Puck 'N Hockey

AP Photo

The Capitals 3-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning was of course, very disappointing.  Especially, for all of us who attended the game.  This was supposed to be sort of a homecoming game after clinching a playoff spot.  I think all of us Verizon Center patrons expected a dominating performance where our favorite red clad hockey team showed a divisional rival why they are still fighting for a playoff spot.  Of course, hockey being what it is, we saw that a team with a future to fight for is more dangerous than a team that knows what its future holds.

Postgame thoughts:

• I was really looking forward to seeing Steven Stamkos live.  Especially, on the Tampa power play.  As expected, he camped out, unmarked in the left wing circle.  I still do not understand why teams have not figured this out yet.  Even though he did record a point last night, you could see why this kid is a top 5 goal scorer.  He is a great skater.  Stamkos gets to open ice fast.  Once he is there, he is very strong on the puck and hard to check.  The Bolts should lock him up with a long term deal and build around him.  Steven Stamkos is the future of that franchise.
• Barry Melrose is an idiot for slowing Steven Stamkos’ growth as an NHLer.
• I was really happy to see that there was not a huge video and graphics package created for clinching the Southeast division.  WE WANT THE CUP.
• A bunch of folks on Twitter got upset with the crowd booing the Caps as they left the ice for the second intermission.  I’ll be honest, I booed.  At some point during the second period, I looked at the scoreboard for the shot count.  It was something like 21-10 in favor of the Capitals while they were losing 2-1 to the Lightning.  Add to that, the Lecavalier tally to make it 3-1 after the review and I was livid.  So, I booed.  As I have said before, this Caps team should be expected to win every game.  They are that good.  Anything else is disappointing.  I also had a few beverages in the Dewar’s Club prior to the game so, that probably had something to do with it (snicker).
• The Caps’ defense looked awful again.  It’s really getting old.
• As Bruce Boudreau said after the game, the Caps were outworked by a Lightning team hungry for a playoff spot.

Sunday’s match-up against the Chicago Blackhawks should be pretty exciting.  Between the national spotlight, a weird early start time caused by the timezone and daylight savings change, and what some are predicting is a Cup finals preview, we hockey fans should be treated to an interesting game.