If anyone thought the Capitals were making the playoffs with 15 games left in the season they would have been called crazy. If anyone picked the Capitals to make the playoffs they still would be called crazy for picking the longshot.
Washington fans can rejoice in a captivating season which had more drama than BALCO and Spygate combined. Winning a near impossible and improbable 11 out of their 12 final games they made their first playoff birth since 2002-2003 season. They took Philadelphia to the max last night loosing in overtime to a Joffrey Lupul power play goal 6:06 into the OT session. This was the second game the Caps brought to overtime in the series and lost it (game 4 of the series).
Alexander Ovechkin had a goal and an assist in the loss and had a total of 4 goals and 5 assists in the 7 game series. He led the league in the regular season with 65 goals and 112 points. Being a playoff bound team enhances the chances of him winning the MVP this year.
This was type of season the O's definitely need; a cheerful ending. Any market, especially with a fledgling team not making the post season, is bolstered by being competitive in the playoffs. A competitive playoff series helps the Capitials in A, it attracts better players to a team which can now be considered a Stanley Cup Contender (See Huet, Green, and Ovechkin); B attracts new fans and brings back those closet fans who have been out to lunch the past couple of years; C gives hope to both players and fans.
The Capitals, both management and players, need to keep this going throughout the summer. I'd like to see Cristobal Huet in net for the whole season, Olie The Goalie (Olaf Kolzig), because Olaf is at the end of his career. It's time for the changing of the guards in net. They need to keep this team young. The addition of the seasoned vet Seregei Federov will help even more after an off season of work with the team. He had a goal and 4 assists in the playoffs as well as 2 goals and 11 assists in 18 games in the regular season.
We'll be seeing them in the playoffs next season...
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
3 comments:
They lost first round to a crappy Flyers team! Way to be psyched.
Missing the point...they ended their playoff drought, have a franchise player which is going to produce, a hot goal tender, and a team that wont fold under pressure...their winning streak! It was a remarkable season for them and Capitals fans should be psyched!
I also would like to see Huet back, but it my understanding that his wife doesnt like the US and wants back in Canada. Plus he will command a lot of money.
I have followed the Caps religously for almost 20 years now, and am a huge Kolzig fan but agree he is on the downside of his career. He even took his nameplate from his locker after that last loss. Dont look for him to be back. Goaltending will be a main concern this off season. I mean, who wants Johnson as a starter?
Was a good series with teams pretty much evenly matched. I thought the refs made a lot of suspicious calls in game 7, especially the non-goalie interference call on the Flyers second goal.
All in all it was a season to remember finally. Look for better things from the Caps next season.
JIM
GO CAPS!!
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