A Shot in the Mouth

Talk about a bad way to start the season.

The Capitals came out and were dominant in the first 5 minutes. Then, they had a goal waved off. Then they took a penalty.

And then they fell apart. Goal. Goal. Goal. It was like an artillery barrage that just couldn't be stopped.

Quickly, they were down 3-0. The team was on its heels and was shellshocked. Then, Alexander Semin came through with a wrist shot from the top of the circles to send the team into the locker room down by 2. A shorthanded goal by Dave Steckel - set up by a nice play by Semin - was quickly negated by another Atlanta goal, but then the game changed.

Tom Poti was clipped in the forehead and the Caps were given a 4-minute powerplay. The knew that the powerplay was the chance they needed. Mike Green fired home two one-timers to tie the game at 4, and it looked like the Caps would be able to win despite their poor play.

After 2, it remained deadlocked at 4, but the Caps were pressuring Kari Lehtonen all period long. A cover-up in the crease by an Atlanta defenseman led to a penalty shot for the Caps, which was taken by Alexander Ovechkin. Fans - myself included - felt that Semin should've shot it, because he was having a great game and is usually successful in a breakaway.

As it was, Ovechkin missed, adding on to a list of missed chances by the reigning Hart Trophy winner. Even on TV, you could see the life sucked out of the team. Atlanta quickly grabbed the momentum and eventually scored to make it 5-4. Less than 30 seconds later, it was 6-4. Soon thereafer, it was 7-4.

And the Caps were left to re-assess their goaltender situation on the long flight home from Atlanta. But, at least for me, there is reason for optimism.

1. Jose Theodore is known for his inconsistency. Hopefully this just means it was a bad game and on Saturday he will be great.


2. The powerplay and offense was solid all night long. They took 40+ shots and Lehtonen was the main reason the game didn't turn the Caps' way in the 2nd and 3rd periods.


3. Alexander Semin was the best player on the ice. He made plays all game long and ended up with a 3-point night.


4. I believe head coach Bruce Boudreau will fire this team up for the home opener. I don't see this game affecting this team for more than a couple of hours. There is no doubt in my mind that the team won't play well on Saturday. Theodore will be fine and Brent Johnson was solid in relief (though he was let out to dry late in the game). Plus, they finally get to return and feel the excitment from the fans. That can do a long way to rebounding from this debacle of a season opener.
   

Last season the Caps started off an impressive 3-0. By Thanksgiving they were in dead last. So, a first loss doesn't mean that they won't make the playoffs or win the division. After all, the Detroit Red Wings lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs, another team predicted to be in the cellar.

Step in off the ledge, Caps fans. There's 81 more games to win.