Capitals 1, Flames 2

Very few people would dispute that the Washington Capitals are a more skilled team than the Calgary Flames. However, as the Capitals seem to be learning the hard way, it takes more than just skill and flair to consistently win games in the NHL.

The story of the night for the Capitals was mistakes, one after the other. Sure the Capitals made some very nice passing plays and generated some exciting scoring chances but that wasn’t enough to cover their myriad of errors: a blown nine minute powerplay, a Shaone Morrisonn clearing attempt that was picked off the put home for the first Flames goal, Mike Green getting caught behind the Flames net and giving the Flames an odd man rush…while the Capitals were shorthanded.

And then of course, there were the penalties.

In total the Capitals took ten minor penalties and gave the Flames seven powerplays, including three five-on-threes. What’s even worse is that so many of the penalties were preventable: Michael Nylander’s offensive zone holding penalty while the Capitals were on what would have been a nine minute powerplay, Shaone Morrisonn’s careless high-sticking minor, John Erskine’s unnecessary cross check with four seconds remaining in the first period, Sergei Fedorov’s holding the stick penalty, David Steckel’s brain cramp throwing the stick penalty, and Chris Clark’s slashing penalty were all avoidable. Skill can make up for an awful lot, but it’s not going to make up for that level of carelessness, or laziness, or lack of focus, or whatever else you want to call it.

Caps Blue Line 3 Stars
(1) Jose Theodore
(2) Sergei Fedorov – 1 goal, +1
(3) Jeff Schultz – 1 assist, +1, 3 blocked shots

Quick Hits

• I like the idea of Alexander Ovechkin and Alexander Semin on the penalty kill, but Tomas Fleischmann?  He’s a mediocre defensive player and doesn’t have the explosive offensive ability a player needs to be a real threat shorthanded.
• Only one Capitals player (Sergei Fedorov) won more than half of their faceoffs.
• Jose Theodore looks like he may have come around.  Now if Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom could do the same, the Caps would really be in business.
• After failing to convert on the nine minute powerplay and going 0-for-5 on the night, it might be time to start worrying about the powerplay a little.