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Caps Need More Hard Work
by Paul on 03/10/09 at 06:42 AM ET
Comments (5)
from Tarik El-Bashir of Capitals Insider,
I started looking for common themes in the losing streak based on my observations, Boudreau’s postgame comments and the score sheets. Here’s what I came up with as I sat (emphasis on “sat”) on Rt. 66 this morning.
I’m talking about secondary scoring. The Caps have scored eight goals in the four losses. For the mathematically challenged, that’s two per game, significantly down from their season average of 3.22….
None of those goals were of the “ugly” or “dirty” or “hard work” variety that all teams need. The Caps have also out-shot their opponent by a combined total of 111-81 in the past three games. Someone needs to crash the net, screen the goalie and bang in a rebound. That needs to be an every-game thing, not a once-in-a-while thing.
While the Caps competed much harder against a Penguins team they despise, that same sense of urgency wasn’t there in the previous three games. The Caps are comfortably in a playoff spot and are one of the most skilled teams in the league. But skill doesn’t equal wins—especially in hockey—if the work ethic is not there.
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Comments
But skill doesn’t equal wins—especially in hockey—if the work ethic is not there.
There are about a half-dozen other teams you could say the same thing about right now. I wonder if all the teams with excellent records have decided to struggle with focus and work ethic at the same time to make it that much easier on the writers? They can all share paragraphs for their articles because they can all write the same thing! 
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 03/10/09 at 07:25 AM ET
OVERRATED
Posted by FlyersFan on 03/10/09 at 08:48 AM ET
There is no reason for the good teams to “work hard” right now. They have nothing to play for. Meanwhile the rest of the league is in a death struggle to make the playoffs. That is why some of your best teams are looking ordinary every night.
Posted by kevin from boston on 03/10/09 at 09:32 AM ET
flyersfan-
were the flyers overrated last year when they lost 10 in a row?
Posted by anony on 03/10/09 at 04:55 PM ET
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The caps have gotten away from their game. They need Ovy to start a fire and really get things going or I think this teams in trouble come playoff time.
Posted by Performance Parts on 03/10/09 at 07:17 AM ET