Japers Rink

Puck Management It’s impossible to overstate how important the Caps’ puck management – specifically in their own end – is likely to be to their chances at success in this series. We’ve seen what happens when they’re sloppy, and it isn’t pretty. And now they’re facing a team that absolutely feasts on that slop: As unreliable as giveaways and takeaways are as stats… Source … [Read more...] about The Narrative: Puck Management, Exit Stage Left, and Pro-jection

Your savory breakfast links… Source … [Read more...] about Sunday Caps Clips: Ramping Up for Round Two

The Capitals will continue their quest for Lord Stanley’s Cup next week, facing off in the second round against the Hurricanes. Here’s the full schedule for Caps vs. Canes… Source … [Read more...] about Capitals vs. Hurricanes Playoff Schedule: Round 2 Dates and Times

Familiarity and Contempt When the Caps (as defending Stanley Cup champions) last faced the Hurricanes in the playoffs six years ago, a dozen players featured in the series who also figure to play significant roles in this one, including a “swap” of blueliners: Ovechkin tallied four goals and five assists in the seven games, Wilson three and two, Eller one and two, and Dowd a … [Read more...] about The Narrative: Familiarity and Contempt, Luck of the Draw, and Southbeast

And so it’s set. Capitals vs. Hurricanes. Red, white, and blue vs. red and black. A rivalry that has traveled from the Southeast to the Metropolitan to the postseason, now for a second time. Another round of the Caps vs. a coach who loves to complain about officiating. Unleashing the fury vs. a surging storm. Aliaksei Protas vs. Andrei Svechnikov. John Carlson vs. Jaccob … [Read more...] about Round 2 Preview: Capitals vs. Hurricanes By the Numbers