Caps vs. Flyers 11-2-2007 Post-Mortem

The word for today is "discipline"... Onto the Battle Damage Assessment:

THE GOOD:

• With his goal in the third period, A.O. tied Jeff Halpern for 28th on the Caps All-Time scoring list and now trails Dainus Zubrus by 2 points for 27th.
• Despite the undisciplined play, the Penalty Killers killed off 6 of 7 Philadelphia Power Plays tonight.

THE BAD:

• The Caps couldn't keep disciplined tonight. Taking two penalties in the third period when you're down by three goals is no way to mount a comeback.
• Further undisciplined play by Matt "Omar" Bradley cost the Caps a Power Play in the first period.

THE UGLY:

• After going down 1-0 and on their way to being dominated, the Flyers gooned things up and the Caps couldn't resist the temptation to retaliate. If you don't take the bait, they will stop trying to win games in that fashion.
• Referees Eric Furlatt and Greg Kimmerly were atrocious tonight. It wasn't so much what they were calling on the Caps but what they refused to call on the Flyers. It is one thing to let the obstruction fouls go all night (which they did for the Flyers) but to apply one standard to one team and another standard to the other team isn't right. If you're going to make calls in a vain attempt to regain control of the game, make the calls on the team that is causing things to get out of control. How a team that leads the league in suspensions can only give up two Power Plays in a game is beyond me.

This is a game that demands discipline and the Caps lost their's tonight trying to out goon the Flyers. This isn't a case of "standing up for your teammates" or "refusing to be pushed around," it is playing your game and refusing to let the other team set the tone when you're in charge. The Caps were in full control of the game and stopped playing their game in order to go running after the Flyers. By the time the Caps got back to playing their game, it was too late. There's a reason why the Broad Street Bullies haven't won a Cup in over 30 years, it is because the other teams figured out that winning the game means a whole lot more than winning the fights on the ice. Brooks Laich won his fight with Brad Mike Richards but Richards and his team walk off with two points in the standings while the Caps are still scratching their heads. So who would you rather be right now?