So I watched Game 6 today between the Caps and Bruins, the first Stanley Cup Playoff game I watched this year. In typical Caps fashion they have a 3-2 series lead, take the game to overtime at home, and you think they're in pretty good shape, but as soon as the overtime starts they come out flat and 3 minutes later the goal you saw coming from the moment the puck was dropped was scored. Admittedly, I have not watched as much Caps hockey this year as I have in the past. However, I do know that their offensive production this season has dropped off precipitously. Alex Oveckin is miles away from his MVP performances of several seasons ago. Nevertheless, they were able to scratch out a 7th seed playoff berth despite all of these weaknesses (not to mention the mid-season firing of Bruce Boudreau).
If the Caps are going to advance, they need to be more physical. In the games the Bruins have won, they have dictated the physicality. Today was no exception, especially in the overtime. When the Caps get outmuscled, they usually lose. When they get passive, and guys like Ovechkin and Semin start taking stupid penalties (and Backstrom from Game 3), the Caps get in trouble. On the other hand, when they dictate the physicality, hard hits, clean checks, and just enough post-whistle rough stuff, they can intimidate teams very easily, and get into the head of a Vezina trophy winner like Tim Thomas. When you get into a goalie's head, he loses his skill. Thomas himself said he wished he had a few goals back in game 5 (when the Caps won). In game 7, if the Caps are going to win, they need to be physical like they were in Games 2, 4, and 5 (and in Game 6 until the overtime started). Otherwise, it will be yet another summer of unanswered questions and unmet playoff expectations.
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