Visiting Capitals easily shun three-goal deficit, defeat Panthers 5-4 (SO)
by Donny Rivette on Jan 13, 2010 11:35 PM EST
4 comments
The Good: The Panthers played a high-tempo, positionally responsible game through thirty minutes.
The Bad: Florida allowed their opponent - who lost 7-4 one night earlier - to claw their way back from a 4-1 hole, gaining them access to an extra period and ultimately the shootout. In Sunrise.
The Good: Michael Frolik and Stephen Weiss each had a goal and assist.
The Bad: So did Jason Chimera, who brought the Caps out of their initial slumber. His Gordie Howe Hat Trick was swell, too.
The Good: Gregory Campbell netted his first goal of the season!
The Bad: Niklas Backstrom scored his 19th.
The Good: Panthers goaltender Tomas Vokoun played 64 Very Good minutes, with little help after the first period.
The Bad: Capitals netminder Jose Theodore had help after entering the game in relief of Michal Neuvirth, registering a perfect 35 minutes and 10 seconds.
The Good: Cats pick up a desperately needed point in the standings.
The Bad: Cats give up a desperately needed point in the standings.
To summarize: the Panthers did many things quite well, especially with their speed and "punch" in the first frame. After that? Washington awoke to the prospect of losing to dual "lesser" divisional rivals. Make no mistake: the Cats showed up to play, but the Caps arrived to win.
More in the a.m....
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“the Cats showed up to play, but the Caps arrived to win.”
Couldn’t agree more. Although trying to find a positive side of this one, 3 of the 4 Panther goals were downright ugly. And not like ugly, hack and whack at rebounds in front of the net goals. Ugly as in Neuvirth looked like he closed and eyes and prayed the puck would hit him. Soooo, I guess the Panthers were “lucky” to get a point out of this one? Sure, 4-1 late in the 2nd, 4-2 starting the 3rd sounds great…
It’s hard to imagine Vokoun stopping the starting 3 in the shootout, then giving up 3 straight to spots 4-6, but…. yeah. When the Panthers end up tied for the 8th spot again (if they’re lucky to finish that high) and lose out on some stupid tiebreaker, this will be one of those lost points that woulda, coulda, shoulda scheduled some Spring hockey. Sigh.
One last note. I was watching the Caps broadcast and they never brought it up, but did Goldie or anyone mention why DeBoer was cycling Horton and Frolik on the 3rd and 4th lines most of the night? I didn’t notice anyone get hurt. Kreps and Dvorak and Stillman were shuffled around too, it seemed.
Tarnasky apparently was hurt early in the first, causing Horton, Frolik and maybe even Weiss getting some extra time on the fourth line.
Yes, agreed, they showed up for half the game, then let the Caps back in it and couldn’t hold on.
My exact words after Washington got goal three was, put your seat belt on, this is gonna be a rough ride.
Need to close these games out boys and girls. It’s games like this and the one against Toronto that will keep us on the outside looking in. I know we got a point, but for me, that doesn’t make me happy since we should have had two.
The mindset needs to change.
by The Rat Trick on Jan 14, 2010 9:15 AM EST up reply actions
Yes, Weiss was out there on the fourth line, too. There were a few times he came out early with them and then stayed out when Horton and Frolik came on.
My exact words when Caps goal three was scored was: “Is it time to go home now?” Evan’s were (to his son): “We can go home now if you want because the Panthers have.”
Keith Ballard was a disaster last night. Yeah, he had that good hit on (I think) Backstrom, but he was getting manhandled all night and made some mistakes that led to those late goals. Does the coaching staff not see this stuff? Why leave a guy out there when he’s having a bad game? Seriously, double-shift some other guys and let him sit. Winning coaches do that. When was the last time you saw DeBoer bench a guy not named Nick Boynton?
On the positive side, did you see Horton muscle his way back to stop someone (can’t remember-Backstrom again? Semin?) from getting a point-blank shot on Vokoun and probably the first goal of the game? He was also pulling some serious moves late to try to tie the damn game up himself late in the third. I never thought I’d say this, but we need support for Horton on that first line. If he keeps playing like that, can you imagine him on a line with a guy like Patrick Marleau (good passer, always plays hard)?
Florida Panthers: Giving the league a punching bag since 2000.
Weiss found himself with some odd linemates as well. Just bout guarantee Matthias will get some time tonight.
On the positive end: maybe all of this turmoil will clear up in the next few weeks if the club continues doing nothing to change the outcome! After all of this time, it’s gotta work eventually…
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| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
82 | 54 | 15 | 13 | 121 |
|
Atlanta
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82 | 35 | 34 | 13 | 83 |
|
Carolina
|
82 | 35 | 37 | 10 | 80 |
|
Tampa Bay
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82 | 34 | 36 | 12 | 80 |
|
Florida
|
82 | 32 | 37 | 13 | 77 |
(updated 4.12.2010 at 9:21 AM EDT)
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