What does Today's game mean to the Caps 2/29

Not much happened for the Caps, but it was not bad news.  The Leafs lost to the Blackhawks.  This means the Maple Leafs are still 5 points behind the 8th place Caps (and stay in 10th place.)

Thursday will be the back backer.  The Jets and Panthers will play each other.  Yeah, it's going to be tough to watch.

 

Islanders @ Capitals

Yes they did!  A 3 - 2 win over the Islanders in OT.  Of course, spotting the Islanders a 2 - 0 lead and going 0 - 4 on the Power Play is not good.  But going 3 - 3 on the PK is.

Everyone's favorite whipping boy Jeff Schultz was a -1 in just over 14 minutes of ice time tonight.

In other action, the Panthers beat the Maple Leafs 5 - 3.

The Caps are now in 8th place, 1 point ahead of the Jets (who are in 9th) and 4 points of the 10th place Maple Leafs.  And for those who are wondering, they are 5 points behind 7th place New Jersey.  

As for the SE Division lead, they are 3 points behind the Panthers.

And for the guy wearing the South Carolina Sting Rays Neuvy jersey, you rule.

What does Today's game mean to the Caps 2/27

Not bad news for the Capitals tonight.  The Jets lost to the Oilers 5 - 3.  The Capitals are still in 9th and 1 point behind the Jets for the last playoff spot, but they have 3 games in hand.

In other news, the Capitals did not make any trades today.  The good news is they did not over pay for an "upgrade", but the bad news, they did not pick up any pieces for a playoff run OR for the future.

What does Today's game mean to the Caps 2/26

Well, the Panthers beat the Habs 4 - 2.  This means the Caps are now 3 points behind the Panthers for the SE Division lead. (They are still 1 point behind the Jets for the 8th spot in the playoffs.)

Also, the Lightning beat the Devils, so they are 10th place and 2 points behind the Caps.

The Wait and See game.  So much fun, isn't it?

Capitals @ Maple Leafs

Yes they did.  A 4 - 2 winner over the Maple Leafs.  Though, they were up 4 - 0 after 2 and gave up 2 goals in the 3rd.  Not exactly playing 60 minutes a commitment.  But hey, a win is a win.

In other news. the Jets lost in a SO to the Blues and the Panthers beat the Hurricanes in a SO.

This means the Capitals stay in 9th, but are now 1 point behind the division leading Panthers and 1 point behind the 8th place Jets.  Oh, And 2 points ahead of the 10th place Maple Leafs.

And now, the wait and see game.

Canadiens @ Capitals

Yep.  A 4 - 1winner over the Habs.  The Caps are now in 9th place.  They are tied in points with the Maple Leafs but have the tie breaker.  

The Caps did look good, but they gave up a short handed goal.  Oh, and they were outshot 31 - 23.  Come on guys, Neuvy had a great game but you can't always relay on the goalie.  You have to do a better job controlling the puck.  

The Capitals are 1 point behind 8th place Florida and 2 points behind Division leading Winnipeg. 

What does Today's game mean to the Caps 2/23

Well tonight was good for the Capitals (though, it could have been worse.)

Jets beat the Lightning, which means they are now in 1st of the Southeast.  They lead the Caps (who are in 10th) by 4 points.  (But the Capitals still lead the Lightning by 3 points.)

The Panthers lost in a shootout to the Wild, so the Capitals trail the now 8th place Panthers by 3 points.

Maple Leafs lost to the Sharks.  They fall to 8th and lead the Caps by 2 points.

Bottom line, Caps are now 4 points out of the division lead, 3 behind the last playoff spot.

The Caps have 22 games left, so there is plenty of time.  Now if Hamrlik and Hunter would just get along.

Capitals @ Senators

I swear they do this just to make me rant.  And to answer the question, nope.  They lost to the Ottawa Senators 5 - 2.  

They outshot the Senators and were down 4 - 0 at one point.  1 - 5 in the power play, 1 - 3 on the PK.  Need I go on?

I know, Ovi was not playing, but this was the prefect time for the rest of the team to step up and make things happen.

Caps stay in 10th in the east (2 points behind the Maple Leafs and Jets.) and 3rd in the SE (2 points behind the Panthers and Jets)

I don't know what is worse.  The Capitals tonight, or watching all the single ladies from BYU at the Kings @ Wizards game cheering for Jimmer Fredette who only played about 7 minutes and 5 points and 2 fouls.  I need a drink.

What does Today's game mean to the Caps 2/21

And this is why 3 point games are a pain.  Both the Maple Leafs and Jets lost in overtime (to the Devils and Flyers respectively.)  This means the Capitals are now two points behind both teams for the 8th spot.

Oh, and the Jets are now tied with the Panthers (pointswise) for the division lead.  Boy, Alzner's goal for the Jets keeps biting the Capitals, doesn't it?

BUT WAIT, there is more.  The 11th place Lightning are now 3 points behind the Capitals after their win over the Ducks.  AND the 12th place Sabres are 4 points behind the Caps after their win over the Islanders.

I am sort of shocked I used the term "respect" with the state of New Jersey and the city of Philadelphia.

Capitals @ Hurricanes

The Hurricanes have no Cam Ward in goal, so you would think the Caps have this.

Nope.  They lose to the last place Hurricanes 5 - 0.  Talk about S'ing the bed.

Caps stay in 10th place, 1 point behind the Jets and Maple Leafs for 8th.  And they are still 2 points behind the Panthers for the division lead.

Ironically, I got my playoff tickets packet for the Capitals today in the mail.

What does Today's game mean to the Caps 2/19

First the good news.  Bruce Boudreau's Ducks beat the Panthers, the Capitals are still 2 points behind Florida.

The bad news.  The Jets beat Varlamov the Avalanche dropping the Capitals to 10th.  The Caps are 1 point the Maple Leafs (8th) and Jets (9th).  Oh, and the Caps are 5 points ahead of 11th place Lightning, 12th place Islanders, and 13th place Canadiens. 

Sounds like they could be a pile up for the last playoff spot. 

And to think, in the last 7 games, the Caps are 2 - 4 - 1.  (Ironically the 2 wins are against the Panthers.)  That is 9 points left on the table.  I guess a rock star life style allows for that.

It will be cruel irony if the Ducks get into the playoffs and the Caps do not.

Capitals @ Lightning

Oh hell no.  On a night where the Maple Leafs get rolled by the Canucks, the Caps fall to the Lightning 2 - 1.  Seriously, you had a chance to take 8th place and put pressure on the Panthers and you decide that you can't figure out Mathieu Garon?

Caps stay in 9th, 1 point behind the Maple Leafs and 1 point ahead the Jets.  Oh, and they are also 2 points behind the Panthers for the Southeast division lead.

Capitals @ Panthers

Yep.  Caps beat the Panthers 2 - 1.  Semin and Ovcchkin scored.  (Does that make it a rock star performance?)  Oh, and they outshot the Panthers 41 - 23)

Caps were 0 - 3 on the PK, but 1 - 6 on the Power Play.

Capitals now trail the Panthers by 2 points for the SE Division Lead and the Maple Leafs by 1 for the 8th spot in the East.

In other news, the Jets are beating beat the Bruins in the 3rd.  If this hold, they would and are still be 1 point behind the Capitals. (Oh the drama of scoreboard watching)

What does Today's game mean to the Caps 2/16

Jets won in a shootout over the Wild.  This means they are in 10th place and 1 point behind the Caps.

Boy, I am sure glad we beat the Jets when they were hear sure got that extra point for the shootout loss last week. 

And contrary to some band wagoners, the NHL does exist outside of Washington.  3 teams are 5 points behind the Caps (the Islanders, Lightning, and Canadiens.)


The next few weeks could be get crazy on the scoreboard watching.

Another game from last night.

Oh hell, I am getting old, I forgot the Maple Leafs played as well.  Bad news for the Caps.  They the Leafs beat the Oilers last night.  

The Caps stay in 9th and are now 3 points being 8th place Toronto.

The Caps do have 2 more games left than the Leafs but of course, they have to win those games.  So leave the rock star rock styles back home guys.

What does Today's game mean to the Caps 2/15

Today was not a bad day for the Caps.  The cats Panthers were put down 6 - 2 by the Senators.

Caps still in 4 points behind the Panthers for first in the Southeast.


Someone at Japers Rink (JapersRink.com) said "I honestly look at the Panthers and think of that old SNL Dukakis/Bush debate skit: "I can't believe I'm losing to this guy.""

Thought of the Day

The Caps have lost 3 in a row (well ok, 0 - 2 - 1 if you want to be techincal).  The Wizards have won 2 in a row.  Time for the bandwagoners switch sides?

Seriously, I have season tickets to both teams.  It gets lonely at the Wizards games.  And I sort am tired of people who don't understand hockey yelling "shoot" when there is clearly no shot.

What does Today's games mean to the

Don't you love the wait and see game?
 
Today was actually good for the Caps.  The Capitals are still in 9th, but they did not lose ground.

The Maple Leafs were crushed by the Flames 5 - 1 in Calgary, so the Capitals still trail the Leafs by 1 point for 8th.

The Jets lost to the Islanders in Winnipeg 3 - 1.  The Caps are still leading the 10th place Jets by 3 points.

Sharks @ Capitals

Nope.  They lost 5 - 3.  At one point they were down 5 - 1. 

Joe Pavelski lit up Holty for 2 goals and 2 assists.  (And Joe Thornton had 3 assists as well.)

Yep, you read correctly.  Holty was in goal.  Caps were 0 - 4 on the power play and 3 - 6 on the PK.  And Roman Hamrlik was your leading scorer with 1 goal and 1 assist.  Yeah, you can do the math.  

Though, I will admit Dmitry Orlov's buzzer beater at the end of the 2nd was really nice.  Oh, and Jeff Schultz showed he can score a goal outside of Atlanta.

Caps are still in 9th, 1 point behind 8th Toronto and 3 ahead of 10th place Winnipeg.  And for those who are dreaming about the division title, still 4 behind Florida.

Capitals @ Rangers

Nope.  The game winning goal for the Rangers was a shorthanded goal. (Out hit, out shot, and only 38% of the face offs)


Caps stay 9th in the East, 2nd in the Southeast.  1 Point behind 8th Toronto.  2  4 Points behind Florida for the SE Division.

Panthers are getting ready to play the Islanders right now.  Panthers Crushed the Islanders.  Capitals are now 4 points out of 1st in the division.

Panthers vs. Devils, Canadiens vs. Maple Leafs

Good News:  Canadiens crushed the Maple Leafs, so the Caps still 1 point behind 8th place Maple Leafs.

Bad news:  Panthers beat the Devils, so now ahead by 2 points for division and Capitals stay in 9th.

Oh, and the Caps are 3 points ahead of 10th Jets.

Sunday, a Caps win over the 1st place (in the conference) and second best in the league Rangers puts them in 8th.  Panthers are on Long Island to play the Islanders.

Jets @ Capitals

Nope.  They lost in a shootout. 3 - 2 (2 - 1 in the shootout).  

Caps were up 2 - 0 with 2:15 to go in the 3rd.  They allowed the Jets to go on a 5 on 3 power play (which become a 6 - 3 pp when the Jets pulled their goalie.)  Oh, and thanks to a deflection off of Karl Alzner, Dustin Byfuglien scores from center ice for the Jets to tie it up. The Caps were 1 - 3 on the Penalty Kill.

BTW, the Caps were outshot the Jets 22 - 7 at one point and the score was still tied at 0.

In other news, the Florida Panthers beat the Kings so they are now tied with the Capitals for first in the Southeast, but they have the tie breaker.  And the Senators beat the Predators, so the Caps are in 9th again, 1 point behind the Maple Leafs for 8th place in the east, 2 points behind 7th place Senators, and 3 points ahead of 10th place Jets.

Panthers @ Capitals. Feb 7th, 2012

Yes they did, Ovechkin did score twice and Perrault did score 13 seconds into the game.

But they were outshot 42 - 24.  Yep, Vokoun had to make 42 saves. 

Caps now in first in the Southeast by 1 point, 3rd in the confernce.