, and champions don't let injuries get to their team.  Champions man up and go out and win without that star.  Like the Penguins are doing.

Read on!

Brief recap:

It was another lackluster loss last night in Winnipeg.  Alexander Semin and the Capitals got off to a hot start with an early goal for a 1-0 lead less than 5 minutes into the game.  The Capitals checked out after that, routinely giving up on plays and leaving young goalie Michal Neuvirth to fend for himself.  One has to wonder how long key players on this team can continue to be invisible before real change is affected by management. 

Washington Capitals (10-5-1) at Winnipeg Jets (6-9-3)
Location:  MTS Centre
Time:  8:30 PM Eastern, 7:30 PM Central
TV: Comcast SportsNet (HD) (Game On!)
Radio:  1500AM, 820 AM, and XM
Games Remaining:
Nov 23, 2011 WPG@WAS, 7:00 PM
Dec 15, 2011 WAS@WPG, 8:30 PM
Feb  9, 2012 WPG@WAS, 7:00 PM
Mar 16, 2012 WAS@WPG, 8:30 PM
Mar 23, 2012 WPG@WAS, 7:00 PM
Familiar Faces of Former Caps:  RW Eric Fehr (230 GP, 2005-2011)
The view from the other side: Arctic Ice Hockey

Things could get hairy tonight!

The Washington Capitals were on ice Wednesday in Nashville as they prepare to take on the Winnipeg Jets Thursday night north of the border.  Some notes from Bridgestone Arena:

Mike Green has not yet joined the Caps on their trip as there was some hope that he may.  That almost surely rules him out for Thursday's game in Winnipeg as the defenseman works his way back from a strained right groin.

In terms of line combinations, Bruce Boudreau pretty much stuck with what he used during most of Tuesday's poor showing in Nashville.  The lines were: Ovechkin-Backstrom-Brouwer, Chimera-Laich-Semin, Eakin-Johansson-Ward, and Hendricks-Ward-Knuble-Perreault.

That's all for now.

Information from Katie Carrera was used in this post.

Alexander Ovechkin is at a crossroads in his career. He is still the same happy-go-lucky Russian sniper who took the NHL by storm after the lockout, and therein lies the problem.  When he was a 20-year old rookie, Ovie could fly down the left wing, turn a defenseman inside out, cut across the middle on his off-wing and bury a shot.  Frankly, for his first couple of seasons, he had to because he was usually the best puck-handler on the ice.  With the amount on talent on the Capitals now and Ovechkin getting older, Ovechkin no longer needs to be the lone gunman, nor is he capable of keeping it up into his 30s.  Looking at Ovechkin's goals this season, one was a deflection, one was a rebound, and 5 were shots that came when he was in space without the puck, received a pass, and fired it quickly.  This type of shooting should become Ovechkin's primary scoring method, as his cutting across the middle these days only results in him losing the puck. 

Ovechkin needs to adapt his game to meet the changing reality of the NHL:  teams have learned how to defend his rushes up the ice when he has the puck.  He needs to use his linemates to carry the puck more and set himself up for quick shots, much like Brett Hull did.  Hull scored 741 goals in his career and is a good player to emulate, since Hull was a major scoring threat into his late 30s, scoring 37 goals as a 38-year old in 2002-03, well past his physical prime.   Ovechkin would likely also benefit from having another Viktor Kozlov-style playmaker on his wing for a season or two as opposed to a Mike Knuble-type crease-crasher.

Alexander Ovechkin is at his most dangerous when he is in space without the puck, especially when Nicklas Backstrom is controlling the play.  Ovechkin should make a habit of not keeping the puck on his stick for more than 2 seconds at a time, as his presence in the offensive zone and neutral zone also draws defenders to him and away from his puck-carrying teammates.

Read on!

Washington Capitals (10-4-1) at Nashville Predators (8-5-3)
Location:  Bridgestone Arena
Time:  8:00 PM Eastern, 7:00 PM Central
TV: Comcast SportsNet (HD) (Game On!)
Radio:  1500AM, 820 AM, and XM
Games Remaining:
Dec 20, 2011 NSH@WAS, 7:00 PM
Former Predators:  RW Joel Ward (230 GP, 2008-11), G Tomas Vokoun (383 GP, 1998-2007)
Our Bloguin Partner: Fang Faction

Don't expect a shootout tonight!  Read on!

The Washington Capitals were on ice Monday morning as they prepare for a Tuesday night showdown with the Predators in Nashville. Some updates from Kettler Capitals Iceplex:

Mike Green did not skate because of another injury to his right leg that he suffered Friday night in New Jersey.  Green is listed as day-to-day for now, and will not be with the Caps for the start of their upcoming three game road trip.  The defenseman could, however, join the team before their games in Winnipeg or Toronto and play then. Man is made of glass.

As per usual, Bruce Boudreau blew up his lines following Saturday night's shootout loss.  The combinations were as follows: Ovechkin-Backstrom-Brouwer, Chimera-Laich-Semin, Eakin-Johansson-Ward, and Hendricks-Perreault-Halpern-Knuble.  Presented without comment.

Roman Hamrlik, who suffered an upper body injury over the weekend, said that he is feeling better and hopes that he will be ready to go against Nashville Tuesday.

That's all for now.

Information from Sky Kerstein was used in this post.

Let’s take a look at two players. Both are around the same size, at 6’2” and just over 200 lbs. Both play center and both are well respected by their teammates and fans alike. Both are considered excellent two-way players, but only one of these guys is on the verge of becoming a superstar, has a Selke Trophy nomination and was invited to fight for an Olympic medal. Since these two guys are a year apart in age, we’ll compare their careers from when they finally stuck in the NHL (’05-’06) through the first few games of ’11-’12.

Ok, here is Player #1:

And here is Player #2:

Find out who these guys are, after the jump.

It has been an eventful week for the Washington Capitals.  A lackluster loss to Dallas on Tuesday, a bag skate on Wednesday, a come-from-behind 3-1 victory last night in Newark when the Caps got Mike Green back only to lost him again and where Bruce Boudreau benched Alex Semin and Cody Eakin.  Now tonight, the Caps looked to dance with the Devils in the pale moon light and sweep a home and home against the Devils. Just one thing, the Caps forgot their dancing shoes in the lockerroom after the 1st intermission.

Getty Images

Washington Capitals (9-4-0) vs. New Jersey Devils (7-5-1)
Location: Prudential Center
Time:  7:00 PM
TV:  Comcast SportsNet (HD) (Game On!), NHL Network
Radio:  1500AM, 820 AM, and XM
Games Remaining:
Nov 11, 2011 NJ@WSH, 7:00 PM
Dec 23, 2011 WSH@NJ, 7:00 PM
Mar  2, 2012 NJ@WSH, 7:00 PM
Familiar Faces of Former Capitals:  C Dainius Zubrus (331 GP, 2001-07)
Our Bloguin Partner:  Running With the Devils

Happy Veterans' Day!

Don't run off!  Read on!