Caps vs. Canes 1-27-2007 Post-Mortem

Well, that's how it needs to be done against a team like Carolina. Onto the Battle Damage Assessment...

THE GOOD:

• Great individual efforts by both Alexander Semin and A.O. to stake the Caps to a 3-0 lead. After a game like last night's, it was exactly what the Caps needed to do put the Canes on their heels and to get a good effort all night long rolling.
• When was the last time the Caps Power Play produced two goals in a game? For awhile there it looked like the Caps were going to pull their old trick of scoring on the first Power Play of the night and then get a roll of coins and phone the rest of the Power Plays in.
• While I am sure that the free ticket and pizza for 368 college students had something to do with it, it was once again a nice Saturday night crowd. Now that the Redskins season is over, people are finally starting to take notice of this team and getting behind them.
• Kudos to Eric Fehr on his first NHL goal. Now that it looks like he'll be permanently replacing Jakub "and Sons" Klepis in the lineup for the rest of the year, let's hope he has many more.

THE BAD:

• Horrific turnover by Mike Green that lead to the second Carolina goal. He knew it too as he slammed his stick on the ice right after it went in. Luckily the Caps did not blow a 3 goal lead tonight and with 8:22 of icetime, it looks like he once again ended up getting himself benched.
• While the Power Play had two goals for the first time in awhile (look, it's late and I too lazy to go look it up right now ok?) they should have had more. A 1:34 5-on-3 in the second period was wasted when the Caps were nursing a one goal lead. That too could have been a turning point in the game.
• What in the world was going on with that passing play in the third period? You all know what I am talking about. Score the freakin' goal guys and be done with it. Don't get all cute with the passing and trying to make the highlight reel. Just put the freakin' puck in the net and be done with it. Pretty goals count just as much as the ugly ones do so quit trying to show up the opposition and just put the puck in the net and be done with it.

THE UGLY:

• Yes, I am going there again and you can't stop me because this is my blog; Rod Brind'Armour:

(It is a little known fact that it is now a felony to be as ugly as Rod Brind'Armour is in 29 states. Problem is, none of those states have NHL franchises... yet.)

The thing that tonight's game shows us Caps fans is just how scary good this team is going to be in a few years. The problem is that we have to wait a few years to see that on a nightly basis. Most Caps fans wanted to be scary good two decades ago. But overall tonight a good win to salvage a split of the home-and-home with Carolina. While a sweep was needed, at least the Caps responded in a strong way after taking one on the chin last night in Raleigh.

It has been... A TWO POINT NIGHT!!!