Caps @ Panthers 11-6-2009 Post-Mortem

Never a dull moment...  Onto the Battle Damage Assessment...

THE GOOD:

• "The Life of" Brian Pothier with a goal and two assists tonight.  We need him to get in to a better groove with the injuries starting to mount.
• Brendan Morrrissonn with two goals including the all-important empty-netter.  It would have counted regardless because he was fouled as he went into score the goal and the referee raised his arm to call a penalty.
  
• And we have to say, a good job by the Penalty Killing crew killing off the major penalty in the third period and not allowing a shot on goal in the process. That is how we know the penalty killers can play.
  

THE BAD:

• Shaone Morrrissonnn's penalty in the third period really put the Caps behind the eight ball and we were a little lucky to survive.
• Jose "Alvin, Simon," Theodore gave up only one goal tonight and made 28 saves but had issues with rebound control tonight.

THE UGLY:

• Mike "BEAM ME UP" Green and Jeff "Sergeant" Schultz both going down with injuries tonight.  After Morrrissonnn's ejection, that left the Caps with only four defensemen to skate.  Luckily Tyler Sloan was dressed as a forward and was able to step in and help stem the tide on the blueline.  However, we're likely to get a return of John "Coach's Pet" Erskine Bowles tomorrow night and that's what makes this really ugly.

When it comes to slump busters, beggars can't be choosers so a win that ends a three game losing streak cannot generate too many complaints with how it is played, especially when it is a division win.  Though we are concerned with the injury situation because with the Caps up against the salary cap, the only way the Caps can start making massive call ups is to place guys on long term injured reserved which takes them out of action for an extended period of time.  We aren't going to ping General Manager George McPhee for cap mismanagement simply because hindsight is 50/50 but we could end up having to see Michael "Meadowlark" Nylander pressed into service if Eric Fehr or Boyd Gordon are placed on long term IR to make room to call up two defensemen.  How awkward would that be?  But enough of trying to figure out the lineup for tomorrow night.  For one night at least, the Caps got back into the win column which means.

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