Unbalanced no more

Per the hockey news, it looks like the NHL has finally come to its senses and will scrap the unbalanced schedule after this year.

Seeing as the Caps are in the Southeast and play a ridiculous number of games against Atlanta, Carolina, Tampa, and Florida, this can't happen fast enough. Despite having won 2 of the last 4 cups, it's plain to see that these teams don't attract the same number of fans to the arena, nor do they inspire the same passions in local fans as games against teams from the old Patrick Division (that's the Islanders, Penguins, Rangers, Flyers, Devils and Caps, for those of you coming late to the game).

It was fun seeing the Caps beat up on the worst teams in hockey for a couple years after realignment, but we'll be much happier for the chance to measure the team against some of the stronger Western Conference teams more than once a year.

Welcome to rock bottom

In the last 3 games against the Panthers, the Capitals have surrendered 17 goals.

Let that sink in for a bit.

17 Goals. 3 Games.

The Panthers have 5 wins in the Southeast Division, 3 of which have come against the Caps. For the mathematically impaired, that's OVER HALF of their wins in the division.

The Caps have lost 14 of their last 20 games, and 9 of 10 on the road. Those are NOT good numbers, folks.

Let's just say I won't be grabbing for my playoff ticket deposit any time soon.

The Caps are winless on a road trip once again, with the Flightless Devilbirds up this Saturday. Right now, these two young teams are headed in opposite directions. Pittsburgh is right in the thick of the playoff race. The Caps are also knee deep in something, but it sure isn't the playoff race.



Today's BHM spotlight is on Daniel Hale Williams, a surgeon who founded the first black hospital in the United States, Provident Hospital. The school served to train Black nurses and utilized doctors of all races. In 1893, Williams performed the first successful open heart surgery. More info on Williams can be found here.

This is it.

If the Caps want to make any kind of serious run at the playoffs, tonight is the night it starts. The Southeast cellar dwelling Florida Kittycats are 1 point behind the Caps in the standings, and have the same number of wins (4) and losses (6) in their last 10 games.

The Capitals MUST win tonight, plain and simple. Another two points lost to one of the worst teams in the league who also happens to be a division rival and the hole will be too deep to get out of. With the unbalanced schedule performance against teams in the Southeast is paramount, and so far the Caps have a less than stellar 8-10-2 record. They need to start stockpiling in-division points NOW, before the season is lost.

And just as a friendly reminder, in the last 2 games against Florida, the Caps put together two of their worst efforts of the season, one of which ruined the weekend of any fans unfortunate enough to attend the Saturday matinée. The combined goals scored by Florida in those two games? 11. So it's safe to say the defense needs to actually come to play tonight.

If the Capitals lose this game, Florida vaults ahead of them in the standings. Read that again. THE FLORIDA #@!$!@# PANTHERS will be AHEAD of the Capitals in the Southeast Division if the Caps lose tonight. If you're wondering if the Caps are going to be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline, this game should give you a very strong indication.

It's go time, boys. Show us what you've got.

On another note, I'll be trying to post a link every day of Black History Month on a black person of historical significance. I'll try to keep up the archive of links on the right. Today's link is to the Wikipedia entry for DC's own master composer Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington. I'm also linking to the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, one of the few public high schools in the nation with an emphasis on arts education (of which I happen to be a graduate).

Just what the doctor ordered

Ahhh... now that's more like it. After Friday, the Capitals destiny seemed written in stone. The Southeast Division was too strong. Carolina and Atlanta had too much talent, Tampa matched up too well with us with their offensive skills, and the team kept on giving points away to Florida. The Capitals just didn't quite have enough talent to compete.

And then Saturday happened. Like the first beam of dawn after a terrible storm, the Capitals game reappeared. They stormed Carolina from the outset, pressuring in all three zones, forcing turnovers, and absolutely BURYING their scoring opportunities. They scored on the power play, they scored shorthanded, they scored at even strength. They scored and scored and scored some more. And at the end of the day they stood strong, still in the thick of the playoff hunt.

Congrats to Eric "I only score big goals" Fehr for scoring his first NHL goal which, to no surprise, ended up the game winner. If he keeps playing a strong offensive game like he did Saturday, I don't think the folks in Hershey, PA will see him again for a long, long while. Fehr is ready for the big time, and he needs to cut his teeth at the NHL level for him to be ready to assume some serious offensive responsibility, either in the playoffs this year or next season.

The Russian Scoring Spree continued, with Semin netting 2 goals and Ovechkin one. I'm really liking the way these two continue to perform, especially since it seems to have raised the competitiveness in Semin. It seems like he wants to be a part of the Battle for Russian Supremacy, and the Caps can only benefit from a little friendly competition between their two best offensive players.

Lost in all the offensive output was another stellar game from Olie Kolzig, who was a wall when the team needed him most in the second and third periods. It's been said over and over again, but it bears repeating (and repeating again): This team would be absolutely lost without Kolzig. I only hope the team improves enough to get him another deep playoff run before his time playing in the NHL is over. It would be a shame otherwise.

On another note entirely, someone needs to call Dale Hunter and have him come in and work with Sutherby on his faceoff technique. He got positively owned in the circle against Brind'Amour (which isn't surprising) but he also struggles against lesser opposition. And NOBODY in Caps history won more big faceoffs than The Big Game Hunter. Now if someone upstairs can just find his number...

So what did last night show us? That the Capitals are ready to compete. That they CAN take on the best their division (and the league) has to offer. And that it's far too early to know just about anything else.