Capitals 4, Red Wings 2

Wow!  What a great win!  The Caps really stepped up in the third and beat a good Detroit team.  Can this be a harbinger of the future?  Let’s be cautious folks.  Boudreau switched up the lines for this game and Poti played in his first game after missing 15.  Couldn’t you tell the difference, especially on the PK?  This was the first time the Caps had their regular lineup in place since November 6th.  Wow!  That is a lot of injuries.  Yet, the Caps are winning and are in control of their division and beating the top teams in the East.  Good news.

Let’s discuss Semin.  Yet again, he took a stupid penalty after doing something stupid and the puck ended up in the Caps net.  Boudreau moved Semin down to the third line in the third period as a result.  I think he should have been moved all the way to Moscow.  Go back to my posts from October and November and you will see me discuss Semin’s penalties at that time.  However, I stated that people would overlook it at the time because he was scoring a thousand points a night.  Now, the points are gone and the penalties have become glaring.  Someone needs to take Semin aside and explain to him that he must play defense and play defense by moving his feet!  His defense on the first goal was absolutely sad.  I really hate Semin right now.

I though Laich, Fehr, and Kozlov played well in this game.  How good did Fehr look with Backstrom as his center?  He had five shots and could’ve scored two goals very easily.  Hint, hint.

Thoughts?

Bruins 3, Capitals 2

It is really disappointing to have such a good game end in such a terrible way.  The Caps controlled the shots against the Bruins as they ended with a 36-28 advantage and they carried the play throughout the game.  If Thomas wasn’t great for Boston this would have been 10-2.  Whatever.  Ovie’s stupid pass through the middle allowed Thornton to score for Boston despite a good effort from Theo.  Still, a bad play.  Green is guilty of this a lot as well.  You must go up the sides people!

The Caps and Bruins were physical in this one as well which made it even more exciting.  I read the Caps were outhit 31-21, but it seemed like the Caps stood up for themselves.  I am thinking that since the Caps were in the Bruins’ zone most of the night it allowed them to hit more.  Still, my main concern right now is the PK.  The Caps cannot go into the playoffs with a PK south of 80%.  When the Caps went to the Cup in ‘98 their PK was above 90%.  That is insanely high, but it allowed the defense to play aggressively.  Right now, the Caps cannot take stupid penalties because they lose games as a result.  I stupid hooking call on Backstrom lost this game.  Enough said?

I am encourage by Theo’s continued good play.  Hopefully, this is the Montreal goalie we knew and the Theo of October and November is gone.  Chara’s hit on Ovie was clean and fair.  As much as it upset me to see Ovie laying there I couldn’t fault Chara.  It looked like Ovie just caught a toe in the ice and his speed left him vulnerable.  That is good, hard hockey.  It wasn’t dirty.

Semin sucks.

Thoughts?