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.