Can you hear that?
It's the sound of every Cap-hating-hockey-pundit in the business leaning back in their chairs and sighing with gratification that they can once again dismiss the Capitals as a competitive team in the NHL.
It's the sound of every one of those guys getting ready to write yet another stale piece about how Ovechkin is killing this Capitals team and how he's not a leader because the team isn't doing well this year.
It's the sound of every one of them talking about how the Capitals have already failed to live up to expectations.
And Blah Blah Blah...
People, it's November 2nd. The Caps have played 11 games and have a record of 4-5-2. Yes, they are on a 4 game losing streak and got outscored 6-5 last night against Arizona, the team with the lowest goals-per-game average in the league.
But it's not time to panic. Yet.
Last nights performance was yet another version of how the Capitals can go up by two goals, get too comfortable, make sloppy plays and end up losing to a inferior team.
“The behavior has to change,… said Barry Trotz. “We've done this multiple times... We took a lot of penalties, we turned a lot of pucks over. It’s the same old story and it’s too old for me.…
It's old for us, too.
The Caps were in charge of the game in the first as they were up 3-1 over Arizona. Ovechkin, Carlson, and Wilson all scored and the Caps were almost toying with the Coyotes, playing catch in the offensive zone and moving the puck around very well.
The second period began to unravel a bit for Washington. They began getting a little too comfortable.
Then the penalties came. Some were very questionable calls, especially a high-sticking call against Ovechkin. The Coyotes took advantage and tied the game with 5 seconds left in the second off a Shane Doan shot from just about the goal line.
The Capitals gave up 5 unanswered goals - three in the third period - as the Coyotes took a 6-3 lead, including another Shane Doan goal in which he stole the puck off a fanned Ovechkin pass attempt.
“I think we had a great [first] period,… Ovechkin said. “After that we just stopped playing like we’re supposed to play. It’s all our fault. It’s not about the system. We made bad decisions with the puck, we made bad penalties and it cost us.… (NHL.com)
The Caps did rally back with goals from Ward and Brouwer, but it was too little, too late.
Justin Peters also had a bad night making 24 saves on 30 shots.
So why not panic?
Because this is Barry Trotz's team.
After a twenty minute, closed door meeting after the game, Trotz emerged with steam coming from his ears.
"That behavior has to change or we have to change people," Trotz said. "I mean it's plain and simple. Their ice time, look at different people in different situations. To me, it's absolutely unacceptable. They have to fix it. It's my job to fix the behavior. I don't like the behavior. If they're not going to fix it internally, individually, then I'll make sure I fix it."
This is a team that knows, for many of the players, this is a last chance.
The next 5 games will be a factor in determining whether or not there will be a change made to the lineup. The Caps, as always, need to build from within the locker room and make the mental changes necessary to give a full 60 minute effort.
Trotz will be sure that they do.
“Sometimes I get the feeling we play just as hard as we need to,… he said. “That’s not how I operate. That’s not how you win in this league. I know Mac [GM Brian MacLellan] is not happy with where we are in in terms of some of our actions and we need to rebuild again a little bit.… (CSNWashington)
If this were later in the season (let's say January) then I'd be a little antsy about the direction the Caps were heading, but it's not later in the season - it's November 2nd.
Everyone wants to point fingers at the Capitals, whether they're doing well or not, and pick apart every little thing wrong with the team.
If they're losing its because Ovechkin is a bad captain. Or Green is too standoffish. Or their goaltending is leaky. Or their depth is too shallow.
If the Caps are winning then it's Ovechkin's +/- from last year that needs to change. Or Green's mistake in the first period of a game last week that needs to be fixed. Or the goaltender let in a weak goal in a 6-2 win. Or the fourth line shouldn't be on the power play in a 6-2 game.
The Caps are too good of a team to be down for long. It's happened before. IT'S HAPPENED TO A LOT OF TEAMS. The Capitals will bounce back and in December we'll be talking about Jay Beagle's pre-game warm-up hairdo that just didn't look right.
It's early. Move on, get your heads together for next game and focus.
“We have to work harder,… said Troy Brouwer. “We’ve got to work smarter. It’s not one or two guys; it’s collectively every guy in here that needs to be better. It’s not something that is going to change tonight or change tomorrow. We’ve got to work at it and be on guys to make sure they are giving their best every night and that’s the only way we’ll get better.…
More to come...
**Ovechkin (1g, 3a last night) is now tied with Peter Bondra as the All-Time Point Leaders in Caps history with 825 points. ***Nicklas Backstrom (3a last night) is now tied for third on the Caps All-Time Assists Leaders with 376.
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