Ty Anderson: Seein' Red: Capitals beat Bruins

not a good couple games. I'm not a believer in the return of seidenberg righting the ship either. there needs to be some moves to shake up the D squad and move some pieces out. maybe even major ones. The forward group has been looking good, rask needs to get back to form where he's capable of stealing a game for us. I've also noticed too many penalties are killing us. a once strong PK is absolutely awful this year. we're not going to win too many hockey games letting in a goal on every penalty kill..... sme tough decisions lay ahead for the B's leading into the coming weeks before American thanksgiving. do we retool and add some key players now or do we have a yard sale and go for #AustontoBoston .... maybe the sharks tank too and we get auston and chechyrun. some wishful thinking.

One of the biggest takeaways I had from last night's game was how horrible Spooner looked. Most of the time his line was out there, they were hemmed in the defensive zone for extended periods of time (sound familiar?). Also, the passes-to-nobody need to stop. I stopped counting at 5, and I know there were more. A couple of times on the powerplay, a couple times in his own zone, he feels pressure and immediately gets rid of the puck. A pass to Marchand when he's making a line change led to a nice odd-man rush for the caps. Hayes and Beleskey were guilty of this last night as well, but Spooner was literally spoon feeding the puck to the caps players.

Our kryptonite is and has always been heavy-forechecking teams. The defense all of a sudden has no idea what to do when there is consistent pressure. We need to figure out a solution on that end. Too many clubs today are fast skating, heavy pressure teams. I feel like we're just banging our heads against the wall sometimes.

While I mostly agree, I think that the simple return of Seidenberg will at least tell us where we're at. I don't think he's going to be subpar, I think he is going to be back to his usual self fairly quickly. However, if he is not, I think it will be that he is a complete bust and sits so the young guys can continue. Like I said, I expect him to be a solid DFD for the second pairing. This balances it out nicely with McQuaid, Miller, and Him being those shot blocking presences (if that makes grammatical sense) and Krug, C. Miller and Chara (While he is offensive and defensive) as First pass, playmaking, heavy shot kind of Defenders.

The other thing is the panic mode I feel from fans all of the sudden. We Win 5 out of 6 games and then drop 2 to two top teams (Without Kelly and Pasta) And it's like we are completely garbage again. Couple bad games never hurt anyone! (but a lot can kill ya)

If we can at least get 2 points this weekend, we'll maintain wildcard contention, and possibly have a playoff spot coming back home after a few days off and improve the record until Thanksgiving while playing some weaker/middle of the pack teams( Detroit x2, Torontox2, Wild, Colorado, Sharks)

We knew this team would be up and down this year, but I think it's pretty clear that they need some help on D if they hope to compete with good teams. I like the Chara/C.Miller pairing, though. Good mix of size and speed.

I think Spoons needs someone who can handle the puck on his wing. I'm not chirping Hayes or Belesky, I just think neither of them match Spooner's game the way Pastrnak did last year.

The other thing is the panic mode I feel from fans all of the sudden. We Win 5 out of 6 games and then drop 2 to two top teams (Without Kelly and Pasta) And it's like we are completely garbage again. Couple bad games never hurt anyone! (but a lot can kill ya)

If we can at least get 2 points this weekend, we'll maintain wildcard contention, and possibly have a playoff spot coming back home after a few days off and improve the record until Thanksgiving while playing some weaker/middle of the pack teams( Detroit x2, Torontox2, Wild, Colorado, Sharks)
- Videoj

Don't kid yourself this team is the definition of average. They will be fighting for that wildcard spot all season long, and to be honest I don't see them making the playoffs. The minute this team is faced with a high end team their flaws become apparent. So yeah the 5 of 6 was nice but they weren't playing top teams, I know they beat Tampa but they are struggling early on. I'd like to think I'm wrong but it seems pretty clear they are nothing more than a .500 team at best.

Don't kid yourself this team is the definition of average. They will be fighting for that wildcard spot all season long, and to be honest I don't see them making the playoffs. The minute this team is faced with a high end team their flaws become apparent. So yeah the 5 of 6 was nice but they weren't playing top teams, I know they beat Tampa but they are struggling early on. I'd like to think I'm wrong but it seems pretty clear they are nothing more than a .500 team at best.
- fudd1689

Also beat the Islanders, a top team. While I'm over confident, they haven't played any garbage teams to pad their stats, it was ALL middle class teams, save Colorado (who I believe are better than the scores show) Haven't played the Carolina, Columbus, Toronto, Edmonton, etc. yet to pad those wins

Also beat the Islanders, a top team. While I'm over confident, they haven't played any garbage teams to pad their stats, it was ALL middle class teams, save Colorado (who I believe are better than the scores show) Haven't played the Carolina, Columbus, Toronto, Edmonton, etc. yet to pad those wins
- Videoj

I hope you're right, but after watching how they have performed against Dallas, Wsh, Peg, and Montreal I don't have much confidence. Not too mention they have to play Montreal and the Islanders back to back this weekend. They're defensive zone coverages have been bad and they continue to take stupid penalties. I just hope they don't fall in to the trap of thinking they're a contender and sell off assets to get some help later in the season. Sweeney needs to retain picks and stay the course. If they can squeeze out a wild card spot great, but don't sell the farm to get there.

Don't kid yourself this team is the definition of average. They will be fighting for that wildcard spot all season long, and to be honest I don't see them making the playoffs. The minute this team is faced with a high end team their flaws become apparent. So yeah the 5 of 6 was nice but they weren't playing top teams, I know they beat Tampa but they are struggling early on. I'd like to think I'm wrong but it seems pretty clear they are nothing more than a .500 team at best.
- fudd1689

This is my concern as well, the moment they are matched with a top team they haven't shown they can compete. Also what happens when this unsustainable PP cools off. Also Rask barely looks interested lol.

Have they set the record on shooting the puck over the glass.I swear they have one every game.

Have they set the record on shooting the puck over the glass.I swear they have one every game.
- blkandgld8

Not to mention the too many men penalties. Just completely undisciplined. I love Claude, but if he can't get these guys to fall in line, maybe it is time for a change...

And yeah, no reason to sell the future. The only thing I would condone is trading for a young top 4 defender or top six winger. But not someone becoming a UFA at the end of the year. And keep those picks!

Have they set the record on shooting the puck over the glass.I swear they have one every game.
- blkandgld8

even Krug is shooting high now, something he learned from Kelly?

Not to mention the too many men penalties. Just completely undisciplined. I love Claude, but if he can't get these guys to fall in line, maybe it is time for a change...

And yeah, no reason to sell the future. The only thing I would condone is trading for a young top 4 defender or top six winger. But not someone becoming a UFA at the end of the year. And keep those picks!
- Videoj

I thought that was a bad call IMO, they usually let that slide if everyone is next to or on their way into the bench, but the penalties that led to the 5 on 3, especially marshmont's, that poop has to stop.

The greatest concerns are who are half these guy on the lineup.........are they top six guys? Top four D-men? Are we keeping them for the future? Where are they in there development in the managements minds?

Hayes, Connolly, Beleskey, Spooner, Trotman, Morrow, C. Miller, etc........?

Does anyone have a better idea of any of these players at this point?

Ericksson and Marchand.......? Are they in the Bs future or are they as good as gone?

Seidenberg, McQuaid, and K. Miller...? Are they going to stay healthy and can they be top 4 D-men?

I have more questions than answers from the start of the season?

Krejci aced his test in my opinion. And Krug is "proficient" thus far. At least those two questions have some answers.

There's really no reason to be surprised by the way they're playing right now. They're gonna get hot and look legit, they're gonna get cold and look poopy. Tis how it goes with teams in transition. Some of the big points so far for me have been...

Wtf Rask? Hes so mediocre right now. It's not his fault but hes not helping. He was supposed to push this team towards legitimacy, hes making no difference.

Seidenberg Trotman >>> Morrow Kevan. They could actually be a serviceable bottom 4 pair. Morrow and Miller are blown coverages waiting to happen.

Kempainen > Spooner. Make Kemp 3C

Skilled 4th. I've had enough Grit. Rinaldo and Randell are useless. Keep one around just in case

Koko looks good. Looks more like an NHLer than Pasta, brings similar skills. Either he or Pasta should play 4th line with Spooner

even Krug is shooting high now, something he learned from Kelly?

- 77emac77

Marchand is the King of this!! High blocker side right over the net EVERY FREAKING TIME! How about putting it on net and getting a greasy rebound??

Marchand is the King of this!! High blocker side right over the net EVERY FREAKING TIME! How about putting it on net and getting a greasy rebound??
- tunmasterflex

They all miss the net high at an alarming rate.

Although Marchand missing the net is my third pet peeve of his....

1-stick handling and turning over the puck in the O-zone all the time
2-shooting the puck into guys.......the lane is blocked, it's not possible to hit the net, you have to pass or dump the puck.......I'm going to shot it into the guy anyways.

They all miss the net high at an alarming rate.

Although Marchand missing the net is my third pet peeve of his....

1-stick handling and turning over the puck in the O-zone all the time
2-shooting the puck into guys.......the lane is blocked, it's not possible to hit the net, you have to pass or dump the puck.......I'm going to shot it into the guy anyways.
- JIwasinskiJr

Maybe trading Marchand would do us some good. I would keep Erik over him every day of the week. Marchand would yield a good return too and is going to demand a raise in a year and a half. I rather give erik a raise and extend him and send Marchand away for a legit defender for today and tomorrow. Someone who will help develop the kids today and be the number 1 in a couple years when Chara and Seids are history.

Maybe trading Marchand would do us some good. I would keep Erik over him every day of the week. Marchand would yield a good return too and is going to demand a raise in a year and a half. I rather give erik a raise and extend him and send Marchand away for a legit defender for today and tomorrow. Someone who will help develop the kids today and be the number 1 in a couple years when Chara and Seids are history.
- Videoj

At this point we should just try to grab up some picks if at thanksgiving we are boarder line.

Ericksson and Marchand could get us a few first round picks at least.

Ericksson is 31 this offseason. Do you sign him for 4-5 years for $5.5 per? After a couple years history says he isn't worth it.

Marchand........don't know about him. He has improved from being a punk a little bit, but his overall game hasn't changed. He has speed and a pretty good shot. But, he just turns the puck over so much. I think he has regressed a little to be honest.

He is just so bad at possessing the puck and turns it over so much. He tries to do too much with it all the time. That's why I say he has almost zero playmaking ability, he doesn't seem to see the big picture of the ice and how his choices effect his linemates.

Maybe keeping Ericksson would be a better move to be honest. I don't know. It's a ship without a rudder right now.

Who is the future of this team right now? Pasta......maybe. But you don't build around a winger like him. Need some new blood.