A 1 point night. Some things to like in this OT loss and some things to hopefully learn from and get better...
Your Ovechkin highlight of the game...Penalty or fine worthy?
Your Save of the game...
With the game 2-2 and Hendricks coming out of the box, Fleury makes a beauty on the breakaway.
If the Capitals who played the second period can repeat that performance for all three periods of a game and consistently put that effort out, watch out...if not, like today, then we'll get games like today. A coin flip.
Let's admit it, after the first period, I was already gearing up to write a scathing recap. The Caps simply did not show up to play in the first. 4 shots on goal and got outworked by a injury-plagued Penguins. But, the Caps finally played Dale Hunter hockey in the second and damn was it entertaining. If the second period is an indicator of the type of effort/play he wants to put on the ice then I can't wait till he can get that effort from the team for a full 60 minutes. Hopefully that comes sooner rather than later.
Quick Recap Points from the game...
-After pairing Ovie with Knuble and Perreault for the beginning of the game, Coach Hunter switched Knuble for Semin and instantly, it became one of the more effective lines tonight in the game. Ovechkin with his first 3 point game of the season with 1 goal and 2 assists. Semin with a goal and assist. And Perreault with 2 assists. My recomendation is to keep this line together until Backstrom gets healthy.
-The decision to start Neuvirth over Vokoun still baffles me. Just when I think I've got Coach Hunter figured out, he goes and starts the obvious #2 goalie over a real hot #1 goalie of late.
-Nonetheless, Neuvirth played pretty decent. The first two goals were tough with good screens in front of him and the final game winner in OT had to be a heartbreaker. Neuvy had plenty of dazzling saves though that kept this Caps team in contention. So I applaud Neuvy for his game tonight.
-Troy Brouwer. What a fight with Tyler Kennedy. Brouwer landed a ton of quality uppercuts early in the bout. Drawing blood on Kennedy. Kennedy came back and it ended in a stalemate with Brouwer getting the takedown.
-We got 20 shots on net!!!! LETS CELEBRATE!...really? This is starting to get absurd. Look what happens when everychance they get, they put a shot on net in the second, 10 shots and 2 goals, one shot that somehow didnt go in on Knuble's breakaway, etc...Then it's back to playing let's get 5 shots on net type of hockey in the 3rd period.
-If I'm George McPhee, why am I still holding onto Jeff Schultz? Obviously Coach Hunter does not intend to use him, so go get either a last pairing D-man or future nhler 3rd or 4th liner to replace Halpie here in a few years. With Kundratek still with the club, it's obvious that Schultz will no longer be in the plans with Hunter at the helm, so use him as tradebait. Hell, use him in a package deal to get us some secondary scoring...come on GMGM.
That's all I got for today, I've gotta go finish watching the Ravens now try to make it into the Superbowl. As always, GO CAPS!
Your Ovechkin highlight of the game...Penalty or fine worthy?
Your Save of the game...
With the game 2-2 and Hendricks coming out of the box, Fleury makes a beauty on the breakaway.
If the Capitals who played the second period can repeat that performance for all three periods of a game and consistently put that effort out, watch out...if not, like today, then we'll get games like today. A coin flip.
Let's admit it, after the first period, I was already gearing up to write a scathing recap. The Caps simply did not show up to play in the first. 4 shots on goal and got outworked by a injury-plagued Penguins. But, the Caps finally played Dale Hunter hockey in the second and damn was it entertaining. If the second period is an indicator of the type of effort/play he wants to put on the ice then I can't wait till he can get that effort from the team for a full 60 minutes. Hopefully that comes sooner rather than later.
Quick Recap Points from the game...
-After pairing Ovie with Knuble and Perreault for the beginning of the game, Coach Hunter switched Knuble for Semin and instantly, it became one of the more effective lines tonight in the game. Ovechkin with his first 3 point game of the season with 1 goal and 2 assists. Semin with a goal and assist. And Perreault with 2 assists. My recomendation is to keep this line together until Backstrom gets healthy.
-The decision to start Neuvirth over Vokoun still baffles me. Just when I think I've got Coach Hunter figured out, he goes and starts the obvious #2 goalie over a real hot #1 goalie of late.
-Nonetheless, Neuvirth played pretty decent. The first two goals were tough with good screens in front of him and the final game winner in OT had to be a heartbreaker. Neuvy had plenty of dazzling saves though that kept this Caps team in contention. So I applaud Neuvy for his game tonight.
-Troy Brouwer. What a fight with Tyler Kennedy. Brouwer landed a ton of quality uppercuts early in the bout. Drawing blood on Kennedy. Kennedy came back and it ended in a stalemate with Brouwer getting the takedown.
-We got 20 shots on net!!!! LETS CELEBRATE!...really? This is starting to get absurd. Look what happens when everychance they get, they put a shot on net in the second, 10 shots and 2 goals, one shot that somehow didnt go in on Knuble's breakaway, etc...Then it's back to playing let's get 5 shots on net type of hockey in the 3rd period.
-If I'm George McPhee, why am I still holding onto Jeff Schultz? Obviously Coach Hunter does not intend to use him, so go get either a last pairing D-man or future nhler 3rd or 4th liner to replace Halpie here in a few years. With Kundratek still with the club, it's obvious that Schultz will no longer be in the plans with Hunter at the helm, so use him as tradebait. Hell, use him in a package deal to get us some secondary scoring...come on GMGM.
That's all I got for today, I've gotta go finish watching the Ravens now try to make it into the Superbowl. As always, GO CAPS!
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