Capitals 6, Penguins 3

How cool was this?  I LOVE beating Pittsburgh!  I love watching Crosby and Malkin get beat up, get hurt, and lose!  Very cool.  I really hope everyone heard Ovie yelling after his second goal.  The crowd went dead silent and you could hear Ovie screaming on the ice.  I was laughing.  Ovie is so determined to lead this team to a win every night and that is why he is awesome!  Ending a three game losing streak with a win in Pittsburgh is great for the Caps.  It didn’t look good at first, but the Caps really came on in the second and third periods.

The “skirmish” prior to the third period was the result of Crosby yelling at Ovie about a cheap shot he gave him.  I didn’t see Ovie do anything cheap, but Crosby is a baby anyway.  Maybe if he whined less and played more the Penguins would be in the playoff hunt.  There is too much talent on that team to not make the playoffs.  I am sure they will be there.  A Caps/Penguins series would be incredible to see.

Semin’s goal on the pass from Federov was incredible.  A fantastic play.  Flash played very well also as he scored on the power play on a rebound off Ovie’s shot.  Kozlov had a nice goal on a fantastic pass from Backstrom.  Even Schultz got in on the action with an empty net goal to seal the deal.  Hopefully, this is the Capital team that will play Boston on Saturday.  The Caps play Boston twice in the next four games and are currently 11 points behind.  If they lose both games then catching the Bruins could be very difficult.  I personally will be happy with a #3 seed, however the Caps are thinking big.  Nothing wrong with that, I guess, as long as they don’t lose focus on the present.

Thoughts?

Oilers 5, Capitals 2

Well, the Caps continue to lower their level of play against inferior teams in order to be obliging and give away points.  I can imagine it in the locker room before the game.  Clark or Ovie stands up and says, “Hey Guys.  We play Edmonton tonight and they are terrible and they just flew across the country and their best player is hurt and their goaltending is suspect and we should win this game……oh, I don’t know….at least 4-1.  However, we are going to TRICK everyone and just suck up the ice all night.  What do ya say?”  Add a Russian accent if it’s Ovie talking.  Give me a break already.  Granted the defense has been playing with call-ups most of the season, but it gets to the point where the defense needs to stand up and bang people off the puck.  Theo needs to PAY ATTENTION!  How many times do you hear, “I don’t think Theo even saw that one.”  Again, give me a break.  Theo is brilliant for 5 minutes and is terrible the next 5 minutes.  Theo!  We need consistency!  Hello!

The PP looks terrible and has for a couple of games.  The Caps want to score goals and no one wants to do the work to create chances.  Boudreau used the term “mucking” which is the appropriate.  No one moves or cycles.  I hope this is addressed very quickly.  I suspect it will be.  Boudreau is an intelligent man.  The Caps play has been lazy and uninspired.  No one is backchecking like they should.  This needs to be changed?

Wasn’t it nice to see Erskine back and banging bodies?  Three hits on his first shift!  Tell me he wasn’t feeling it!!!!!  Well done Mr. Erskine.  It is nice to have you back.

Thoughts?