Caps @ Rangers 10-5-2006 Post-Mortem

Did I say Prucha? I meant Shanahan...

That was rough. As you can see, I figured we would lose, I just didn't think we would look as bad in losing. It very easily could have been worse.

THE GOOD:

• The penalty killing looked decent in killing off just over 4 minutes of New York Power Play time.
• Check back in the morning, I might think of something else.

THE BAD:

• The Power Play is already in mid-season form going 0-8.
• The officiating was odd to say the least. Plenty of missed calls on both sides and for a long stretch, only the obvious was being called.
• He's the best player on the team, but A.O. tried to do too much by himself tonight with the puck. The Rangers were constantly double-teaming him (especially on the Power Play) and A.O. wasn't able to distribute the puck well. The Caps need to figure out ways to get him open.

THE UGLY:

• Except for the empty net goal, all of the Rangers' goals came off of the rush. The Caps need to work on their transition defense big time.
• I counted three ugly turnovers by the Caps in their own zone. One lead to the Rangers go-ahead goal in the 2nd.
• The top line of A.O., Dainius Zubrus, and Richard Zednik were each -4 and did not register a point.

As I said yesterday, this is going to be another long season. There will be the quotes from the Caps about not being happy with this performance and they shouldn't be. Some of the stupid mistakes that burned them early last year burned them again tonight. Brian Pothier stepped up at the Rangers blueline and the Rangers scored. Bryan Muir turns it over and the Rangers scored. Jamie "Home Run" Heward leaves his man and the Rangers scored. Give the Rangers full credit, they made the Caps pay for their mistakes tonight.

Anyway, Ted Leonsis has a new Owner's Corner up. I'm off to bed, maybe I'll feel better about this game in the morning...