Recap: Caps 4, Canes 3 (OT)

The last thing I wanted tonight was another shootout. As much as I hate to say it, the Caps suck at shootouts. They have never really been too good at them, especially since Kozlov left. AO always seems lost on them. Semin tries to do too much. Laich tries that back-handed toe drag every time. Washington is 27th in the league in shooting percentage and only seem to win in the long ones when no team can score and someone like Bradley sneaks one in. I hate shootouts.

Good thing Eric Belanger has eyes on the side of his head.

His pass to Flash was superb. Flash's one-time snipe was equally pretty. The Caps got 2 points they didn't deserve all too much tonight, giving up a 2 goal lead and then a one goal lead after going up 3-2. With an ATL loss in regulation or OT tomorrow, the Caps can clinch the Southeast. In early March. Nice.

Some thoughts on the game:

• Mike Green's two goals give him 17 on the year. He leads defensemen league-wide by comfortable margins in goals, assists, and points, and is second in +/- to defensive partner Jeff Schultz. I can't downplay the year Duncan Keith is having. But Greener is the Norris winner right now.
  
• Speaking of Green, he had an excellent game. But his turnover that lead to Jokinen's goal was ugly. It looked like he just didn't get enough juice on his pass to Backstrom, but it was a bad place to put the puck, and it was costly.
• Ovie was a man on a mission, and I was astonished he didn't put one in. He made his presence felt by registering two assists and by wrecking two Carolina players after Backstrom was knocked down towards the end of the game.
  
• Speaking of Backstrom, he's still on pace for 100 points for the season.
• Theo was good, but not spectacular. He had some sparkling and clutch saves but I think he'd want one or two of those back.
• Corvo was brutal. Again. That blatant offensive zone pick was dumb and he just seems like a defensive liability on a team that really cant afford it.
• On the other hand, Pothier had one hell of a game, saving a sure goal not once, but twice, on the same powerplay.
• Didn't notice Osala too much. Kind of like when he was with the Caps.

So Tampa is next on the Southeast tour, and the Caps shouldn't have a problem. Probably. I can tell you one thing though. Flash aint getting scratched any time soon.

What the line combinations could look like.

Bruce Boudreau told the media today that he would no longer be "tinkering" with the line combination's. With 25 guys on the roster, not including Milan Jurcina, the Caps are going to have surplus of five players sitting in the pressbox on a nightly basis. Based on what Bourdreau said this morning it appears there will be some consistency as to which players are scratched.

At this point all I can do is speculate what the finalized lineups will look like.

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Knuble
Flash-Morrison-Semin
Laich-Belanger-Fehr
Chimera-Steckel/Gordon-Bradley/Walker

Green-Shultz
Poti-Carlson
Morissonn-Corvo

Laing and Sloan will most likely not see the ice for the remainder of the season, barring the Caps do not get bit by the injury bug.

It is hard to imagine that John Erskine is the 7th dman considering how strong he has played over the past two post seasons. If Carlson is sent back to Hershey, then obviously Erskine will be part of the top 6. However many people are beginning to guess that Carlson is not leaving DC anytime soon, most likely leaving Erskine as the odd man out.

Steckel and Gordon have similar attributes both are solid on the PK and good in the faceoff dot. I think both of them will be in the lineup at times down the stretch but Steckel is overall the bigger asset to the team. As a result, he will be in the lineup more times than not.

Between Walker and Bradley, I think most Caps fans will tell you they would rather have Bradley in the lineup. Walker was brought here to add depth and grit to the lineup but I do not think he gives the team as much of a boost as Bradley does. Similar to the Gordon/Steckel dynamic they will both at times be in the lineup but I have to think Bradley is more deserving of a jersey on a regular basis. Whether or not Boudreau feels the same way as I do is yet to be determined. I would not be surprised if he decided to scratch a more skilled player, such as Fehr in order to keep both Brads and Walker in the lineup.

Goaltending Woes

Prior to injuring his groin on December 7th against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Varlamov was 12-1-3 and was garnering serious consideration for Rookie of the Year. Since returning to the ice in the final game before the Olympic break Varlamov has endured the worst three game stretch of his young NHL career. In those three games he has posted a record of 1-1-1, a GAA of 4.33, and a save percentage of .843. I have to believe that despite his poor performance as of late there is no panic from within the organization. Many will speculate that Varlamov is the guy that the front office wants to be in net come playoff time and I have to agree. I have never felt that the coaching staff or General Manager are oozing with confidence when they speak about Theodore. I am always under the impression that they expect him to crash and burn.

The question should not be, whether Varlamov is who Mcphee and Boudreau want in net but more so, whether or not, Varlamov is the right guy for the job? To be honest, at this point in time I am not convinced he is. Varlamov is the goalie of the future, there is no question about that, but right now Jose Theodore is playing well enough to be the guy come playoff time. He, similar to Varlamov has been prone to let in soft goals at times. However, the biggest difference between the two is that Jose has made the big saves when they needed to be made. Thinking back to the Penguins Capitals game in early February, while trailing 4-2 Theodore robbed Sidney Crosby on the doorstep during a 5 on 3 with less than ten seconds to go in the 2nd period. The Caps went on to win that game in OT. Performances like that, as well as, the 44 save effort in a win against the Red Wings should give the organization some faith that he is capable of doing the job.

Theodore is the leading candidate to be the number one guy but a lot can change over the next month. When the Caps made the playoffs two years ago for the first time in the post lockout era, the team had to make a crucial decision during the first week of March. The nature of their position forced them into picking Cristobal Huet as their number 1 goalie would be for the remainder of the season. Fortunately, this years team is not scrambling to make the playoffs, and perhaps their greatest luxury is they can afford to rotate two goalies all the way down to the very end. This is advantageous for two reasons; one it eliminates the likelihood of fatigue affecting their play, secondly, and perhaps more importantly it also gives the organization the proper amount of time to figure out who is the right guy for the job. For Theodore this means he must continue to play at the top of his game. The slightest misstep could lead to the promotion of Varlamov, by the already Varlamov obsessed GM. For the time being, Varlamov has an extra month to hone his skills and reclaim his thrown as the number one netminder in DC.

On a final note, I am not concerned about the alleged goaltending woes of this team. Although, individually the goalies have struggled over the course of the past two years, there have been very few instances where they have both played miserably at the same time. I am very confident that if Varlamov can not get the job done then Theodore will and vice v.

Best places to grab a drink before a Caps game?

I am going to have a post sometime in the next week about where I think are the best places to stop in before a Caps game. I thought it maybe more fun if other people chime in and tell me where they enjoy going before heading into Verizon Center. Feel free to contact me via email, peterblogdra@gmail.com, or via twitter. My twitter name is Peterblogdra.
If we get enough responses maybe we can put together a top ten list.

Caps Lose 4-3 (SO)

Any chances of the Caps catching the Hershey Bears 23 consecutive wins on home ice are now lost. Mind you, those chances were very slim to begin with. For the Caps to have accomplished this they would have needed to win not only tonight but also every single home game for the remainder of the season. As we move passed shattered dreams, let's take a quick minute to examine the rock that did the shattering.

The Caps out shot the Stars tonight by a margin of 2:1 (52-26) and were dominant for much of the game. In the first period Marty Turco was lights out, yielding one goal on a snap shot from a wide open Tom Poti in the slot. David Steckel made a cross ice pass to Poti from below the faceoff dot, Poti then rifled the puck past a helpless Turco. The Stars also tested Varlamov early. Varlamov made a few good saves but was mostly blessed with good good fortune as The Stars shooters struggled to hit wide open nets.

In the Second period Turco was just as impressive as he was in the first. Stopping all but one of the Caps 23 shots, making some dazzling saves in the process. The Capitals failed to score on a 5-3 pp but Ovechkin managed to give his team the lead on the ensuing 5-4. This was Ovechkin's first goal since coming back from the Olympic break. The Caps ended the 2nd period with a 2-0 lead.

I think tonight's game lent incredible insight to how this team is capable of playing. In the first two periods we saw the most leagues most dominant offensive team. Yes, they were held to only two goals but credit that to inspired goaltending. In those same two periods the team was solid in their own zone and Varlamov was flawless. The Third period was less kind to the Caps, it was also very indicative of how bad this team can be at times. I do not mean to sound like an alarmist BUT the penalty kill was once again awful. The Stars went 2-2 on the PP and used these goals to surge to an early 3rd period lead. The third goal was one that Varlamov, could have and should have stopped. Poor goaltending has plagued the Caps all season and should be a serious cause for concern down the stretch. The final thing we saw in this Caps team during the third period, was actually one of their strengths. In times of desperation they are the best team in Hockey. From the time when James Neal scored the go ahead goal until the end of the 3rd, The Caps dominated the play.

Ovechkin scored a magnificent goal with less than 4 minutes left in the game to tie it up at 3. This was by far his best performance in some time, scoring two high quality goals. Ovechkin had two great oppurtunities to win the game in OT but failed to beat Turco. Despite putting together a great five minutes in OT the Caps did not score and eventually lost in the SO.

I think at this point of the season many would agree with me, when I say the Caps are overall the best team in hockey. I also think very few would disagree with me, when I say the Caps still have some blaring weaknesses. The Penalty Kill has to get better or it could be a huge hindrance towards a cup run. The goaltending has to be more consistent as well. Having said that, Jose Theodore is starting to make a pretty good case for why he should be the man between the pipes down the stretch.

More on Theodore's play later in the Week, stay posted.

Recap: Trade Deadline

The Caps pulled out a solid win against Olympic hero Ryan Miller and the very good Buffalo Sabres last night, but the real story was GMGM making waves at the trade deadline, more than any other team (except the 'Yotes).

A lot of analysts are calling the Caps the big winners during this years trade deadline. We here at Peter Blogdra are on the fence. The deals were good in theory but I think it is a little premature to say they were the winners. Right now, for this team, its Stanley Cup finals or bust. I will not accept a runner up finish in the finals as a good season. Not this year. The Salary Cap era has created so much parity in the league that the window of opportunity to win remains open only for a short period of time. In order for the Caps to truly be considered winners, they will have to make a very deep run in the playoffs. They have to win.

In evaluating the trades at this moment, 3 out of the 4 make good sense.

SCOTT WALKER

ASSETS: Has tremendous heart and leadership qualities. Is an excellent teammate. Can score, kill penalties and even fight if the need arises.

FLAWS: Not overly big, he tends to wear down during the course of the 82-game schedule. His lack of size has also caused a slow down in production.

CAREER POTENTIAL: Veteran two-way winger.

Scott Walker adds depth to the bottom six, he is gritty and the type of forward every team needs to make a late push in the playoffs. Plus, a seventh round pick? I'd give that up for Jason Doig (okay, not really). A good pickup by GMGM without much (if any) cost, and a UFA at the end of the year takes care of his salary. Plus, he scored the game-winning goal in OT in game 7 against the Bruins last year in the Conference Semi-Finals. He's clutch too? I'm sold.

ERIC BELANGER

ASSETS: Has terrific hockey sense and on-ice awareness. Is defensively responsible and an excellent face-off man.

FLAWS: Is undersized and a bit fragile. Hasn't produced numbers in the NHL that match his talent level.

CAREER POTENTIAL: Two-way center.

Belanger is one of those guys who you don't hear much about but can be a pretty valuable commodity. He is very defensively responsible, which can be key against the teams the Caps will meet in the playoffs. His faceoff prowess is nice to have considering no one else on the Caps besides David Steckel knows how to take one. He'll be a valuable third line center who can play on the second line and maybe give B-Mo a kick in the right direction. If he doesn't work out, too well, the Caps still have Flash to fill in if need be. A second round pick might have been a bit hefty but I think he will be a good fit when he doesn't have to play Minnesota's defensive system. Overall, his presence does not hurt the Caps chances down the stretch. Locker trying to pronounce his name probably does though.

MILAN JURCINA

ASSETS: Owns a huge frame and the ability to play an all-around game from time to time. Also possesses a big shot from the point. Takes up a lot of space in the defensive zone.

FLAWS: Doesn't play with a lot of passion and rarely takes full advantage of his tremendous size. His skating and coordination are also weaknesses in his game.

CAREER POTENTIAL: Inconsistent big defenseman.

Jurcina is a familiar face. I was sad to see him and I'm somewhat excited for his return. The Caps PK has been woeful, and Jurcina was one of their best PK'ers before he was dealt and I expect to see him retain that role. A sixth rounder is like a seventh rounder, and I believe I read something about that pick being conditional on how many games he plays. If anything, it gives us more depth and size on the blue line, which is never a bad thing. He'll be ready to go for the playoffs. Welcome back Juice.

JOE CORVO

ASSETS: Has excellent scoring acumen from the back end and can run an effective power play due to a big shot and offensive instincts.

FLAWS: Plays a very risky game, which often leads to a slew of turnovers. Must tighten up his defensive-zone coverage. Isn't very physical.

CAREER POTENTIAL: Power play quarterback.

Joe Corvo is a good addition to the Power Play. That is about where I run out of positive things to say about him. He is known for making bad turnovers and not being great in his own zone (the absolute last thing we need). What he does is give the Caps a solid point man on the second PP unit. He could even pair with Mike Green and give Ovie the ability to work the corners with Backstrom and Semin/Knuble on the first unit, which would be very scary for opponents. Trading Pothier, Osala, and a second round pick for Corvo seems like too much. Corvo has the offensive edge over Pothier and Pothier probably has a slight edge defensively. Osala was one of my favorite players in the farm system and I'm sad to see him go. A second round pick on top of that was too much in my opinion. Still, if anything Corvo makes this team even more dangerous offensively.

Regardless of how I feel about these moves, I trust Mcphee's plan and since he has brought the team this far from almost nothing I do not think he would make a deal if he did not think it would help the club. When you don't unload any first round picks and give up one NHL defenseman who's a UFA at the end of the year anyway for 4 legitimate NHLers thats a win in my book. Plus, we basically got Chimera for Clark and a 6th. I'd say thats also a win. We'll see how it turns out.

Bold Move by the Predators

Round up

Caps acquire Scott Walker for a 7th round pick. Walker is a 2.5 million dollar cap hit. He is a good addition if you are looking for a role player. I am not sure they needed him but he may be good down the stretch. The Caps now have a surplus of forwards on their roster. Have to think that Gordon and Laing are the odd men out.

Eric Belanger to washington to a 2nd rounder. Good face off man, could help the PK.

Caps Reacquire Milan Jurcina from Columbus for a 6th round pick.

Caps trade Brian Pothier (d) prospect Oskar Osala and a 2nd rd pick in 2011 for Joe Corvo.

Trade Deadline!

Is it imperative that the Caps make a trade before tomorrow's deadline? As things stand right now the Caps are the class of the East. The burden of improving rosters falls on the teams who want to keep up with Washington. Having said that, I think complacency has the potential to be a recipe for disaster. If tomorrow passes and Washington makes no improvements but Pittsburgh and New Jersey make significant additions, well then the Caps may be in trouble.

I think Pittsburgh just answered my original question for me. According to TSN they picked up Alex Ponikarovsky from Toronto. Ponikarovsky is a big winger who has the potential to score goals when he is motivated. Sufficient to say the chance to go from one of the worst teams in the conference to the reigning league champs is a serious cause for motivation. I do not think this addition makes the Penguins as good as Washington but I still think this puts some pressure on George Mcphee.

The rumors surrounding the Caps are that they are shopping for a 2nd line center, rugged defenseman, or a goaltender. I agree that center is a position they may want to improve at. Thomas Fleischman has done a decent job since being converted to center but he is more valuable when he is playing wing. I have to think that if Mcphee is going after someone to fill this void it will be a seasoned vet with one year left on his contract. Saku Koivu is a name that comes to mind but I am not sure the Ducks would be willing to part with him and his cap hit is 3.25 mill.

I remember back to when Mcphee grabbed Fedorov at the deadline, up to that point in time its appeared that Fedorov's career was nearing its end. However playing for a young caps served as a shot in the former Hart Trophy winner's arm. While it may seem that I am grasping at straws, I think that with the addition of Mike Modano a similar situation could unfold. His cap hit would be 3.45 million but he could be a great addition to this team. He would provide needed veteran leadership and has the potential for significant offensive production. In order for this to happen the Caps would have to juggle some cap space and probably be willing to trade a pick or a prospect. There is probably no chance this deal comes to fruition but its nice to think about.

Chris Higgins was recently traded to Calgary from New York and may not be available but I think he would be a smart addition.

It has become no secret over the past few months that the Caps defense could use some upgrading. John Erskine has proved that he is a more than capable net clearing defenseman. It may be wise for the team to go out and get someone to help Erskine shoulder that load. Steve Staios is rumored to be a potential addition and he is right in the Caps price range. Aaron Ward is also available and his cap hit is only 2.5 million.

As far as goalies are concerned I really don't think there is any need for the Caps to make a play for one. Then again who cares what I think, George Mcphee is paid a healthy amount to make these types of decisions. Right now he is hard at work, while I am sitting here eating a bag of chips, getting crumbs on my keyboard, and writing my thoughts down on a blog that very few people read. In reality, my thoughts are not even worth the $.99 that it cost me to buy those chips from the 7-11 down the street. Having said that, Varlamov proved last year that he is capable of being a quality NHL goalie. Jose Theodore has proved this season he will make the big saves when they need to made. There is 0 reason for Mcphee to waste time and money on bringing another goalie here, unless of course he can magically work around the cap and get Ryan Miller.

The Caps were limited in what they could add last season because of their lack of cap space. This year they have the space, they also have enough depth in their organization where they can trade quality prospects with out mortgaging their future. Look for the Caps to make a move before tomorrow's deadline but don't be surprised if they stay quiet either. As I said earlier they are the front runners right now.

Heatley angered by winning the gold

"I was going to ask for a trade to team USA at the end of the period."