On Frozen Blog

So far, so weird. The Caps’ first five games of the season have been something of a bell curve, with the downwards slope starting somewhere during Monday’s matinée in Nassau Coliseum.

• The Caps are capable of playing solid defense, and they are capable of playing like they’ve never seen the defensive side of the ice in their lives. Consistency has been a bug-a-boo for the Caps’ the past two years, and it looks like it’s going to take some time for this year’s model to gel. That’s understandable, but for a team that is embracing the ‘playoffs or bust’ mantra, it’s less than optimal: every point does count. While there are many who say ‘give the team time to gel’, that’s not a luxury for a team that looks to be in a dogfight to make the second season.
• The power play still looks off, and there are varying theories on why. There are some who cite the incorporation of new players, and say the new units need time to gel. Alexander Semin’s lack of availability figures into that equation as well. The other school of thought is that the coaching staff’s man-up philosophy needs tweaking, and that doing the same things as the past two seasons with different personnel may not be the answer.
• Alex Ovechkin is playing his sack off on both ends of the ice. (Legalese: “Playing his sack off” is the intellectual property of The Mike Vogel Media Conglomerate, Inc.) Just remarkable. He’s getting his points, and he’s the first forward back on defense. That’s a very, very impressive development. Still hitting people, too.
• Mike Green. What can you say? He who rocks the faux-hawk has been an offensive force from the blueline, with some impressive rushes and heads-up offensive play. His defensive game still needs fine-tuning, but this kind of offensive display from a 21 year-old defenseman is another positive development.
• I’m not sure I completely buy into the Victor Kozlov/Ovechkin chemistry yet, considering the way Ovechin is playing - heck, I’m pretty sure I’d have two points right now as his center - but there are signs, and I am looking up recipes for preparing crow.
• The Caps’ entire penalty kill can’t hinge on Boyd Gordon. Can it?
• No problems with the goaltending, as far as I can tell.
• I have to admit the new sweaters are growing on me.

Starting off impressively and then getting your behind handed to you later might be a building block. To quote the baseball adage: “You’re never as good as your best day, and you’re never as bad as your worst day”. Hopefully the Caps have already encountered the latter, and haven’t come close to the former.