One thread I never posted on over on CAA Zone but lurked on a lot. Really have something to talk about now, they're on fire, undefeated in April! Anyone else going up to Verizon on Saturday to watch Ovi take #1 in goals from Stamkos?

Let's go Caps!!! I hope they keep up the pace they are playing. The way Ovi, Ribeiro, Brouwer, and Nick are playing...I don't see a better group of players playing at a higher level (even Holtby AND Neuvirth).

Yeah, I really hope they can keep this rolling in to the playoffs and keep up the way they've been playing. I'm not much of a Neuvy fan though and don't get why he played Tuesday, sure hope he doesn't play Saturday. I didn't get to watch tonight, but from the highlights it looks like Holtby stood on his head for much of the game. Got lucky on that one Carlson saved though.

(04-12-2013 12:54 AM)KickItToScotty Wrote:  Yeah, I really hope they can keep this rolling in to the playoffs and keep up the way they've been playing. I'm not much of a Neuvy fan though and don't get why he played Tuesday, sure hope he doesn't play Saturday. I didn't get to watch tonight, but from the highlights it looks like Holtby stood on his head for much of the game. Got lucky on that one Carlson saved though.

Caps have been great lately.. but 3rd (caps) through 9th is separated by only a couple of points will be a fun final two weeks.

Love the energy they're playing with and the Powerplay has been lights out. Ovi's getting a lot of attention now, rightfully so, but Backstrom has been serving the puck up on a silver platter. He's been locked in every game and him and Ovi are in a great rhythm. If they can stay healthy and win the games their supposed to I think they'll storm into the playoffs and make some noise.

A lot of people were quick to write this team off early in the season, but when a team change coaches and philosophy's it takes a little while for the team to get comfortable. The early season troubles were magnified due to the lockout. It's nice to see the team start to Gel under Oates' system. I also wish they'd interview Calle Johansson more, the guy is hilarious.

7 games to go (5 at home), 6 of which are teams in the current top 8. Been on a great run recently, just gotta take it take it to them. 2 key games against Ottawa, who are in the 5th spot and could be our matchup in the first round.

Back to bashing Razor now, Go Dukes!

So the Caps stole the J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS chant?!

WEAK! :)

They'll be a tough out in the play-offs. The first 15 games or so were an absolute disaster. With the coaching change, the lock out seemed to hurt them more than most teams but they've really got it going recently.

Ovi might be playing the best hockey of his career right now. Not just the scoring but with his set up, passing, and attention to defense (which has always been lacking). Let's face it, he'll never be in the Selke conversation but he's not the liability has has been recently. Notice he's not skating like a heat seeking missile going for the bone crushing hit every shift.

Didn't like the Erat/Forsberg trade, though.

I can't believe Ovi didn't score last night. Disgraceful.

Remember when the hot topic on the radio around DC about 2 months ago was whether or not they could trade Ovi with his unreasonable contract? What a bunch of idiots.

Also agree on the Forsberg trade. WTF were they thinking. Then again, they've won so people have quickly forgotten, but that could hurt in the next 3-4 years.

Yeah, definitely terrible timing on the lockout. No preseason, barely any training camp, and then a short season with a new coach. Glad they were able to pull it together in time though, it would have been so disappointing waiting all that time for the lockout to end then having the Caps keep playing like they were early on. I think we win the Southeast, really don't see us missing the playoffs the way they've been playing, but we do have a pretty tough schedule so hopefully they keep it going.

But yeah, love seeing Ovi shut all those people up. I knew he would eventually but glad it came pretty quickly and emphatically. I remember early in the season some dbags talking about how washed up he is and how he'll never score 50 goals again and probably won't even score 40 goals again... Well there's still 7 games left in a half season and he's got 26, suck it!

(04-12-2013 12:25 PM)JMUSkinsfan Wrote:  Also agree on the Forsberg trade. WTF were they thinking. Then again, they've won so people have quickly forgotten, but that could hurt in the next 3-4 years.

As much as I disliked the trade as well especially with how high management was on Forsberg.. I'll give George some credit when trading our prospects.. only Eakin who looks to be doing well in Dallas has played more than couple games in the NHL. the rest over the past few year's havent amounted to much (Bouchard, Della Rovere, Osala).

I think McPhee also said he had Kuznetsov and Wilson ahead of Forsberg on the RW depth chart for prospects, guess that made Forsberg a little more expendable.

Pens fan here, in Caps country. At no time did I write them off -- mainly because I figured it would take time to adjust to the coaching change, also because they were missing Laich for most of the season. The guy is a difference maker. Backstrom seems to be himself again, too.

I think they'll win the division but wonder if they almost wouldn't be better off cooling down a little. Awfully tough to maintain their current pace.

Could be a unique (in recent years, anyway) post-season atmosphere for them. Very little pressure compared to the seasons when they were top dogs in the East.

(04-13-2013 08:11 AM)Ike N. Berry Wrote:  Pens fan here, in Caps country. At no time did I write them off -- mainly because I figured it would take time to adjust to the coaching change, also because they were missing Laich for most of the season. The guy is a difference maker. Backstrom seems to be himself again, too.

I think they'll win the division but wonder if they almost wouldn't be better off cooling down a little. Awfully tough to maintain their current pace.

Could be a unique (in recent years, anyway) post-season atmosphere for them. Very little pressure compared to the seasons when they were top dogs in the East.

I would argue that the pressure is always on the caps to perform. They're labelled as the best team to have never won a stanley cup (the san jose sharks of the east coast). In fact, in the post-2004 lockout era, they've never even gotten past the 2nd round of the playoffs.

(04-13-2013 08:14 AM)Potomac Wrote:  I would argue that the pressure is always on the caps to perform....

I'm not saying Ted and/or the fan base would applaud a first-round exit to, say, the Maple Leafs, but barring a total and immediate flame-out, they've earned the benefit of the doubt going into a full season next year. New coach, short season, Laich out for a long stretch, Backstrom not regaining form until very recently, etc.

Ovechkin just took the NHL scoring lead from Stamkos in a huge goal.

Caps have had an amazing run given the hole they were in. Oates looks to be the blend between Gabby and Hunter that they needed. GMGM can go though. Erat for Forsberg is AWFUL! We are going to regret that for years.

Read where Forseberg is probably going to get some playing time these last few games. He could end up with more ice time than Erat with the Caps. What a dismal trade.

Ovi! And Greenie! Can't believe Tampa made the come back, Caps just sat back and let them spend way too much time in their zone. I was hoping they'd want to keep scoring and try to get Ovi some goals and that wouldn't happen. Even with them easing up and everything though, definitely didn't see them forcing overtime. Just made it a little more exciting though. 7-0 in April!

Looks like a very nice win for the Washington Caps. They win 5-1 over the Maple Leafs.

And good thing Ovi got a goal cause Stamkos got one later in the night. Ovi had an assist too, moving up in the points rankings as well as #1 in goals.