The lines are made up and the points don't matter

You can say that we beat the Bruins. You can also say we got a quick snapshot of what the caps lines may look like. The preseason points don't matter....I don't know if anyone even keeps track of points in the preseason. It doesn't matter right now and thank god it doesn't. But nonetheless the caps and Barry Trotz are tinkering with line combinations and seeing who has the best chemistry and what molds together well and what doesn't. Right now the offense looks like it finally may have a solid groove. Even with playing with a partial staff I saw some things Friday evening that really gave me some hope in what the regular season will be like.
No change in the domination of the power play. There is a little bit more movement when it comes to where Ovechkin is playing at in the formation. He got two goals Friday and looked like his normal usual self. Michael Latta tallied a goal as well as rookie center Liam O'Brien. O'Brien tallied a goal and an assist as well as five PIM's. He really stepped up and gave capitals a little shot of the future this kid can play and is going to be formidable. Winning the game in overtime came from Troy Brouwer. The offense looked decent. The time spent in the offensive zone will need to drastically increase and the passing will need to be better to keep the cycle rotating inside of the zone. Shots need to tighten up and be placed on goal rather than blindly being thrown out there. The one thing I did see was creativity. The movement of the puck was constantly being thrown forward and the plans being drawn up on the fly as well as the caps finding open ice was very exciting to see. All in all things need to be tightened offensively. Goaltending was iffy. Four goals were let in total two each by Grubauer and peters with 9 and 10 saves on the night. In my opinion I don't think the goals were completely their fault. The defense looked shaky at best. Niskanen allowed one goal to occur due to a poor turn over in the defensive zone.
When I sat in my seat in section 109 I listened to everyone complain about how bad we are going to be this year. All I wanted to do was scream ITS PRESEASON!!!! This is the time of the year that the lines are made up and the points don't matter. Like really people. Let Trotz be able to play with the lines. We can lose every single pre season game for all I care just to get the lines tweaked to how they should be. Everyone including myself needs to relax. Just sit back and enjoy the games. Watch the rookies play and impress us. Watch the different lines and think about what could be. All in all just relax.

There are a couple story lines from the night that are needing attention. It is extremely encouraging to see Laich play at the beginning of the season and be productive. He was placed on the front line with Ovechkin and Backstrom. He played 21:26 and had two assists. This is a huge key for the start of the capitals season. Niskanen did let a goal in but he also tallied assist. Still not convinced with him on defense. Maybe a pairing with mike green may do him well. Potential Calder cup winner Kuznetsov tallied an assist but his timing on passes was not there one bit. I'm still predicting him to be the rookie of the year. The main storyline in following right now is that if Mike Green. The former dominant offensive defenseman is in a contract year. Guarantee that he is going to be looking to score big on his contract at the end of this season. He tallied one assist and 2 PIM in Friday's game. I do not, repeat DO NOT, expect him to be with the capitals the entire season. He is injury prone. When he gets frustrated on the ice he makes mistakes and commits penalties that cost the capitals in the long run. He needed to be traded three seasons ago. I do not see the value and think that his trade potential is severely low this year. But hey I'm not the GM and our current GM can impress me by trading a beloved player who does not benefit the team. Don't get me started. My distain for Semin was just transferred to Mike Green. I have seen what he can do and yet there's nothing there anymore. He needs to reinvent himself or his paycheck will not be signed by Leonsis anymore. I just don't see a value in keeping green. Get rid of him while he has value. I expect him to be gone by the end of January.

For the first week of the season the caps have four games in seven days. Three home games agains Montreal, San Jose, New Jersey and the away game being played in Boston.

Montreal will be a good early test for the caps. Their defense is always been their strength. I see the caps winning this one 3-1.

@Boston will be a fun road game. These games are always chippy and if Wilson is back expect the fisticuffs to be flying. Boston gets this game 4-2.

San Jose is normally a dominate team in the west. But they are getting older. The competition level will be very high and these inter-conference games will be very important this year. Caps win this one 3-2 in overtime.

And finishing the first week you have the New Jersey Devils. They Devils will be a breeze for the caps. I don't expect big things from them this year. Now I could be wrong...usually am...but I think the Devils will not live up to expectation this year. I do have the caps winning 3-2 in this one.

For the first week I have the caps going 3-1 for six out of eight points. Enjoy the season.

Next on Capital Nonsense... Who knows well see what come up. Possibly taking a look at the injuries that are current on the capitals.

Its 78 and I'm dreaming of ice

Soon, 3 millimeters of steel will be speeding around on top of painted frozen elements. Grown toothless men with scarred faces will be throwing themselves full force into their opponents. Ionized rubber will be shot at blistering speeds with the hopes of finding holes just large enough to get past anyone brave enough to stand in front and stop it. In DC evenings will now be seen in a sea of red exiting the metro. People dancing and singing on the sidewalks from the tunes that street performers will be doling out. There will be the beauty of seeing the rink for the first time in the season. Walking into the stadium with strangers then hearing the horn blow and turning to hug and high five those same strangers. Fists will fly in aggravation and intimidation with opposition on the ice and in the stands alike.
In ten days warriors from around the world will start the 2014-2015 NHL season and fans from around the world will be glued to their televisions, computers, and radios in anticipation of seeing greatness from their teams.
This season the Capitals are hoping for greatness to strike with force. The fan base is hoping for the new coach and new general manager to bring Lord Stanley to the district.
This is hockey in the Nations Capital. The nonsense that hockey bring will turn businessmen, politicians, and blue collar people into rabid voracious fans where getting two points is all that matters in the short time frame of three hours. This is hockey and this is what we love.

In the next blog in Capital Nonsense we will go over this past Friday's pre season game against Boston and look toward the first week of the regular season.

Let's try this again

...well the NHL season is here once again and needless to say the Pucher household is excited. Since the Capitals fall from grace my house has experienced drastic changes. There is now a Mrs. Pucher hanging around the house now. June 7th she signed on to the madness that is Caps hockey in my house. We moved into our own place in northern VA. We have a pug that is our child. The new place is decorated in the finest of tastes but there are two unique decorations that are placed in our living room; hanging above the entrance to our bedroom on the door frame hangs my new mike green signed stick that the was given to me by my brother in law for a wedding present. And then there is my 2011 winter classic game used puck.
It shouldn't need to be said but since becoming a married man the jerseys are no longer hanging on the walls. Ovechkin's fathead is rolled up and in storage. And the NHL network was replaced by hallmark, pbs, and Disney movies. And I am the happiest person in the world. She now is the proud owner of a caps jersey. She wants to go to as many games as she can except for the beloved winter classic.
So with that update said, Capital Nonsense will be bringing you the daily rants of a beleaguered fan who is in desperate need of Lord Stanleys Cup to make a home in the nations capital. Please share these posts with friends and comment on anything worth your two cents.

Location:VA