Follow @james_tanner123 The Capitals lost last night, 4-1 to the New Jersey Devils. It was a three point performance from #1 draft pick and guy I took a late-round flyer on in my hockey pool Niko Hischier. I look forward to the regular season when I can finally hear someone say his name out loud, not so I can learn how to pronounce it, but just to see how badly I'm currently butchering it.
Weirdly, this was the Capitals second 4-1 loss to the Devils this preseason. They also lost 4-0 and 4-1, and their only victory was a 4-1 win over the Canadiens. Considering the butchering the team took to its roster since last May, it's no wonder the Caps are off to a rough start.
Bad News: It can still be indicative of a team that isn't going to be that great.
The Caps close out the presason with games against the Hurricanes and Blues this weekend, then they open the season on Thursday, one week from tonight, against the Ottawa Senators.
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The Caps made some cuts today:
The Caps have made four cuts: Boyd, Siegenthaler, Lewington and Copley. None of them need waivers and go straight to Hershey.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) September 28, 2017
Those aren't really very surprising. The main competition in camp is for the final defensive spots and Madison Bowie and Christian Djoos probably have them locked up. Though it is possible that Aaron Ness could also make the team.
As good as some players on the Caps roster are, they are so top heavy, and there is just going to be way too many minutes going to the likes of Taylor Chorney , Pelly-Smith, Tom Wilson on a higher line, and Aaron Ness or whoever for them to be very good.
It's pretty much all gonna come down to what Holtby can do when he's not behind the NHL's best defensive team, which the Capitals will no longer be.
Until next time, keep your jams easy-listening, and your stick on the ice.