The Washington Capitals are becoming what the Boston Red Sox used to be!

[Keith Bee]

:argh: :banghead: :hurts: :grr: :puke:

[TZ]

1. Becoming? They've been like this for 20 +years

They were like this in the 80's as well. They've been to the playoffs numerous times and except for one year when they were swept in the Cup finals by the Red Wings have always played extremely poorly in the playoffs. Doesn't even seem to matter who the coach GM or players are. The Caps have always been lousy in the playoffs.

[Chan790]

2. In recent years...

this has actually been the fault of Coach Boudreau. You can't win a Cup the way he's committed to winning a regular season. Further, he's a good coach of game-planning but he's never shown much skill in game-managing (He skates his best players ragged and doesn't use the depth of his bench well.) or changing up the game-plan on the intermission if the opponent has effectively planned for and countered his game-plan. He's a nice guy but I'd wager he's a piss-poor chess player as well. To be short, he does not adapt his game to changing situations, he doubles-down on what he's already planned.)

Some share of the blame lies with owner Ted Leonsis as well. He likes action and asses in the seats, which is understandable...but he's more willing to shell out more money for more firepower than to actually acquire or keep the role players he needs to make his team competitive. (which is to say he's George Steinbrenner except with less money and thwarted by a salary cap.) You know what would have made this year's team and last year's team more competitive? Not overruling his GM to trade the only skilled defensive defenseman the Caps had in Bryan Pothier last year at the trading deadline for a free-agent scoring defenseman from a division rival. (Mind you, the "throw-in" on that deal was Oskar Osala, the Caps best prospect at the time and one of the few guys in hockey with the size, speed and defensive-skill combination to consistently body Caps star Alex Ovechkin off the puck. To a division rival.*)

The Caps don't play defense...it's 4 on attack and one D-man (usually Mike Green...who despite being an amazing offensive D-man is a terrible defensive player) hanging back to pick up clearing attempts, take one-timers and try to tie up any opposing skater carrying the puck long enough to prevent odd-man rushes and breakaways. They're capable of putting a lot of points on the board but all it takes to end them in the playoffs is a hot goalie (like last year) or an opponent being able to take the time to specifically game-plan for them (which is an inevitability in playoff hockey. The opposing team doesn't have to plan to face Washington one night, then someone else two nights later then someone else again the following night...they only have to plan for Washington, Washington and Washington.)**

* - To be fair, I'm a fan of that division rival. The Carolina Hurricanes. So this deal...made me happy.
** - This is to a lesser extent, Pittsburgh's problem as well. At least the Pens have a handful of defensively-solid defensemen and an all-star caliber goalie. (who is, to be fair, a bit streaky and possibly a headcase...but most goalies are headcases.)

[TZ]

3. The comments I've been reading from the Post this morning are....interesting

This is why we can’t have nice things.” — Neil Greenberg

“Redskins on ice.” — Text on Comcast SportsNet (though to be fair Skins rarely actually make the playoffs)

We need a SEALS team to rescue us from D.C. sports teams.” — John Keeley”



“Already looking forward to the Wizards getting the 9th pick in the lottery.” — Danny Rouhier

Being a Washington sports fan is the worst decision a person can ever make.” — @EmLayGee

“Being a fan of any washington sports team is kind of tragic.” — @Ckiddysports

“Oh the great life of a Washington sports fan. . .same stuff different year.” — @jnate048

“Being a Washington sports fan is so hard.” — @dools813

“It’s always next year for a washington sports fan :(“ — @M_Tip11
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/post/it-always-ends-with-a-loss/2011/05/05/AFDDJKxF_blog.html


For some reason DC never seems to make the list for miserable sports towns (or not very high). Next to Cleveland, I can't think of a town thats more miserable right now.