RED ALERT: Caps in Buffalo

The Washington Capitals are chartering in unfamiliar territory.  They are covering ground now, that the Caps franchise has rarely done.  The sit atop the NHL in total points, atop the Eastern Conference, and lead the NHL in goals scored.   The Caps will look to continue their offensive juggernaut ways.

"

This certainly looks like a team capable of cracking the 300-goal barrier. Back in the mid-1980s, no one would have batted an eye at that number. Now? Since 1997 only three teams have topped that mark — Ottawa (314) and Detroit (305) in 2005-06 and Buffalo (308) in 2006-07. It’s a long way from the NHL’s offensive glory days when the Pittsburgh Penguins could score 362 goals in a single year (1995-96). During the 1992-93 season, 15 different teams topped 300 goals. In 1981-82, 16 of the league’s 21 teams did it. That was the same year Wayne Gretzky set the all-time individual goals record with 92. Two years later his Edmonton Oilers scored a league-record 446.

Those gaudy numbers are unapproachable in this era. But what about the franchise record set by the same 1991-92 Caps, who also topped the NHL standings on Dec. 8? They eventually finished with 330 goals. That one may be tough to crack, too.

"

One thing is certain for these Caps, they are not the Caps of the past.  They are not made up of JUST Alex Ovechkin’s fire power.  They are not JUST Alex Ovechkin.  This team can score, and score a ton of goals, with or without Alex.  Alex the Great just makes the Caps even better.

At least for the moment, sitting at the top is something Ted Leonsis wants to reflect and enjoy.

Ummmm, even the Globe and Mail, the higher authority for Canadian promotion, praises the Caps, with or without Ovechkin.  Translation — pray hard, the world is collapsing.

"

A year ago, the Capitals were viewed in many quarters as the Greatest Show On Ice. Finally on Monday, it became official. Their win leapfrogged the Capitals over the San Jose Sharks and into top spot in the NHL’s overall standings.

Publicly, the Capitals were not happy about Ovechkin’s suspension, which sparked a debate about whether he needed to amend his reckless, all-out attacking style. It was a silly discussion really and almost irrelevant.

You knew Ovechkin was not going to change the way he plays and you also know he shouldn’t. What makes him effective is also what makes him tops at the box office – the ability to play on the edge, and more importantly, to execute plays on the edge.

What the Capitals either don’t realize, or don’t acknowledge, is how Ovechkin’s little two-game ban was actually a blessing in disguise. It helped him heal for starters; but far more importantly, it also demonstrated to every player on their team that they can now play at an elite level, even without their most important contributor.

This is a pivotal part in the evolution of any championship team, which is what the Capitals imagine they are, after making the playoffs in each of the past two years, and pushing the Pittsburgh Penguins to the limit in the second round last spring.

"

Caps/Sabres Game Previews:  Wash Post, CBS Sports, Official Caps Site, NHL.com, Caps Nut, Rock the Red

Backstrom and Semin updates . . .We missed this the other day, so we bring it to you know.  In case you were wondering what was going on with possible new contract deals for Alexander Semin and Nicklas Backstrom, here is  a minor update.

"

Pierre LeBrun, also of ESPN, claims that Capitals and Backstrom’s agent are likely to use the contracts the Chicago Blackhawks handed Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane as a reference point in their negotiations.

Backstrom, who turned 22 on Nov. 23, can become a restricted free agent after this season if a new deal is not reached.

However, LeBrun reports a new contract “should be wrapped up in the next couple of months.”

The Capitals also want to get winger Alexander Semin signed to a new contract, but the two sides have not talked about an extension sign the start of the season.

Semin, 25, has already rejected an offer from the Capitals.

"

Seemingly, it looks as if the Backstrom deal is a no brainer and will get done.  [Read more →]

Read it all at

http://dcprosportsreport.com/2009/12/09/red-alert.html