Caps @ Islanders 10-8-2007 Post-Mortem

Well, they went and did it again... Onto the Battle Damage Assessment...

THE GOOD:

• Despite some overall poor play (at least compared to the first two games) the Caps were able to gut out a win, which is exactly what happened.
• The fourth line came through in the clutch with the rest of the team sluggish, Donald Brashear had more ice time today (and ended up a team high +2) than he had in the first two games combined and Brooks Laich chipped in the game-winning-goal. Probably because they were fresher than everybody else.

THE BAD:

• You could see the effect of fatigue on the Caps playing 3 games in 4 days with two of them being on the road. There were all kinds of lazy and sluggish plays today, especially on our breakout plays. Way too many turnovers at our own blueline today.
• After Olie Kolzig posted a 23 shot shutout, today the Islanders got 31 shots on goal. Through 3 games now, the Caps are giving up an average of 27.67 shots per game.
• What was the dealing with the refereeing today? All kinds of trips and knockdowns behind the play went uncalled.

THE UGLY:

• Revamped Power Play update, 0-6 today and 0 shots on goal including 1:23 of 5-on-3 time. As a matter of fact, the Islanders got a shot on goal shorthanded and outshot the entire Power Play today 1-0.
• I saw that Ben "What A" Clymer cleared re-entry waivers (but was sent right back to Hershey) but Jeff "Sergeant" Schultz is still a healthy scratch. Schultz can't improve sitting in the Press Box.

From time-to-time you need to win even when you aren't playing your best. Today was very much one of those days. The Islanders did to the Caps what the Caps did to the Thrashers and Hurricanes with the very large exception of winning the hockey game. Is this really a good sign for the Caps this early in the season? Well everything is pointing in that direction. However, because I feel the need to throw some cold water on this party, the Caps got off to a good start last season and were solidly in playoff position in Mid-December before the wheels fell off. While a 3-0 start beats the dickens out of an 0-3 start, it's too early to be making plans for playing playoff hockey in May. I think at this point it would be rather prudent to keep Stanley Cup and President's Trophy talk to a minimum and simply enjoy a three game winning streak.

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