As I predicted, Theodore (and Shultz, no surprise) gave up the game for the Caps. The boys in red outplayed the Rangers all game, in my opinion, but when you have a 2 man advantage almost game long (in Jose and Jeff), it's hard to lose...
I stand by what I said before...Jose has to be stellar for the Caps to get past the second round, and better than usual if they are to escape from the first. The Rangers proved tonight that one great goalie can be worth a handful of superstar forwards, and goalies DO win series'....
Don't care what Theo did last year, or any other year....this is the year that matters, and he needs to pull his head out, hustle, and settle down. He made some great stops, but not near enough, and at least 2 of the Rangers' goals were softies. I think Kolzig wins that game, and I'm almost positive Johnson does...maybe even Varlamov.
And I could have forgiven Schultz for that boneheaded move had he been a forward, but a defenceman should bloody well know better than to try to play the puck and not the man in that situation.
Just makes it a harder road now, but we shall see...
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I'm thinking we shouldn't have stood pat at the trade deadline. I seriously thought we were going to make an offer for Kaberle or Bouwmeester but McPhee was content to sit tight with Pothier coming back. We shall see......Didn't get the game on Versus here so missed that Schultz move but from what I saw on the highlights it looked like the entire defense was on its heels. And yes, Theo looked bad, very bad........Huet would have won that game too. C'est La Vie.
Seabird 56
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Just about any goalie would have won that game. Schultz' move was bone-headed, no doubt, but the rest of the D did better than expected. Agreed, I thoughtwe would play for a defenceman, and I never really thought Pothier was of the same caliber as a Kaberle or Bouwmeester, but I'm not sure we had the dough. As someone said, both would have been "expensive rentals," but it owuld have been worth it for a cup. Nevertheless, its Jose that's killing us...Schultz did screw up, but then it became essentially a shoot-out goal, which Theo is supposed to be amazing at. He saw it coming all the way and still couldn't play it...amazing. Luongo eats that shot, Lundquist stops it, Cam Ward deflects it, but Jose lets it slide right past.
Yes, I wish we still had Huet...ANYONE but Jose...
murdergirl
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Well, Varlamov looked good in Game 2, and our defense did a good job of protecting him ( and how 'bout those two consecutive PKs, allowing the Rangers just 2 (?) shots on goal, where did THAT come from, chcukle ) but we're up against a hot goalie and it's not looking good for the cause at this particular moment. For the first time in my posting career I would argue that Ovie was being too much of a puck hog and should have slowed down and helped set up a more cohesive attack, involving say at least another forward.............
Seabird 56
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Totally agree about Game 2...I couldn't even watch the game, just listened to it from the hallway while I painted my front door.
I think the team sort of played to protect Varlamov in that game, and I agree, I think Ovie tried to take too much on his own shoulders. He kept trying to force the middle in that game, but what a change in Game 3....I have my faith back. Varlamov made stops that made him look like King Henry in Game 2 (and I think Lunquist sold his soul for that game), and if Varly can keep playing like he has, the Caps actually have an outside shot at the finals again. If they steal another from NYR in MSG, I think they'll come back like Carolina did a few years back.
At least it's exciting again!
murdergirl
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And I beg to agree with you :) We're winning this thing. Mentally they're finally in playoff mode and now the disparity in speed and talent will take its toll on NY. If you get the Post out there and read Mike Wise, he succintly referred to the Rangers as the NY Dump the Puckers. And I'm looking for AO to bust out in Game 4. He's due and it would be close to a repeat of his playoff performance last year when he was relatively quiet out of the gate.
Anyway, I'm stoked! And now on to you latest blog..........
Seabird 56
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