Game 43: Toronto Maple Leafs @ Washington Capitals

Oh it is getting down the crunch time.  2 very important points on the board for both teams.

With that being said.  Here is the nonsense I came up with.

I don't know.  I mean the Raptors did win tonight.

Capitals 5 Maple Laughs Leafs 1

Winnipeg also won, so remember this. . . 

Game 10: Toronto Maple Leafs @ Washington Capitals

The PK was good (they were 3 for 3) but they only won 40% of the faceoffs and the Maple Leafs had 22 blocks.

Backstrom was 31% on faceoffs and Beagle was 17%.  But on the other hand, David Steckel won 57% (oh wait, he plays for Toronto now, doesn't he?)

Here was my reaction to seeing the game:

Caps fall to the Leafs 3 - 2.

Game 7 Washington Capitals @ Toronto Maple Leafs

When you are outshot almost to a 2 - 1 ratio, it does not look good.

And for those wondering, I seriously doubt we can get Bruce Boudreau back.

Caps fall to the Leafs 3 - 2.  

Flyers @ Capitals from last night and tonight's meaning. 3/5

You all know what happened.  The Caps got shut out 1 - 0 by the man who talks about humungous big universes.  Neuvy played well and only gave up 1 goal, but the offense must have thought it would be great to do an impression of me in high school and not score.

The Jets beat the Sabres, so this means the Caps stay in 9th, but are now 3 points behind the 8th place Jets.  They are also 1 point ahead of the 10th place Lightning and Sabres and 2 points ahead of the 12 place Leafs.

Oh the drama.

And for those who are wondering, the Capitals are 5 points behind the Panthers for the SE lead.

What does Today's game mean to the Caps 3/03

Well, today makes the playoff picture interesting.

The Panthers lost to the Predators, Maple Leafs beat the Canadiens, and the Lightning beat the Hurricanes.  
Bottomline, the Capitals are still in 9th place.  1 point behind the Jets, 1 ahead of 10th place Lightning, and 2 ahead of the 11 place Maple Leafs.  Oh, and the Capitals are still 3 points behind the Panthers for 1st place in the SE.

18 games left.  Who is ready for the madness?

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.

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.

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.

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 @ 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.

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 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.

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.