Saturday, February 16, 2008

Sliding Into a Slump

Not far removed from being one of the hottest teams in the entire National Hockey League, the Washington Capitals are suddenly the coldest team in the Southeast Division -- allowing their rivals to regain ground in one of the tightest races in league history.

If Tampa Bay, currently last in the division, were to win both their games in hand, only two points would separate first from fifth place. And the Lightning, with plenty of playoff experience, are perhaps the hottest team in the Southeast right now. After losing seven in a row around the turn of the year, the Lightning have reeled off wins in 10 of 16 and are 4-0-1 in their last five. But Atlanta's also hot, Carolina has revived themselves a bit, and Florida...well, they had no problem beating the Caps last night.

In what is the most important stretch of divisional games for the Capitals so far this season, they have allowed their rivals all six possible points in the standings this past week while earning just one for themselves. And last night was no exception.

Brent Johnson, who came into the game with stellar career numbers against the Florida Panthers, was extremely shaky -- lucky to allow just three goals. His rebound placement was atrocious. More than a handful of times, he left a rebound right in the middle of slot but was fortunate that a Cap reached the loose puck first. I can't remember a game where a goalie (on any team) left so many rebounds in such bad spots.

Then there were the turnovers. Holding on to an undeserving one goal lead in the third period, Mike Green whiffed on his first clearing attempt and may as well have whiffed on his second. But he didn't, and threw the puck cross-rink right to David Booth who fired the puck towards the net where Nathan Horton was standing to tie up the game.

Then, after an unlucky carom off the back of Brent Johnson's skate crossed the goal line to put Florida in front 3-2, Alexander Semin made a terrible outlet pass with the goalie pulled and 50 seconds still to play. I don't know what Semin was thinking when he sent a pass up ice right to Booth, who shot the puck right into the empty net. But for those of us keeping score at home, the last two times the Capitals have pulled their goalie in the last minute, Semin has cost the Caps any chance for the tying goal. Remember his slash in Carolina? I thought so.

Amazingly, the Caps have spaced out their recent losses so they still haven't dropped two in a row in regulation since Bruce Boudreau took over some 38 games ago. And they'll need that streak to continue tonight against that rolling Tampa Bay team. A loss and the Capitals will find themselves two points out of LAST place in the Southeast.

A FEW NOTES FROM THE GAME:

• With Tom Poti out yet again, Steve Eminger was back in the lineup. After playing just over 10 nondescript minutes (he was the only Cap to have zeros across the board) on the day that the Caps re-recalled Sami Lepisto, I'd look for the NHL debut of the 23 year old Finland native tonight -- as long as Poti is still out.
• Tomas Fleischmann had a little Alex Ovechkin rub off on him with his insertion on the top line. His top shelf laser was very reminiscent of those that Ovie has made commonplace. Unfortunately his -2 rating on the night was equalled by six other Caps -- including Ovechkin.
• After killing off all six penalties against Florida's fifth ranked power play, the Caps are now 19 for their last 19. A lone bright spot in an otherwise disappointing stretch of games.
• With the loss, the Capitals are now the only team in the Southeast that is below .500 (9-10-3) in the division.

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