Ranging around

Today's matinee game against the Rangers looked, for a while, like the first goal might win it. Through the first period, there were only sixteen shots for the two teams, despite five power plays (two of which were pretty short, however). And the shots were even, as well.

But the Caps seem to have lost their ability to break out against the forecheck in the second period, surrendering three in the first eight minutes. They finally managed to answer one a minute later, and then a second, four minutes after that. So things weren't looking terrible at that point, but then Neuvy failed to grab a soft knuckler that deflected towards him. When it fell at his feet, Boyle managed to poke it past his outstretched foot, and into the goal.

So it was back to a two-goal lead going into the third, and didn't improve after that. Richards scored off a very nice feed (although I have no idea how Semin failed to draw a "holding the stick" penalty at the other end of the rush that led to that goal; it looked incredibly obvious, and the puck was right there) to put it back to a three goal margin.

OV managed to cut it to two with a goal where he used the defender as a screen on a one-on-three break (it was immediately following Neuvy's one really outstanding save on the game). I had mixed feelings about this one; I was thrilled to see the goal, but worry that it'll cement a very bad habit. I guess we'll see what happens. In any event, that was as close as it got, as Fedotenko scored the only other goal in the game. I was thoroughly disgusted at that point, and turned the game off. Good decision. Down two to three goals all period, they only managed four shots. Ouch.

This was a frustrating game to watch, though. Once again, the Caps spent way too much time in their own end of the ice, flailing away, unable to beat the two man forecheck (Wideman contributed five of the turnovers there, and MarJo added a really horrendous one, to boot). And they also allowed way too many odd-man rushes.

This team definitely has a boat-load of talent, but have lost the defensive focus that allowed them to do so well last season. If they can't get it back, we don't need to worry about them even getting out of the first round of the playoffs. They also really need to figure out what they're failing to do on the breakout against a two-man forecheck. I think it might be just too many soft, side-to-side passes off the back wall, but I'm not certain about it. And maybe they don't have enough defensemen that can consistently win a board battle? Certainly, lacking Green is not helping this; hopefully, he'll be back soon (good thing that this time it's really a day-to-day injury, not a three week day-to-day, huh, Bruce?).

Well, we'll see how things go against Buffalo tomorrow night, I guess. Maybe they can play well in the defensive zone?