Well, things couldn’t be going any better for the Washington Capitals right now. They handled the Rangers with the efficiency expected of a 1 seed, and are currently enjoying some rest while the rest of the conference goes to 7 games. That’s 2 full extra games of hard hits, hard skating, and high-emotion. Excellent. Of course, the Caps have still only taken a few steps down a long road. This journey is far from over (we hope), but just like any epic adventure, rest is a key element.
So far we at Sick, Unbelievable have basked in the glory of this rest, watching playoff hockey at any opportunity, continuing to contribute to the Neuvy synergy despite the lack of games, and speculating as to who our second round opponent will be (fuckin’ Buffalo). But as excellent as these first couple of playoff weeks have gone, it’s time to have a step back and take a look at a few aspects that remain unanswered about Washington games.
1. Michal Neuvirth and the Washington defense.
Okay, hear me out on this one. I’m fully aware that Neuvy and the Caps D were the two most impressive parts of the Caps’ game during round 1. They blocked shots, got in passing lanes, cleared the crease, and quite frankly made #30’s job as easy as can be. Not taking anything away from Neuvy here, but the pairings in front of him contributed largely to his playoff-leading save % and GAA (we’re discounting Antero Nittymaki on this one, as he played fewer than two entire games).
What also contributed to these stellar stats, were the New York Rangers discernible lack of talent. With Ryan Callahan injured, and Marian Gaborik about as useful as a raft in the desert, the Blueshirts posed virtually no offensive threat. Brandon Dubinsky is a world-class grinder- there’s no denying that- but Mr. Moustache can only do so much.
No matter who the Caps play in the next round, the task is gonna to be taller for Neuvirth and the D. They’re well acclimated with the shifty, sneaky, quick-passing game of Gionta, Plekanec, Cammelari and the Canadiens. They shut them out twice this regular season (though the shutouts went to Holtby and Varlamov), but we all know the playoffs are a different game. Montreal is a step down from the Rangers in terms of blueliners, but they’re two steps up when it comes to forwards.
The Caps don’t need any introduction to the Lightning goal-scorers either. Guys like Martin St. Louis, Steven Stamkos and Vinny Lecavelier are tough to keep contained for long. They have the ability to score from anywhere on the ice, and in a variety of ways. St. Louis is a wizard with the puck, Lecavelier can be a force from around the crease, or from the perimeter, and Stamkos is one of the NHL’s premier goal scorers, boasting a rifle of a slapper, and sniper of a wrister. If the Caps get the Lightning in Round 2, Neuvirth can also expect to see plenty of Downie in his crease, and probably a heavy dosage of John Erskine in response.
The Pittsburgh Penguins, as they currently look, probably resemble the Rangers the most. They lack a pure goal scorer, and are currently relying on grind and system-play to create their scoring opportunities. It worked for them for most of the season, but it’s faltering as their series carries on- a prediction I made a couple weeks ago. Guys like James Neal, Pascal Dupuis, and Aaron Asham aren’t potent enough to score a lot of goals, and Pittsburgh is resultantly NOT a team built to come from behind. With Neuvirth and the D playing as well as they have while possessing a lead, Pittsburgh is good-looking matchup for the Caps. It is also the least likely to happen, needed both Boston and Pittsburgh to win tomorrow for it to happen.
2. Team discipline and Special Teams play
During round 1 the Caps special teams play was passable (though they get a giant ‘A’ for their efforts on the penalty kill). Their discipline? Not so much. In only five games the Caps were whistled for 24 penalties. That’s nearly five penalties a game. In other words: way too fucking many. We know that our penalty kill unit has been spectacular, but we would still prefer to see them as rarely as possible. On the flipside, the Caps continued a season-long trend of earning limited powerplay opportunities, only going a man up 16 times during the 5 game series.
With a team playing as well as the Caps it would be nice to see them perform in a series in which they had more powerplay opportunities than the opponent. They potted three of those extra-man opportunities, bringing their conversion rate to a decidedly average 18.8%. Of course, ‘decidedly average’ is a far sight better than their powerplay last year, when more vulgar adjectives were used in its description.
We’d still like to see the Caps get that powerplay clicking a little more- especially with Mike Green back in the lineup. If the Caps can develop their powerplay to the point where its even close to as effective as their penalty kill, then they’ll be a frightening beast indeed. Of course, if we do play Pittsburgh, we can go ahead and put any hopes of an even penalty ledger in the shed.
3. Nicklas Backstrom
If the Caps want to be playing deep into the spring then they need their best center to start playing the way that we know he can. You know, impossible passes, a 6th sense type relationship with Ovi, a powerplay force, a powerful backchecker, and one of the team’s premiere penalty killers.
The defensive aspect of Nicklas’ game was in tact during round 1 (as it usually is), but over the course of 5 games he was largely absent from the scoresheet, notching only an assist in the Caps’ lone loss. But despite a lack of offensive production, Nicky was still a contributor. He was a great skater all series long, his legs never leaving him even during the later portions of those long games. He still shows incredible puck protection, especially on the cycle. He uses that big butt of his in the same way that Jaromir Jagr was so renowned for.
The points will come for Nicky, and when they do, the points will come for guys like Ovie, Semin, and Knuble as well (not that they aren’t already.)
By this tomorrow we’ll know who we’re playing, and we’ll know when we’ll be playing. What we already know is where we’ll be playing. Verizon Center will be seeing its most important contest in two years. The fans will be up to the challenge. That is never in question. Will the Caps?
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KK