As impassioned hockey fans following an 82-game regular season through fall, winter, and spring, we understand that our guys are gonna have a bad day or three at the office. A few of them, in fact, even if they rank among the cream of the NHL crop.

But games like last Friday night’s in Atlanta and last night’s, just three nights later in New Jersey, represent I think something more than just egregiously bad days at the office for the Capitals. Comcast Sportsnet’s Joe Beninati, in a moment of commendable candor during last night’s second period, summed up the wreckage thusly: “If you’re just joining us, run! Before it’s too late. Don’t look back!” On Twitter last night our friend Peerless pointed out that Capitals’ head coach Bruce Boudreau, speaking of Friday night’s calamity in Atlanta, called it “as bad a defeat I think I have had since I’ve been here,” then asked his Twitter followers, ‘What does Bruce call this one?’

Of course, the NHL rink is no ordinary office. We labor in somewhat solitary fashion in our cubicles and offices, most of us largely in control of our own fate. NHLers face determined adversaries every night. And NHL referees.

And to play Devil’s Advocate for just a brief moment: This November’s slate is clogged with games and travel and precious little practice time. The Caps today will practice in Raleigh, and it will represent their second such session of the month, which is already 23 days old. Go back and look at the gaps between games in October. Even in December you can see regular two-day-off breaks with which to recover and practice a bit. The Caps of late have surely looked like a team that could benefit from some rigorous practice time, but that’s no excuse for what we’ve seen in two of the last three games.

Since time immemorial hockey clubs far more beleaguered than the Caps in terms of injury or locker room strife have acquitted themselves with far greater professionalism than have our guys over the past five days. We understand that bounces go bad, that goalies get hot, that zebras stink up the joint. What we don’t understand, however, is mere minutes into a second stanza after you’ve hung your wet-behind-the-ears goalie out to dry to the tune of 3-0 — to one of the NHL’s worst clubs — how defensemen can futilely stick-check a bull-rushing checking forward barreling down the middle of your zone. Those weren’t prideful NHL rearguards wearing our city’s crest last night; they were matadors. Were Braden Holtby just a wee bit younger Child Protective Services would have have forcibly removed him from the Capitals’ custody during last night’s second intermission.

Perhaps the greatest indictment of the Capitals last night was their uniform indifference to Matt Hendricks’ dropping ‘em in the early going to try and shake his mates out of their conspicuous lethargy. When one of your own places his face before the fists of a foe and you effectively yawn at the courage, something toxic has taken hold of the evening. Again.

And what is with the parade of players into the room in-game for equipment woes all season long? Did our gang gear up at a garage sale of hand-me-downs in the offseason?

A dread that began lodging itself in my breast last spring is this autumn returning with vigor: as constructed this hockey club is capable of wild extremes — looking outlandishly brilliant in 10- and 30-minute stretches of games but also, inexplicably, mailing it in against even the dregs of the league. I’m not talking about the proverbial “playing down to the competition,” as the Caps have been labeled of doing in seasons past. I’m talking about not showing up at all. It invites scrutiny of the outfit’s leadership.

And speaking of the leader . . . what gives? Ten days ago he seemed merely productive and decent if underwhelming relative to his best-in-the-world bona fides. At this pace, though, not only won’t he be captain-picking his teammates at the Raleigh All-Star game, he won’t be picked early by the game’s captains himself.

On Twitter last night I directed this question to Comcast Sportsnet’s Alan May, who is fast becoming one of my favorite analysts in all of hockey: Does it bother you that two of these “performances” have occurred well within a week of one another? In reply he reminded me of hockey’s unavoidable momentum swings, and how at present the Caps are in the downward arc of one. This morning over a cup of joe in his studio I would follow up with this question: Momentum swings aside, what about playing with pride?

(But not Goat.)

Mike Knuble had, by my count, at least three quality scoring chances in tight on Henrik Lundqvist just in Tuesday night’s first period, and as all of them went unlit and uncelebrated you had this sense that it just wasn’t going to be his night. Again. He hadn’t scored since opening night in Atlanta way back on October 8. Then a pagan priest in skates named Ovi slid a puck out front in the slot in period number two, Knuble banged it home, and the hockey gods surrendered their torment of the Caps’ right wing. Joe B during his call for Versus last night noted that a good many of Knuble’s 29 goals last season came in the season’s second half.

• This game was appreciably more physical than Sunday’s with Philadelphia. It was a Tuesday night tilt in November, and yet there was plenty of mutual hatred in place. Just like you might imagine there ought to be between old Patrick division rivals. It doesn’t matter how early in the season they play, or what circumstances have otherwise influenced the teams’ general standing, the matchup is intrinsically ire-laden. It is so beautiful to behold. And so tragic we can’t more often. (Thanks, commish.)

• Mike Green’s four-game goal scoring streak ended, and I was one who believed that had he gotten one by Lunqvist last night the remainder of the week set up well for a run at his record of goals in eight straight games. Oh, well. He’s playing terrific hockey, and he’s a key catalyst for the Caps’ attack. He also acquited himself rather well in his slow dance with Brandon Dubinsky. This is a fiestier Mike Green we’re seeing this season, and we like it.

• More goats, more donkeys, too, I say: Brooks Laich, on his lunchpail tally in tight to draw the caps even at 1 in the first frame: “Any donkey can go to the front of the net and stand there with his stick on the ice.” In point of fact, Laich’s redirection of Alex Semin’s superb feed was anything but a gimme. Laich’s three points Tuesday night helped push him into the top of the league in plus-minus, at +13.

• If I were Bruce Boudreau, I’d have given the night’s hard hat to Matt Bradley. I’d probably give it to him 50 percent of the time given that he is probably the hardest worker on the team night in, night out, but Tuesday night he earned it, I’d submit, because he set up the game-winner with Nick Backstrom’s patience and skill but in a grinder’s body. And on his other shifts he did a lot of dirty work for good measure.

• Already trailing 1-0, the Caps went short-handed for a too many men on the ice infraction, and seconds later Mike Green took a hooking penalty. The Rangers had about 1:40 of 5-on-3 attack, but Jeff Schultz authored perhaps he best penalty killing shift of the season for all of the 100 seconds. Regularly he got down low on the ice to expand his reach and clog passing lanes immediately in front of Michal Neuvirth. The Rangers didn’t bring much puck pressure to that attack, but Sarge was large at a pivotal moment in the early going.

• You lie if you claim you didn’t do a double-take on John Erskine’s left-point howitzer blast past Lundqvist’s shoulder. Had to have been the most impressive tally of his life, all things considered. What a beauty. But mere seconds later Tyler Sloan produced a squelching of the joy-buzz with his ill-advised, shockingly aggressive pinch attempt deep in the Blueshirts’ end. That type of uber aggressive play simply has to be made in this league — even against an opponent’s fourth line. Better would be backing off and not allowing a Neanderthal like the Boogie Man to plod down the wing unchecked and smash a slapper past your helpless goalie.

• Defensive blunders on both sides of the ice, one by Karl Alzner on the second goal with a careless clear and Sloaner’s piss-poor pinch, are blunders of inexperience in the faster paced NHL. On the whole the Caps’ blueline has been more disciplined this season, but they also have been susceptible to miscues on some of the simplest plays. Alzner’s unforced error on Brian Boyle’s second goal was a perfect example. But I’m not sure Alzner should be singled out for a struggle of an evening. Gabby gave him more than 20 minutes of ice, and I’m one who doesn’t read a great deal into weird events transpiring on MSG ice — annually one of the worst sheets in the league. The puck was bouncing all over the place last night.

• Sean Avery was a conspicuously silent presence Tuesday evening, not getting involved all that much. That may have been where New York went wrong. Avery’s dynamic pest style normally gets Ovi and co. riled up and distracted. If Avery isn’t being a pest odds are he isn’t helping his team much.

• Referee Don Van Massenhoven was perfectly positioned for Dan Girardi’s attempt on Brooks Laich’s life in the end boards behind Lundqvist in the second period, and yet did nothing. The trailing referee — trailing outside the Rangers’ zone — made the call. How does Van Massenhoven miss that? Laich was lucky not to leave the ice on a stretcher. Van Massenhoven shouldn’t work again until the new year. Disgraceful.

1st Period

Andrew’s take:

• It is hard to make a definitive decision for or against the Av’s third jersey in this corner. It looks as if it harkens back to a more classic era but the strange color scheme makes it look like a bad Arena Football League or IHL sweater. Pucksandbooks astutely pointed out (before he went to bed) that there is a very Atlanta Thrashers look to them, which begs the question: why would you want to look anything like a largely unsuccessful franchise?
• The Caps continued their first period dominance with two unanswered goals in the first frame. They have now outscored their opponents 43-17 in the first 20 minutes.
• Both callups continued the trend of making an immediate impact as soon as they hit the ice. Birthday boy Kyle Wilson had an assist on his first shift and almost had a goal on his second. Later he added another assist. He looked most comfortable in his NHL debut. Meanwhile, Karl Alzner authored quick and accurate tape-to-tape passes and played super solid positionally. We shouldn’t be surprised by this any more, though, as Quintin Laing, Matthieu Perreault, Keith Aucoin, and Jay Beagle all were called up and had reliable if not strong stints with the team. Moreover, callups from Hershey never seem out of place, or uncertain of their assignments, in Bruce Boudreau’s system, precisely because it’s one that’s instituted organization-wide. Even the parent and affiliate practice sessions mirror one another down to the drill and minute.

Alex’s take:

• When Alex Ovechkin isn’t shooting, his passing game is *ON*. He set up Knuble’s goal completely unselfishly on a play he’d normally shoot on, just as he set up Backstrom’s two-goal game against Toronto. Looks like Crosby’s becoming a better goal scorer this season and Ovechkin’s playmaking skills are blossoming this campaign too.
• Theodore, on again, off again, on again: he looked strong last night and he looked strong against Carolina. Whatever was bothering him last month has certainly not been in his coconut much lately. Doubters may disagree, but his “poor” performances seem to include more defensive errors than we see with Semyon Varlamov in net. Do you think it’s possible that the team plays differently in front of the two goalies to any degree — even subconsciously?
• Interminable goal reviews not only rob hockey games of their flow but often halt the momentum one team is enjoying. A new glacier formed in the Rocky Mountains in the time it took Toronto to adjudicate Brooks Laich’s kick-in goal, and seconds after play finally resumed the Caps out on the ice didn’t quite seem to be moving their legs as before, and Eric Fehr went to the sin bin for holding on that shift.

2nd Period

Andrew’s take:

• While there was so much good in this period, the hit on Green just can’t be ignored. It is clear to me that Green is viewed as one of the Caps “can’t lose” players, that he’s irreplaceable. In my mind there is no question that the hit was dirty, and warrants a sizable suspension (not holding my breath for that). Koci led with a shoulder to the head, and I don’t think it was any coincidence that it occurred after the Caps were up 5-0.
• Keeping the foot on the gas was the theme of this period. Earlier in the year Coach Bruce Boudreau said the team needed to learn how to win 3-0 and not 9-0. Watching them this season, I think the way that the team wins 3-0 is by actually winning 9-0. If they stop gunning for the net or playing their elite playmaking style it seems like they get caught flat-footed and on their heels a lot.
• A tip of the victory glass  to John Erskine. The quiet big man wasted no time seeking retribution for the hit on his teammate. At the start of the season many were worried about the team’s toughness after Donald Brashear left, and there are very legitimate questions as to whether having two “middleweights” carry out the enforcing is an adequate substitute, but there can be no denying the vigilance and guts of Erskine and Matt Bradley.

Alex’s take:

• The Avs looked flat without the puck. With the puck, only a couple of their lines were buzzing, but if this was a first-place team playing tonight, that was pretty pitiful. Duchene and O’Reilly, really, were nowhere to be seen. Thumbs up to the D tonight for keeping them quiet.
• Erskine’s game really picked up in this period. Over the past few weeks he’s been one of the safest players for the Caps, always funneling the puck deep in the offensive zone and digging deep in the defensive corners. Locker mentioned his minutes were up because Morrisonn only played five minutes the whole game, but did a lot with them including sticking up for his buddy Mike Green.
• A shift for the ages: with about seven-and-a-half minutes left in the second stanza the Caps’ fourth line of Chris Clark, Dave Steckel, and Matt Bradley pinned the Avs in their own end for a seeming eternity, outhustling and out-playmaking their hosts at every turn. Ultimately they scored, too. The game was already 4-0 Caps before the goal. The effort and production on that shift seemed a microcosm of the entire night.
• Forget Flash, he’s on Fire. He really wanted to get that hattrick, and the way he was shakin’ and bakin’ made him look like he was hell-bent on scoring his third. Unlucky to not get it in the end, but if he keeps up the way he’s been playing, it’ll happen really soon, I bet.

3rd Period

Andrew’s take:

• What does it say about the Caps scouting and coaching that they can seamlessly switch forwards and d-men in and out of the front three and back two? That was a positively emergency bit of personnel movement required by Gabby in the game’s second half — they were down to just three D at one point! And they surrendered just the lone goal to the Avs. Amazing.

Alex’s take:

• When Joe B and Locker have nothing else to say about how the Caps thoroughly crushed the Avs, well . . . there really isn’t.
• The Lisa Hillary Christmas sweater back in the Comcast studio looked a heck of a lot better than the Avs’ third sweater.

• The night’s line for a liberated AO: 2 goals, 7 shots, about a half dozen hits, 22 minutes of ice. Basically, your typical AO brilliant game. He’d caused quite a stir with his reaction to his two-game suspension over the weekend — “maybe it just get me more angry” — but that turned out to be bluster. As we should have suspected. Ovi loves nothing so much as playing hockey, and when that’s taken away from him he takes it personally. That’s a fabulous trait.

• Admit it: when the Caps were awarded the game’s first three power plays — all in the first period — and went  0-for, it just felt like it wasn’t going to be their night, no?

• Tampa entered play last night trailing the Caps by a dozen points in the Southeast. Huge game for the hosts. The ‘Bolts needed their Big Three of Levacalier, St. Louis, and Stamkos to play big in a big game. Did you think they did? Last spring I came to the opinion that just as the wonderful talent Stamkos was ascending into a star NHL career Lecavalier and St. Louis would experience their respective thirtysomething career descents. Last night did nothing to change me of that opinion. There’s a lot of wear on those French Canadian tires, and in Lecavalier’s case, miles still to go on them. Incidentally, Brooks Laich is outscoring him this season.

• Semyon Varlamov = a Lamborghini of lateral speed.

• His play the past few weeks has rocketed him up a number of important goaltending categories. He’s now 7th in the league in goals-against average (2.21), and tallying both his regular season and postseason games the past two seasons, he’s earned four shutouts in fewer than 40 games. And of course he’s not playing behind the ’76 Habs’ blueline. It’s time to get seriously excited about him.

• The development of Eric Fehr (points in seven straight games) is one of the now-not-so-young season’s most important and encouraging storylines. I venture to say that upwards of three-quarters of the Capitals’ fanbase had tossed in the towel on him in recent months, and of course did so loudly reminding of the Caps failure to grab Ryan Getzlaf (Fehr at no. 18, Getzlaf to Anaheim at 19) in the ’03 draft . I never did, partly because out at Kettler in camps I kept seeing displays of so much elite raw scoring ability in Fehr, and partly out of a conviction that you don’t put up consecutive 50-goal campaigns in the WHL without a gifted game. Fehr of course is never going to be Getzlaf , but the wager here is that he’s going to enjoy a terrific NHL career — and at a position of need in this organization. On the whole Getzlaf thingy (and Mike Richards went later in that 2003 first round as well), move beyond it. The Caps did ok with picks like Mike Green and John Carlson deep in subsequent first rounds.

• Craigh Laughlin referenced the Harlem Globetrotters in analogizing the Caps’ passing with the man advantage, and I thought that clever and appropriate. I remember seeing the Globetrotters out at old Capital Centre back in the ’70s, the real Harlem Globetrotters, and they were famous and world-class entertaining for their ball movement, kicking it back and forth from the perimeter to the paint, behind-their-back-passing and sleight-of-hand maneuvering making millions, young and old, smile. I remember the Globetrotters passing up layups in their prolonged exhibitions of ball possession razzle-dazzle, scoring only when they felt they’d entertained long enough. The Caps to an extent do this as well on the power play, almost toying with four defenders in the offensive zone and at times passing up decent scoring opportunities for the perfect one. The Globetrotters of course were being intentionally cute, in exhibitions. While it’s a marvelous testament to their skill level and poise with the puck, the Caps aren’t playing exhibitions, and their downfall at times is being too cute with the puck. But what a nice problem to have.

• When I watched the Adam Oates-Peter Bondra-Sergei Gonchar power play in Washington I was convinced I wouldn’t see its like here again in this lifetime. Ovi-Backstrom-Semin and Green are a whole aesthetic level above, however. Wow.

• The Caps are real good at home (9-2-3) and virtually New Jersey-good on the road (10-3-3). There is now serious separation from the rest of the division (double digits). In the Comcast studio during last night’s postgame Lisa Hillary asked the broadcast team about any concern we ought to have about this team’s peaking too early in the season. Laughlin suggested that there would be brief struggles in midseason, perhaps, and that’s about it, which, given the success the Caps have had while battered by injury, and with Semyon Varlamov’s emergence as a between-the-pipes stud, sounds about right. But I really liked JoeB’s point about strong play early in a season; he noted that recent Stanley Cup winners all had come out of the gates real, real strong.

Capitals: Season to Remember debuts as the network airs coach Bruce Boudreau’s first game as head coach of the Washington Capitals from November 23, 2007 — the start of an incredible run in which Boudreau took the Capitals from last place in the Eastern Conference to a Southeast Division title.
Capitals: Season to Remember, June 9-13, 7 p.m.
Monday, June 9: November 23 at Philadelphia Flyers
Tuesday, June 10: March 21 at Atlanta Thrashers
Wednesday, June 11: April 5 vs. Florida Panthers
Thursday, June 12: April 11 vs. Philadelphia Flyers (Game 1)
Friday, June 13: April 22 vs. Philadelphia Flyers (Game 7)

8:23- The baby is kicking up a storm after Prospal’s second goal. Can’t say I blame her. Here come more hee-hee-hoos.
8:30- MSM scores another one. Well, I’m always happy when people with disabilities show they can succeed.
8:38- HEE-HEE-HOO.
8:40- I receive an email from Dave Lifton. “Ugh, kill me now,” he says. I couldn’t agree more.
9:01- Mike Green singlehandedly stopped the light contractions I was having.
9:10- Mike Green again! We may have to consider naming this baby Michaela.
9:28- I spoke too soon; we may also need to consider the name Alexandra.
9:33- This last minute is going to kill me. Contractions starting again.
9:34- WHEW. Time for a celebratory bowl of ice cream (no pickles, though).
If every game is like this one, I think the baby is coming early.

Speaking of the NHL on NBC, Sunday’s game is shaping up to be a preview of OvechKam. NBC will have live cameras following both Ovechkin and Crosby through their shifts. The rub lies in that you’ll only be able to view those camera angles online.