Caps @ Thrashers 4-4-2007 Post-Mortem

Once again, you're welcome Ning fans. Onto the Battle Damage Assessment...

THE GOOD:

• Excellent job holding on after a dismal first period to get the win in regulation while missing one of their top scorers.
• Not only did A.O. have his usual game tonight, Dave Steckel was a pleasant surprise tonight. Steckel would have had his first NHL goal if he had gotten the puck up but that's about the only thing you can complain about with him tonight.
• Brent Johnson was solid enough to close his season out with a win largely thanks to Eric Boulton's high sticking penalty.
• Penalty Killers were a much needed 4 for 4 tonight against a dangerous team on the Power Play.

THE BAD:

• Milan "Jerky" Jurcina had to have had his worst game as Cap. A bad turnover early in the game lead to an early deficit and a bad penalty at the end made things a lot more interesting than they should have been.
• Jerky wasn't alone in the first period, getting outshot 10-3 to start the game isn't going to lead to many wins.

THE UGLY:

• Nice to see that Atlanta is still a fan of dirty pool as way too many elbows, especially from Bobby Holik, went uncalled tonight. Fortunately, there's no need to response in kind when you're leading.
• The Power Play got a gift wrapped goal in the second when Atlanta for some reason thought that Kris Beech was a bigger threat on the Power Play than A.O. They later gave up a huge shorthanded goal which gave the Thrashers life at the end of the game.
• The Caps have usually been good in the faceoff circle this year but tonight went 26-31 in draws.

So the long road losing streak is over and the Caps have a chance to end the season on a winning streak Saturday afternoon. Despite the awful first period, the Caps played a great road game and beat a team that is better than they are. Not to take anything away from the Caps, but tonight is a prime example as to why the Thrashers are not going to get anywhere in the playoffs as their lack of heart and desire once again cost them big time. Good to see that with everything that has gone wrong this year, the Caps haven't lost their heart and desire as they have now matched last season's point total.

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