Caps fall again, struggle in shootouts

[PennSkinsFan]

in the DC Sports Blog (http://dcsportsblog.blogspot.com/)

[frankez99]

Caps are downright PITIFUL in shootouts.....and in regulation time too. This has been a rough season....but the boys do play HARD, night in and night out.

The defense is anemic (sound familiar **cough** **cough** **Redskins**)...Pothier has been a bust IMO...Brash is a goon....

At least Olie is back and looked solid in beating Toronto. Clark getting that hat trick was a nice surprise.

We need much more than the Alex's....

Hanlon and Leonsis need to rescue this team.:banghead:

[skinsfaninva]

Caps are downright PITIFUL in shootouts.....and in regulation time too. This has been a rough season....but the boys do play HARD, night in and night out.

The defense is anemic (sound familiar **cough** **cough** **Redskins**)...Pothier has been a bust IMO...Brash is a goon....

At least Olie is back and looked solid in beating Toronto. Clark getting that hat trick was a nice surprise.

We need much more than the Alex's....

Hanlon and Leonsis need to rescue this team.:banghead:

The defense is young and injuries have killed this team. Of the defensemen that play regularly, Pothier is the oldest at 29 and noone else is 25, Erskine (26) left off due to injuries as was Muir (33); he is always a healthy scratch. Pothier was not a top blue-liner when we got him so to think that he is, you are just wrong. Morrisonn and Jurcina seem to be becoming a good pair.

Don't get started on Brashear. Your statement shows that you know nothing about hockey or the Capitals. Brashear has done a great job here. Does he fight? Yes, that is what he was brought here for. To keep the other teams from beating on Ovechkin and Semin. If a player knows that if he hits our two stars in a fashion that we don't like, then they will have to deal with Brashear. So this allows Ovechkin and Semin a little freedom to operate.

Hanlon, McPhee, and Leonsis have put a great core together to build from. Ovechkin and Semin are already top-flight wingers in the NHL. The #1 pick Backstrom is reportedly dominating the Swedish Elite league at 19 and will be in DC next year. Sutherby is growing into a solid, captain material, center. Pettinger, Clark, Gordon are all solid NHL players. The rest are still maturing: Fleishmann (22), Giroux (25), Laich (23), Novotny (23). Also give our defensemen time to grow and mature. Look at their ages: Eminger (23), Erskine (26), Green (21), Jurcina (23), Morrisonn (24), Schultz (21).

In a year or two we could have a playoff team and one that could go far, but it will take patiences. Next year's team:

Offense:
Ovechkin, Backstrom, Semin
Fleishmann, Clark, Pettinger
Giroux, Novotny, Laich
Brashear, Sutherby, Gordon

Defense:
Eminger, Erskine or Pothier
Green, Schultz
Jurcina, Morrisonn