On Frozen Blog

The Caps final preseason game ended with some good news and some bad news. As always in this space, the bad news first: A loss, against the Eastern Conference champs who did not dress a full reular season cadre. The good news: the team looked somewhat cohesive, and it seems like fans have a reason for some optimism this Fall, which is a welcome change.

• Of some concerns is that Olie Kolzig again looked less than sharp. Kolzig is a professional who knows how to prepare and had a solid season last year, but any wavering at the goaltending position in the upcoming campaign could derail any postseason hopes.
• Poti and Ovechkin had a few plays where they looked like they are beginning to read each other. You’d love to see that continue.
• Again showing his versatility, Chris Clark was effective when lined up with Nicklas Backstrom and Michael Nylander in place of an injured Alexander Semin. It’s nice to know that if needed Clark can play on either of the top two lines.
• Kind of a strange moment when Matt Bradley, for no discernible reason, skates right into Brooks Laich behind the Sens’ net. Odd, that.
• Jeff Schultz looked a bit lost on the second Senators’ goal, as had he located the puck, that’s an easy clear for him.
• Matt Pettinger continues his quiet, excellent camp, displaying heady defensive awareness as he gets back to cover for a pinching defenseman, skating backwards and forcing the Ottawa Senator to pull up at the Caps’ blueline. A small play that I’ll bet the coaches like a lot.
• Fleischmann brings the puck up and stickhandles while examining his options, then manages to get himself clobbered against the glass because he didn’t make a decision fast enough. It’s a work in progress.
• Nicklas Backstrom also showcased his defensive acumen as he correctly guessed that Nylander was going to have the puck taken from him. Backstrom was already in defensive position when the takeaway happened. More than anything, it’s Backstrom’s 10-year-veteran level of defensive responsibility that impresses me. Later, he gained the zone and maneuvered through several opponents despite some close checking, then created a quality scoring chance. He may not get the big headlines, but the young Swede does a lot of the small things.
• I can’t envision a scenario right now where Mike Green is anywhere other than in a Caps’ sweater on Opening Night.

It wasn’t a win, but the Caps closed out the preseason on a decent note, and with few glaring concerns, and few health issues — knock on wood. Sadly, the next four-plus days are likely to crawl along as we await the final roster tweaks and finally get to see the new, improved Caps on the ice.

Edit from Gustafsson: This was the game you could receive a free ticket by presenting a DC United ticket stub to the box office.  The ticket I received was in Section 120, Row O, a $95 face value.  Certainly not a bad value.