Caps From Across the River

Hey Caps fans! My name is Matt Tucker but you can just call me Tucker.  I'll be adding my thoughts to the blog from the states, specifically from right outside the US capital.  I've lived in northern Virginia  all of my life and have been a DC sports fan since I can remember caring about sports.  Trust me I remember when it was the MCI center, the Redskins could make the playoffs, and the Nationals were the Expos from somewhere in the great white north. But I digress.

My perspective on our beloved Capitals will be from someone who sees and hears about them on a daily basis and is surrounded by other Caps fans. I love this team and love this town.

Lets go Caps

Caps from across the..... desert?

Hello fellow caps fans, My name is Ford K. and I'll be contributing to this blog fairly often, thought I might introduce myself.  First even though I live and grew up in Las Vegas, my family decided it would be nice to stick all of the DC sports baggage on me as a little kid, despite growing up 4000 miles from the DMV.  So I'm just as tortured by Joffrey Lupul's OT winner and Carlos Rogers' dropped interceptions as the rest of you; even if I think IN&OUT kicks five guys ass.  

If you read this blog you're used to a unique perspective on the Washington Capitals from about as far from the Verizon Center as you could possibly be.  Well from me it will still be from really far away... just in the opposite direction-- Also a little angrier because I get to legally lose money on the Caps, as well as be emotionally crippled by them.  

oh ps I think GMGM is a moron for not trading Vokoun at the deadline. 

New York, New York... Round 2 Preview

We came. We saw. We conquered. The Washington Capitals, written off by most 'experts', beat the defending champions, the Boston Bruins, in seven games in the first round.
Following the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils' victories in the remaining first round ties, the Caps have landed with New York in the second round. Here is an example of how terrifying and good at hockey they are:

THIS IS HOW THE TERRIFYING TEAM DRINKS

And we beat them the last two times we faced them in the playoffs. This will be easy, right?

It won't be as easy as before. This is the first time since the lockout we've been the regular season underdogs facing them. They've added Brad Richards, a legit first line center since our last encounter, and are generally a more competitive side. Plus, Gaborik scored 41 goals this season, good for third in the league. (By comparison, Ovi came in at 5th with 38 goals.)

There's a key to winning this series. I don't know if you're familiar with this phrase over in the US of A, but we often say 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it.' Nothing could be more true of these Caps. Their defence oriented play allowed them to shut down one of the league's best and deep offense in the Bruins. Braden Holtby came into the playoffs at the last minute, and played like a true veteran. The guy's been the best goalie in the playoffs this year, period. It's easily been the best playoff performance I've seen out of the Caps (I've been a fan since 2007). The offense seemed to take a back seat, but was still positive. Shooting on one of the best goaltenders in the NHL, everyone except Perreault and Schultz who played a game got at least one point. If Ovi hits 2008 form, Green comes back to his old ways.... let's just say I don't want to jinx it.


Prediction? Caps in Six.

Caps Win Series, Beat Bruins 2-1 (OT)

The Caps did it. It took seven games, an incredible performance from Braden Holtby, back to form play from Ovechkin, Sasha's snipes, but most of all, Joel Ward's clutch overtime goal to seal the win.

This was the first seven game series in which every game was decided by one goal. Both teams deserve credit for all their hard work, and I wish the Bruins success next year. The only people who predicted the Caps to come on top in this series were us, Caps fans. I mean, just look at these 'expert' predictions from nhl.com:

Well, would you look at that. Everyone predicting the Bruins to win. Also notice the Pens, Canucks and Hawks.

So, Game 7. What a thriller. Here's how it went:

- The Bruins outshot the Caps 32-27, and the Caps took three minors. This doesn't sound great, but hey, we won.
- Holtby was outstanding, again. This time he had a .969 save percentage. He's the reason we got this far.
- Matt Hendricks opened the scoring just after ten minutes, on a sneaky deflection off John Carlson's rocket.
- But the Bruins weren't going to give in, especially in front of their home crowd. Tyler Seguin scored a scrappy goal for his second of the series. Kid'll be a star, believe me.
- A scoreless third gave us the most thrilling thing in team sport. Golden Goal, Extra Time, Overtime... whatever you call it - you know it's all or nothing, all on the line. And that's where Joel Ward appeared in the crease, just three minutes in and whacked it in. Signed after his incredible postseason in Nashville last year, he was seen to be a clutch player. And clutch he was. It was over. The Caps won in seven games.

So, onto the Eastern Conference Semi Finals (Let's try not to have a repeat of last year...)
We'll find out tonight who we're playing, but here's the possibilities:

Ottawa beat New York + New Jersey beat Florida =  1) Ottawa vs Philadelphia  
                                                                                   2) Washington vs New Jersey

New York beat Ottawa + New Jersey beat Florida = 1) New York vs Washington
                                                                                  2) New Jersey vs Philadelphia

Ottawa beat New York + Florida beat New Jersey = 1) Florida vs Ottawa
                                                                                  2) Washington vs Philadelphia

New York beat Ottawa + Florida beat New Jersey = 1) New York vs Washington
                                                                                   2) Florida vs Philadelphia


It's wide open!

Pre-series analysis will be up tomorrow.
Here's the radio call of that great moment.

LET'S GO CAPS!

Caps Lose Game 6 to Bruins 4-3 (OT), Game 7 Forced

The Washington Capitals lost their chance to close out the series in six last night. In overtime, too. Just one shot, and this post could be in an entirely different tone. Instead, we're back in Boston on Wednesday night to win it in seven. Not trying to put a downer on things here, but:
2008- Caps lose to Flyers in 7, first round
2009- Caps win first round vs Rangers  in 7, but lose to Pens in semis in 7
2010- Caps lose first round to Montreal in 7
2011- Caps beat Rangers in 6.

We aren't great in game sevens, and have lost every single one played on the road in recent years.

This has to turn around if we even want to see the Conference Semi Finals this year. Here was how the game went:
- The Bruins got the first goal, just after five minutes when Rich Peverley getting a sneaky tip in.
- It didn't take too long, just four minutes in fact, when Mike Green whacked a slapper past Thomas. It was his first goal of the Dale Hunter regime.
- However, the lead wouldn't last. David Krejci scored to make it 2-1 to the Bruins.
- But again, the Caps replied, late on in the second with Chimera grabbing on to even it up.
- The Bruins kept the back and forth going, with Ference scoring with just over ten minutes to go.
- It wasn't over yet. Ovi smashed one in to make it 3-3 with less than five minutes on the clock.

But it wasn't to be. The Bruins dominated overtime, and Seguin scored after just three minutes. A game seven was now set.


BUT....

The Caps can draw some positives from this game. Every time the Bruins scored, they snatched it back. Thomas was, to his credit, great in goal, stopping 36 of the 39 shots. 39 shots is a great offensive performance.

Can we win this? To put it in Tim Thomas' favourite man's words: YES WE CAN!

Caps Beat Bruins 4-3, Can Close Out Series Today

The Caps celebrate the win

This game was everything we ever wanted, a win in Boston. The Caps need one more win to advance to the semi finals, most likely to face the Rangers or the winner of the Flyers - Pens series. Having won the last two games (the only time a side in this series has won two in a row), the Caps have a lot of momentum on their side. Plus, the Bruins were 6-8-2 in regular season matinee games (3 of those coming in shootout.)

- Coming into Game 6, Holtby has stopped 175 of 185 shots, for a save percentage of .946. Despite giving up three goals in the game, he still stopped 34 shots, whilst Thomas had a save percentage of .875.
- There was no scoring in the first, mainly because of some great saves at both ends.
- The lamp was lit for the first time midway through the second period by Semin, whacking it in from the crease.
- It only took the Caps a couple more minutes to go 2-0 up, with Beagle scoring on a soft shot that Thomas failed to control.
At this point, I arrived back home having been out at an Indian restaurant. My tweets will show you what happened next...

- Yep, the Bruins scored twice to tie it. Seidenberg and Marchand scored within thirty seconds. The game was tied at the second intermission.
- I don't know what Dale Hunter said in the locker room, but it worked. Freed Knuble scored three minutes in on a great team play.
- But it only took five minutes for Johnny Boychuck to tie it with a, to his credit, great slapshot. (True story, I almost bought one of his used sticks for $100).
- The game looked like it was heading to OT, until Benoit Pouliot slashed Backstrom with just minutes to go. Enter Troy Brouwer.

So the Caps now have a huge advantage coming into Game 6 at the Verizon Centre today.
 Let's prove those analysts wrong!
 Let's unleash the fury!
 Let's win the series at home!

BECAUSE IT'S THE CUP!

LET'S GO CAPS!

Winning Without Nicky - Caps Beat Bruins 2-1

The Caps truly were on the ropes before this game. Defense in the Game 3 shamble that was decided by an offside call was substandard, Holtby didn't play too great and Backstrom was shanabanned for Game 4, a must win game for the Caps. Let's be honest, the Caps aren't known as a clutch team who win when it matters (2008, 2009, 2010 were all bad game 7 losses), so lots of people thought their series would be effectively over once they inevitably lost Game 4. But this Washington Capitals side isn't like that. They won 2-1 in regulation instead. Here's why:
- The Holtbeast stopped 44 of 45 shots, over double Thomas' effort of 19 of 21 shots. Not a bad performance for an 'AHL Goaltender'.
- When the game was barely a minute old, Marcus Johansson scored a wicked snapper.
- After Rich Peverley had scored later on in the first, the game remained tied until 77 seconds to go                   in the second, when Sasha struck, sniping on the powerplay. This turned out to be the game winning goal.
-Knuble was in, and his veteran leadership may have really helped behind the scenes.
-Caps were disciplined! Holtby faced zero powerplay shots from the Bruins. Let's keep this up!

So onto the next one. Backy's with us again, and we have the momentum. The Caps won at TD garden earlier this series, so why can't they do it again? Holtby's on fire, Sasha cares, and Ovi's all ovi-the-place.

By the way, any Ovi haters out there, he leads the series in points with 4. Just saying.

Beat 'em in Beantown on Saturday, and use this momentum to take it in 6 at the Verizon Centre on Sunday. It's possible!

I'll be live tweeting during the games 5 and 6!

Let's go Caps!