Struggling with themselves

The Caps snuck out of Atlanta last night with another two points, but not before giving the Thrashers every opportunity to sneak back into the game. Atlanta absolutely dominated the Caps over the final 30 minutes of play and were it not for some stellar goaltending from Semyon Varlamov, the Thrashers could have easily comeback for the win.

The key to the Caps current 6 game winning streak is that they have been winning.

Outside of that...it’s been hard to say that Washington has been rolling along.

The Caps are definitely searching for consistency and, although it is there at times, it seems that the Capitals can’t help themselves from running hot and cold.

They start games strong and finish them poorly. They start poorly and finish strong.

Again, the only thing consistent about Washington’s recent play has been the W’s, how they are getting them has been anything but.

While I continue to maintain that the only thing consistent about the Caps thus far has been their winning streak, I must also mention that a major reason why they have been able to reel off 6 straight has been the goaltending. Jose Theodore and Semyon Varlamov have both played extremely strong in goal while splitting the duties over the winning streak with Semyon posting 4 wins while allowing only 10 goals and Jose earning 2 wins while only allowing 4 goals.

The Capitals have scored 23 goals during the streak while allowing only 14.

It’s rather ironic to consider that everyone is criticising the Caps for their recent play given they 6 wins and dominant goaltending, but the critics are not wrong. Untimely give-aways, bad passes, poorly timed penalties and missed assignments have nearly cost Washington more than a couple of their recent victories, but these are all mistakes that can be corrected while the team continues to put points in the bank.


Game Notes

Laich It – Brooks Laich had three assists last night against Atlanta and now has two three-point games through 12 contests this year. He also had two goals and one assist in the season opener at Boston. Laich has already matched his number of three-point games from last season as he had three assists against Tampa Bay (March 27) and a goal and two assists against Atlanta (April 5). In his last 19 regular season games (including this year and last year), Laich has four three-point games and eight multiple-point games for 23 points (eight goals and 15 assists) during that time.

Double or (almost) nothing –Alex Ovechkin, who leads the NHL with 13 goals, has scored two goals in six of his 12 games, matching Mario Lemieux for the most two-goal games in an October in NHL history. He has 50 career multiple-goal games. Ovechkin’s 13 goals this month are one shy of the best month of his career (he had 14 in March 2008).

Lucky 7? –A win tonight would give Washington a seven-game winning streak, which would match the longest streaks of Bruce Boudreau's tenure. The Capitals won seven in a row to end the 2007-08 season and again in December and January last season, the only two winning streaks that long the team has had in the last 15 years.

Longest Capitals Winning Streaks Since 1993-94

7 games –12/23/08 to 1/6/09 and 3/21/08 to 4/5/08


Another 7 –Mike Green has points in seven straight games (2g-6a), the longest point streak by an NHL defenseman or any Capital this year. It matches Green’s longest point streak since his record-setting eight-game goal streak last season. After posting two points in his first five games, Green now ranks tied for sixth in scoring by a defenseman with 10 points in 12 games.

No way, Jose –Among NHL goaltenders with more than two starts, Jose Theodore ranks fourth with a .922 save percentage (through Thursday’s games). His 41-save effort Tuesday against Philadelphia marked the most saves he has made in 65 games with the Capitals, and included a stop on a third-period penalty shot. In his last four starts Theodore has a 2.04 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage.

Fast starting dozen –Washington’s 8-2-2 record matches the 1991-92 team (9-3-0) for the best start in Capitals history through 12 games (that team won its 13th game). A win tonight would give the Capitals the best October in club history (by winning percentage; currently that 1991-92 team at 9-3-0, .750).

One way –Washington was 0-2-2 in its first four one-goal games this season but is 4-0-0 in its last four.

Lineups

Washington Capitals

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Knuble
Laich-Morrison-Fehr
Fleischmann-Aucoin-Clark
Sloan-Steckel-Bradley

Morrisonn-Green
Poti-Jurcina
Schultz-Pothier

*Theodore
Varlamov


- *Theo will face the Islanders once again(he played last Saturday)

- Green will be going for a point in his 8th straight game

- Flash played 16 minutes last night and did not look terribly out of place, it should be interesting to see how he fares in the back-to-back situation.

- Semin was invisible against Atlanta, expect him to show up tonight

New York Islanders

Okposo-Tavares-Moulson
Bergenheim-Nielsen-Sim
Tambellini-Bailey-Comeau
Thompson-Park-Jackman

Streit-Gervais
Sutton-Martinek
Witt-Hillen

*Roloson
Biron

- Please not that the Isles lineup posted is the same one from the Caps/Islanders game from last Saturday. I will make any corrections to them as I get them.


The Caps can ill-afford to become complacent at any time tonight against the Islanders. Having taken the soft stance against Long Island last Saturday, the Islanders came the closest to ending the Caps winning ways by taking them to overtime. If the Capitals do not play a full 60 minutes tonight, there is a very strong chance that they young, hard-working Isles will surprise them.

New York is fresh off of handing their “cross-town rivals”, the New York Rangers, a stinging 3-1 loss, so hopefully for Boudreau’s frayed nerves, his team can put together their strongest effort of the winning streak and extend it to 7 in a row.



Puck drop is @ 7pm. Enjoy the game!



Steven.hindle@hockeybuzz.com
capitalshockeybuzz@live.ca
Go Caps!!!!!

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