Caps Clawed

The Caps lost their first game in regulation at home tonight to none other than the miserable Florida Panthers. It could have been against the Sharks or the Red Wings, but the Caps lost to Florida, giving them a home record of 9-1-1 and a major blow to their confidence. With a win tonight, the Caps could have been five points ahead of Carolina giving them some breathing until the likes of Green and Semin returned. Tonight's game was a blackout date so it was not on TV, therefore I did not see it...obviously, but I did notice the Caps let up three goals in the second period, effectively washing away their lead and any chance of a victory. This is concerning. Yes, the Caps have a depleted blue line, but Theodore must be there to shut the door, 10 saves on 13 shots through two periods is unacceptable, heck, I could accidentally get in the way of the puck that often too. Losing to Florida is unacceptable when you have been so dominant at home. The Caps were lucky last year when their blue line faced minimal injuries, but this year it is time for guys to step up, for the unsung heroes to make a name for themselves. The playoffs would be nice this year, but getting through an injury riddled regular season is the first step and to do that, all Caps, not just the three or four stars, must elevate their game.

After Two Cups In Five Years, Southeast Still The Weakest

Tampa Bay did it in 2004 and Carolina followed in 2006, but even after winning those Stanley Cups, the Southeast Division is still viewed as the weakest in the East. Over the last five full seasons (04-05 was the lockout) only seven appearances were made in the playoffs by teams from the Southeast Division, four from the Lightning, two from the Caps, one from Atlanta and Carolina and none for the lowly Florida Panthers, which the Caps play tonight. We all know the Caps have had some miserable seasons the past few years, but they have turned the corner and are touted by The Hockey News as the most exciting team in the NHL, with two of the best players in the league in Alex Ovechkin and Alex Semin. Last year Carolina and the Caps did their best to draw as much attention to the division as possible when they were involved in a fight to the finish, with the Caps edging out the Canes for the final playoff spot in the final day of the season. This year, the Caps and Carolina are at it once again with only three points separating them in the standings. The East is below the West and the Southeast is least in the East, but the Caps are holding their own and the rivalry they have with the Canes is certainly giving rise to new interest in a forgotten division.