A common theme emerged in post-game interviews with Sergei Fedorov, Brooks Laich, and Coach Boudreau: the team played like individuals and fell away from the team game. Laich didn’t exclude himself from the criticism: “The reason we’ve had success is that we play as a team . . . When we’re not playing well, I want to do so much to help the team, and sometimes we overplay rather than keeping it simple.”
Boudreau was “really disgusted” by the team’s celebration after Sergei Fedorov’s goal. “We just made it 5 to 2, and we’re jumping on each other like we just won an overtime game. I’m sure if I were on the Carolina bench I’d be going, ‘Look at these idiots.’”
Here are some key points from Boudreau’s post-game presser, edited down to 3 1/2 minutes or so:
After two embarrassing losses to division rivals — teams in a similar position to the Caps’ last year at this time — the Capitals need to get back to basics. The lack of a strong team captain to help the team focus is becoming more and more evident; Chris Clark, while oft-injured, was a strong positive influence, and it seems that no player has filled the captaincy void.
We’ll see how things shake out at the trade deadline . . . the roster may be a bit different for Thursday’s game than tonight’s. Regardless of the modified roster, the team seems to lack the discipline of late.
The Capitals have the talent to win; now they need some players step up and lead the team back to their winning ways.
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One observation that I have to throw out there. Jose is sick. Locker says Ovechkin isn’t feeling well. Half the team looks like they’re skating in quicksand. Boston just got done shaking a flu bug in the locker room episode.
Coincidence? You tell me. The timing sure is right.
I couldn’t believe what I was watching either, with that goal celebration. Embarrassing.
Hope Don Cherry doesn’t see that
Captain Brooks Laich, first of all. Hopefully before the playoffs.
Also, I think the trading deadline, coupled with sickness has a lot to do with this, so we shouldn’t be too concerned. Even Boston went through a similar stretch, and Detroit lost 8-0 to the Predators recently, so these things happen.
As I stated in one of the other threads, this habit of play started several weeks ago, so I’m not buying sickness as a reason. It might be valid for two games but this substandard style of play started before the Colorado game. So that’s at least seven games (not thinking to see how far back but probably after DET). Yes there are games they played well in that stretch but overall the trend is there.
Plus, it might just be me, but wouldn’t trade deadline make you want to play harder, saying “Don’t trade me — look, I’m valuable to the team and you need me to stay”
(The celebration itself didn’t bother me only because it looked like someone got knocked off balance and fell so the group hug seemed like a dogpile. The part that bothered me was that it was only the second one on a night filled with lazy play)
Pepper, that was one of my first thoughts: “C’mon guys, don’t give that xenophobic fashion abomination more ammo!”
Stanley & Ty, you’re absolutely right. I for one am not advocating a major roster retool — if the flu is ripping through the locker room then this slump is totally understandable. And top teams are not immune to slumps (e.g., Boston, San Jose)… I’m just concerned about the defensive sloppiness and overall lack of focus. Let’s hope the boys snap out of it soon.
YES – that celebration after the second goal was ridiculous. The game reminded me of Game 2 during last year’s playoffs. Sometimes they look like a bunch of guys who just met each other and decided to play some pick up and are fooling around – ‘look at me! I can make the puck go between my legs!’ No one gives a damn if you don’t score goals or set up plays! They couldn’t complete a pass to save their lives, and yet nobody wanted to take a shot for the majority of the game. Fedorov was the only one who seemed to be a bit on his game.
They are still a young team that needs the prospect of failure nipping at their heels in order to play consistently at a high level. They are not the Detroit Red Wings yet. Also, I imagine that some of them might have gone out the night before to celebrate Semin’s b-day.
I brought a friend to the game last night – his first Caps game – and was ashamed.
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