Monday, February 25, 2008

Now That's a Goalie

A day after being taught how to extend a division lead late in the year, the Washington Capitals were taken back to school for yet another lesson. This time, their teacher came in the form of a Hall of Fame netminder performing at his absolute best.

Marty Brodeur, whose career will most assuredly close out with him atop the alltime wins list, kept the Devils in the game with one big save after another. By the end of the second period, the game was still scoreless, but Brodeur already had 28 saves while Brent Johnson faced just 10 at the opposite end.

The Capitals relinquished their control of the game in the third period and overtime where they were outshot 21-10, but Johnson performed admirably in what became a true goaltending duel. But Washington's failure to solve Brodeur, despite repeated chances, prevented the Caps from earning two extremely important points for the third straight game.

Although this loss was easier to stomach than the debacle in Raleigh, the standings don't care if the game was close or if you outplay the opposition. Standings are as objective as it gets in sports -- if you win, you move up. If not...well, you don't. With the overtime loss, the Capitals' games in hand advantage would no longer allow them tie Carolina (five points back, two games in hand.) It could be worse, though. We could be Atlanta, Florida, or Tampa Bay -- all of whom are in a slide of their own and have dropped further behind than the Caps have.

A loss always induces the need to improve, but in this case the Capitals can take a lot from this game. Most notably, the Capitals are a very young team learning how to win while their opponent was a squad filled with veterans experienced in hoisting the Cup. And for the most part, the Caps were in control. It all begins with their leader, Alex Ovechkin.

While Ovie has gone without a goal for five straight games, his passing has shown marked improvement over the past two games. Against the Devils, Ovechkin was seeing the ice as Gretzky and Lemieux did. Perfect cross-ice feeds, passes through defenders' feet, finding the only open guy. Ovechkin did it all repeatedly and has shown himself to be a true team player -- someone who makes the rest of his team better.

Brooks Laich, who has already established a career high in goals this season, has been another bright spot. He seems to be taking some hints from his close friend, Mike Green (surely you've seen Caps Cribs,) and has been moving the puck up ice very well lately. He doesn't yet have the stickhandling ability of Greenie, but he's getting there and, most importantly, he keeps on trying.

Though my time is limited at the moment, preventing me from expanding on my thoughts, the trade deadline is tomorrow and the Capitals are in need of some help (if they actually want to make the playoffs this year.) I'll offer more on this later on today.

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