Caps @ Devils 11-15-2008 Post-Mortem

Just another grind-it-out-Caps-Devils-Snoozefest... Onto the Battle Damage Assessment...

THE GOOD:

• With just 10 points (2 goals, 8 assists) in his last three games, we'd say that Nicklas Backstrom looks to be out of his sophomore slump.
• A.O. up to his old tricks, 2 goals with one being a buzzer beater to not only force overtime, but to salvage a point. He's now ten goals behind Michael Pivonka and Dale Hunter for 8th All-Time on the Caps Goal Scoring list, and 14 points behind Steve Konowalchuk for 17th All-Time Caps Scoring list.
• Jose "Alvin, Simon," Theodore with another strong performancein goal despite giving up a goal on the first shot of the game and allowing five overall.

THE BAD:

• Though we have to believe that when Theodore insisted on coming here, he was not interested in facing 66 shots over two nights.
• While he isn't on this team for his defensive prowess, Mike "BEAM ME UP" Green was getting driven past tonight more than a sign post on I-95.

THE UGLY:

• The game was decided by a gimmick.
• Goals allowed very early in the first and second period. We can emphasize enough that the defensive effort has to improve.

We've been hearing a lot over the past few days about how bad the D.C. fan is. We have to wonder tonight if New Jersey fans are going to be lined up for the same grilling we've been taking for some time. While Caps Fan Club and Road Crew were in attendance tonight, it sounded like a game Caps game in Raleigh with plenty of noise being made by Caps fans when the Caps made great plays tonight. The Devils ran into the same problem last spring during their playoff series with the Rangers it seemed to us that it was hardly mentioned. But getting back to the game, pulling out only one win against a Devils team reeling without Martin Brodeur is a bit of a let down, especially since the Devils have been exposed without Brodeur to lean on.