Capitals Playoff Watch

[Steve Spurrier III Profile]

I believe the Southeast Division crown would earn us a three seed, no?

I kind of want the Penguins. I know they've been kicking our ass in the playoffs for years, but there's only one way to put an end to that.

Tonight's big. We're playing a team we should beat (Chicago), but the second night of a back-to-back is anything but a lock. And with Buffalo and Carolina in action, we could be looking at a big swing in either direction.

[JansenFan Profile Website]

Three seed. Correct on your part; brain fart on mine. In any case, I'd like the chance to excorcise the Penguin demon, but I'd like a round or two to get the young guys into the play-off hockey mind-set first. My dream scenario would be to face the Pens in the eastern conference finals, although that is a far off prospect at this point. For now, I just want to see Ovie in the play-offs.

[Steve Spurrier III Profile]

Well, that was pretty frickin' brutal. You could kind of see it coming - second game of a back-to-back on the road, against a fresh, young, hungry team. Still, I never expected the Caps to get out-hustled from whistle to whistle. In addition, the Lightning blow a third period, three goal lead and the Thrashers continue to let us down. In a single night, the Capitals lost their momentum, control of their own destiny and their margin for error.

Thursday, March 20

Yesterday's Relevant Results:

Blackhawks 5 Capitals 0
Hurricanes 5 Thrashers 3
Sabres 7 Lightning 4

Standings going in:

Code: Select all

 # Team           Pts  GR

 1 Devils (A)      91   9
 2 Canadians (N)   90   8
 3 Hurricanes (S)  85   7
 4 Penguins        89   9
 5 Senators        87   9
 6 Rangers         87   8
 7 Bruins          83   9
 8 Flyers          82   8
--------------------------
 9 Sabres          81   8
10 CAPITALS        80   8
11 Panthers        78   8

Today's Relevant Games:

Hurricanes at Panthers; 7:30

A Panthers win gives the Capitals back control of their own destiny.

[Sir_Monk Profile]

I had a bad feeling about this one, back to back games on the road late in the season are brutal.

[Steve Spurrier III Profile]

The Caps just can't catch a break. Not only do the Hurricanes win AGAIN, but they do it in overtime, meaning that the Panthers also pick up a point.

Friday, March 21

Yesterday's Relevant Results:

Hurricanes 2 Panthers 1 (SO)

Standings going in:

Code: Select all

 # Team           Pts  GR

 1 Canadians (N)   92   7
 2 Devils (A)      91   9
 3 Hurricanes (S)  87   6
 4 Penguins        91   8
 5 Senators        89   8
 6 Rangers         87   8
 7 Bruins          83   8
 8 Flyers          82   8
--------------------------
 9 Sabres          81   8
10 CAPITALS        80   7
11 Panthers        79   7

Today's Relevant Games:

Capitals at Thrashers; 7:30
Rangers at Flyers; 7:00
Maple Leafs at Sabres; 7:30

Tonight's a great opportunity to do some damage in the wild card race. And with the way the Hurricanes are rolling, that might be our best bet.

[Steve Spurrier III Profile]

What a game. I forget what the exact numbers were that they showed on the broadcast, but the Capitals hadn't won a game after trailing through two periods since January 2007. Down 3-1 in the third, with the season hanging in the balance, the Capitals break loose for four goals. It wasn't really a case of the Caps playing poorly and suddenly turning it on, because we were dominating the Thrashers in shots on goal on all night. Still, it was great to see the breaks go our way. Alex Ovechkin scores two goals to reach the 60-goal plateau, the first player to do so since the 1995-1996 season, and ties Dennis Maruk (81-82) for the franchise record. What a night.

Saturday, March 22

Yesterday's Relevant Results:

Capitals 5 Thrashers 3
Flyers 4 Rangers 3 (SO)
Maple Leafs 4 Sabres 1

Standings going in:

Code: Select all

 # Team           Pts  GR

 1 Canadians (N)   92   7
 2 Penguins (A)    91   8
 3 Hurricanes (S)  87   6
 4 Devils          91   8
 5 Senators        89   8
 6 Rangers         88   7
 7 Flyers          84   7
 8 Bruins          83   8
--------------------------
 9 CAPITALS        82   6
10 Sabres          81   7
11 Panthers        79   7

Today's Relevant Games:

Bruins at Canadians; 7:00
Lightning at Panthers; 7:00

Caps are off until Tuesday for our big showdown with Carolina. In the meantime, we turn our focus towards Boston, as the Flyers have suddenly remembered how to play hockey.

[Sir_Monk Profile]

Shame on me for turning off the game when it got to 3-1...

[Steve Spurrier III Profile]

Shame indeed. Although that was what, nine consecutive periods that the Capitals had been outplayed? I'd say frustration was justified.

Hopefully we'll be ready for three good periods come Tuesday.

[Steve Spurrier III Profile]

Bruins pick up a point, Panthers pick up two.

Sunday, March 23

Yesterday's Relevant Results:

Canadians 3 Bruins 2 (SO)
Panthers 4 Lightning 2

Standings going in:

Code: Select all

 # Team           Pts  GR

 1 Canadians (N)   94   6
 2 Penguins (A)    93   7
 3 Hurricanes (S)  87   6
 4 Devils          91   7
 5 Senators        89   7
 6 Rangers         88   7
 7 Flyers          84   7
 8 Bruins          84   7
--------------------------
 9 CAPITALS        82   6
10 Sabres          81   7
11 Panthers        81   6

Today's Relevant Games:

Islanders at Flyers; 7:00

[Bob 0119 Profile]

Shame on me for turning off the game when it got to 3-1...

There's no shame, man. I did the same thing. I got lucky and turned back to the game a little less than halfway through the third, when it was still 3-1 (there was nothing else on TV).

They were definately pouring it on by then so I stayed with it, and sure enough they won it.

We put up more shots in the third period than ATL did in the entire game. After Ovie scored his 60th, they had ATL on thier heels.

We needed that game desperately, and they went out and got it. Now comes the big test. We need this game tomorrow vs. Carolina.

[Steve Spurrier III Profile]

Monday, March 24 / Tuesday, March 25

Yesterday's Relevant Results:

Flyers 4 Islanders 1

Standings going in:

Code: Select all

 # Team           Pts  GR

 1 Canadians (N)   94   6
 2 Penguins (A)    93   7
 3 Hurricanes (S)  87   6
 4 Devils          91   7
 5 Senators        89   7
 6 Rangers         88   7
 7 Flyers          86   6
 8 Bruins          84   7
--------------------------
 9 CAPITALS        82   6
10 Sabres          81   7
11 Panthers        81   6

Monday's Relevant Games:

none

Tuesday's Relevant Games

Capitals at Hurricanes; 7:00
Bruins at Maple Leafs; 7:30
Senators at Sabres; 7:00
Flyers at Rangers; 7:30, Versus
Panthers at Lightning; 7:30

[Sir_Monk Profile]

Kozlov with the shootout winner keeps the season alive!!!! For those who got to watch the game, was the second Carolina goal legit?

[JansenFan Profile Website]

I only saw the replay and my first thought was that it was goalie interference and shouldn't have counted, but on the second pass through I saw Kozlov checked him into Huet. That being said, I never saw a replay that actually showed the puck in the net, although I admittedly wasn't looking for it.

As for the season, a regulation win would have been much better than the shootout win, but we gained a point in the division,, Unfortunately, everyone behind us lost and everyone in front of us won, except the Canes who got a point.

[Steve Spurrier III Profile]

The second goal absolutely went in the net, the question was whether or not there was video proof. According to the guys in the booth, without a replay of the puck actually in the net, the goal shouldn't of counted. There was no such replay on the CSN broadcast, but apparently the replay officials did have access to more angles.

Only picking up a point on Carolina hurts - the Capitals are doing their part, but they're going to need to pick up some help at some point. Still, we took two points from a red-hot team on the road, Ovechkin sets the franchise scoring record, and we did put some distance between us and Buffalo/Florida - it was a good night.

Wednesday, March 26 / Thursday, March 27

Yesterday's Relevant Results:

Capitals 3 Hurricanes 2 (SO)
Bruins 6 Maple Leafs 2
Senators 6 Sabres 3
Flyers 2 Rangers 1 (OT)
Lightning 3 Panthers 1

Standings going in:

Code: Select all

 # Team           Pts  GR

 1 Canadians (N)   96   5 - clinched playoffs
 2 Penguins (A)    95   5 - clinched playoffs
 3 Hurricanes (S)  88   5
 4 Devils          91   6
 5 Senators        91   5
 6 Rangers         89   6
 7 Flyers          88   5
 8 Bruins          86   6
--------------------------
 9 CAPITALS        84   5
10 Sabres          81   6
11 Panthers        81   5

Wednesday's Relevant Games:

none

Thursday's Relevant Games

Capitals at Lightning; 7:30
Maple Leafs at Bruins; 7:00

Thursday's a great chance to move us within striking distance of Boston.

[NC43Hog Profile Website]

we took two points from a red-hot team on the road,

actually just one.