The Cardiac Kids Comeback Team Showed Up Last Night

Ok, where do I start?

Mike Green's 381 penalties?

Ovi's countless goals?

Backstrom's 5 points?

Our ability to come back in games excites and worries me, because it's an awesome view, very electrifying, but it portends of a bigger problem, this attitude that you can cheat and then cram at exam time to just eke out the results you want when you want them.

This goes against the principle of the law of the farm where you plant early, work all summer, and harvest big time in the fall.

Can you imagine cramming on a farm?

The Caps need their work ethic to be consistent, otherwise they are doomed to another early exit when the games really matter in April.

Which Caps Team Will Show Up Tonight?

WIll it be the puck-possession machine of the past 3 games, or the lazy inconsistent cry-babies who can't get up for weaker opponents?

The Lightning is doing well this year and goalie Ben Bishop is hot, this will be a good test of our team's ability to sustain a stretch of strong hockey.

I just hope that the right team shows up.

60 minute hockey

Oh, so that's what 60 minute hockey looks like.
The Capitals played two straight great games where the zone exits were efficient, where the players were making great reads, where the effort level was consistently high.
Of course, they won both games, 5-2 and 4-1.  They even flirted with a shutout until late in the second game on the road.
Adam Oates must be happy with the two games, but how can he sustain this type of stuff?
It's exactly the consistency he's searching for.

Enjoying watching the game

Just had an hour to spare and I watched a taped Caps Habs game from last week.

Watching taped games is weird because it's like a time machine, you know the score and kind of look out for each goal.

But it's awesome to read the play, focus on players and their habits and analyze the play more.

I've been thinking that Brouwer was in a slump but he got 3 grade-A chances in that game, all at even-strength, so I think he's just about to break out now as opposed to thinking he's not working his way through it.

I also have a lot of respect for how the kid Schmidt is playing his 18 or so minutes - very well.  This isn't sustainable over a very long period for a 22 year old D just out of college, but he's filling in admirably as a top-4 D for now.

Nothing like hockey on a lazy Saturday afternoon.

Wcet luc comeau maya

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Hockey?

Your french word of the day is "canicule" which means a stretch of stinking hot weather.  You can't play hockey in this weather... wait, hockey? What's that?

Aloof

With this amazing heat wave in Canada I am finally feeling aloof when it comes to hockey.

I usually think about hockey almost as much as sex but right now I couldn't care less about hockey - it's great to be away from it.

I will be back.

Doubtful

I very much doubt that the Philadelphia Flyers can make any progress towards the postseason with goaltenders such as Steve Mason and Ray Emery as their top two - to me this is their Achilles heel

Surprised

I'm feeling quite surprised that the St. Louis Blues have given up on David Perron he seemed to me to be a very good hockey player.

Hot

Although I'm feeling very warm in the sweltering heat up here in Canada I'm still thinking about Washington Capitals hockey now that development camp is done maybe we can take a bit of a breather on hockey for a few weeks and enjoy the sunshine.

Hopeful

I'm watching the highlights of the Capitals development scrimmages and feeling hopeful that the kids, all capitals prospects, can somehow find their way onto the team (at least the best of them) so that we can reinforce our NHL team and win the Stanley Cup.

Stupefied

I'm blown away by Ilya Koval huk's decision to retire and walk away from $77 million to sign in Russia for about the same amount I cannot understand how you can do a deal and then just walk away from it.

Relief - again

I'm feeling so relieved that the Capitals signed Alzner to a cap-friendly contract that way we can keep money for somebody else.

Empathy for Alfie

Okay I get it Alfie I'm not angry at you anymore for leaving the Senators I just don't think the Red Wings are the best choice for you but at your age with limited chances at the cup I can understand now and I can empathize with the fact that you have chosen to not remain loyal to those Sens fans who love you so much.I spoke to someone on a blind call - a friend and told him "Hi, it's Daniel Alfredson and I'm calling to say I'm sorry" - he hung up. 

Good luck Sarge

So the Kings took on overrated defenseman Jeff Schultz at 700 K per season even he may be worth that. I wish him best of luck on the left coast.

Relieved

I'm feeling relief at Washington Capitals general manager George McPhee not drinking the Kool-Aid of the expensive agents as opposed to free agents. I cannot believe people are paying 5 million a year for seven years for Clarkson type players I'm just relieved that my team is not being stupid in this silly season.

Disgusted

Disgust is the feeling right now as average NHL players hit paydirt and sign ridiculously high long-term deals with teams desperate to improve.

The next lockout will be a long one.

Hurt

I'm not an Ottawa Senators fan but I'm feeling hurt and I'm feeling big time pain because I do like the team and I can just feel for their fans who must feel right now like their hearts have been torn out of their chests - best of luck Alfie - I don't understand why you're going...

Frenetic

I'm feeling frenetic this morning eagerly awaiting all of the rush of news about the free-agent signings all of which will be hated contracts and unnecessary signings two to three years down the road but for today it's exciting

Flirty

I'm feeling flirty just like most of the NHL teams must feel when they start schmoozing with potential free agents a day ahead of the deadline - it must be a really nice cocktail party situation when people are being courted by three or four different suitors - strange.

Angry

I'm not an Ottawa fan but I'm angry to see that the team and Daniel Alfredsson are having issues with regards to contract - this classy captain deserves better.

Sad for Jeff Schultz

As my team buys out the last year of his bloated contract I'm feeling sad because he must be a really nice guy he just got protected minutes for a year in a contract year and was able to sign a big monster contract and then never lived up to it. I really wish he would've become a solid 4D to play alongside John Carlson but it won't happen now...

Tired /Happy

Peter called me and I got to go play evening hockey with him and his boys it's a three on three for an hour and a half on a small sheet of ice. Stops & starts - very very challenging - I was able to score a goal. I am so tired this morning but happy.

Future

When the Washington Capitals picked six new prospects on Sunday I didn't watch the draft - I was at the cottage instead - this year I'm not feeling the same excitement as I used to.

Hope

The NHL Draft is like when the snow starts to melt in Canada.  People are cautiously hopeful, because they feel that the future is going to be better than the past.

Every year my team selects 7 to 10 spring chickens, and I hope that they will grow to the point where they will be part of my hockey addiction.

Most of them will never play a game for the Washington Capitals.  But for at least a day, as they pull on that sweater and smile for the camera, they are all heroes.  They make me feel hopeful.

Empty

Not having hockey to watch makes me feel empty, like a ship in port.

Following the news around buyouts, the draft and free agency on Twitter is all the oxygen I get these days.

The Waiting Begins

Another NHL season is over and summer is here - all we can do now is enjoy the draft and free agency and wait for training camp to begin - where hope springs eternal.

A Cup full of emotions

As Chicago won the cup last night, I was playing 3-on-3 hockey with Peter, and walked out just in time to see the tying and winning goals.

For me it's a perfect trifecta:  deciding to begin again the emotion and hockey related writings of Hockey Amor, playing the game, and watching it's ultimate yearly moment.

It's good to be back.

Hockey Amor