SB Nation DC - NHL Playoffs 2011, Capitals Vs. Rangers Preview: Washington Tries To Shake Playoff Demonshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48897/dc-fave.png2011-04-13T08:48:30-04:00http://dc.sbnation.com/rss/stream/18692082011-04-13T08:48:30-04:002011-04-13T08:48:30-04:00Bruce Boudreau's Job Should Be Safe No Matter How Capitals Perform In 2011 NHL Playoffs
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<p>As the Capitals begin their quest for a Stanley Cup, the pressure on coach Bruce Boudreau is rising. But the idea that he could be on the hot seat after all he accomplished this season is nuts.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.japersrink.com/">Washington Capitals</a> begin play in the 2011 NHL Playoffs on Wednesday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/">New York Rangers</a>, in a series that will set in motion a series of events that will provide a lasting impression on coach Bruce Boudreau's legacy in D.C. It's hard to say Boudreau's job is in jeopardy, since owner Ted Leonsis has repeatedly proclaimed that firing Boudreau is not an option. In this area, I believe him.</p>
<p>Still, we can safely say that Boudreau is being judged. Maybe not by his bosses, but certainly by other important forces, like media, pundits, bloggers and, of course, the paying customers (i.e. fans) like us. Boudreau must shoulder the load of years of disappointment, of which he has only played a small part. If the Capitals lose, the loud noises we heard back in December will only grow louder.</p>
<p>All of this will happen, and in fact,<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/post/mike-wise-asks-bruce-boudreau-about-his-job-security/2011/04/12/AF0CvNRD_blog.html"> it has already begun to happen</a>. As I sit here, trying to ponder the way this force could sweep the District, I can't help but think this is all outrageous. Honestly, the idea that Boudreau could be on the hot seat makes no sense to me. Yes, this is true even if the Capitals suffer another early playoff defeat. </p>
<p>Forget the fact that Boudreau, at 189-79-39 with a 68.9 point percentage, is the most successful active coach in the entire league. Forget the fact that it was Boudreau's hiring, and not the drafting of <span>Alex Ovechkin</span>, <span>Nicklas Backstrom</span>, <span>Mike Green</span> or <span>Alexander Semin</span>, that really kickstarted the Capitals' turnaround. No, the reason I find this stuff outrageous is that it completely downplays just how remarkable Boudreau's 2010/11 coaching job really was.</p>
<p>Adversity has a weird way of cementing a coaches' true philosophy. Across all sports, coaches tend to go back to what they really believe in at their core when bad things happen. Flip Saunders, in his introductory Wizards press conference two years ago, said that spending a year away from the game after being fired by the Pistons actually reinforced his opinions on the game. Mike Shanahan, of course, was even more of his maniacal, authority-at-all-costs self in his first year on the job with the Redskins. </p>
<p>There's a reason for this too. When all is uncomfortable, coaches feel comfortable clawing their way out of it the way they know best. Success is a time to experiment, because the stakes aren't as high and the pressure isn't as strong. Failure, though, is no time to take risks if you're a coach. It's a time for most to fall back on what has worked, because one risky step that does not work out could mean the end.</p>
<p>It is against this reality that Boudreau's execution of an organization-wide plan to become more defensive minded needs to be reconsidered. The success of this effort cannot be overstated. The Capitals <a href="http://">had the lowest goals-against average in their history this season</a>, and allowed just two goals per game following the nine-game losing streak in December that caused the shift in philosophy. They finished first in the East again despite playing completely differently than they played in earlier seasons. That's an incredible accomplishment.</p>
<p>But consider it against the backdrop of the pressure of the nine-game losing streak. It would have been very easy for Boudreau to fall back on his offensive-heavy system that has fueled his rise in the coaching profession. Instead, he took an incredible leap of faith in his own abilities and found a way to do what was best for the team, even if it meant ditching something that worked. </p>
<p>Sure, other factors helped. Midseason moves for <span>Jason Arnott</span>, <span>Dennis Wideman</span> and <span>Marco Sturm</span> made a huge difference, and general manager George McPhee deserves a lot of credit for that. But no man is more responsible for the Capitals' transformation than Boudreau, and for him to be on the hot seat after all of that is outrageous.</p>
<p>Who else could inspire, coax, demand and install this kind of culture shift? Who else could convince Alex Ovechkin, the most electrifying player in the NHL, that dumping and chasing was a viable strategy? Who else could convince the Young Guns of the importance of defending their own zone? Who else could nurture a shutdown blueline pair as young as <span>John Carlson</span> and <span>Karl Alzner</span>? Who else could do all of that<i> in midseason</i> and still shepherd his team to the top spot in the conference?</p>
<p>The NHL Playoffs are a strange animal in which a lot of unlucky things can happen. A goalie can get hot. The shots can just not go in. The team could revert back to their old ways under the pressure of the playoffs because they have only been doing it for half a season. But nothing that happens going forward should take anything away from what Bruce Boudreau accomplished this season.</p>
<p>To fire him after all of that would be nuts.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-capitals/2011/4/13/2107625/bruce-boudreau-capitals-2011-nhl-playoffsMike Prada2011-04-12T09:39:56-04:002011-04-12T09:39:56-04:00NHL Playoffs 2011: Capitals Vs. Rangers Preview, Prediction: Washington In Six Games
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<p><i>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.japersrink.com/">Washington Capitals</a> are once again the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for the 2011 NHL Playoffs and they will look to vanquish their playoff demons from the past two years when they square off against the No. 8 seed <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/">New York Rangers</a>. Game 1 will take place on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. on Versus and Comcast SportsNet, <a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/washington-capitals/2011/4/10/2102468/nhl-playoffs-2011-schedule-capitals-vs-rangers">according to the 2011 NHL Playoffs Schedule</a>.</i></p>
<p><i>In Part V of our preview, we'll make a prediction on the Capitals v. Rangers series.</i></p>
<p>The Capitals perhaps took the Rangers for granted two years ago in their first-round series. The Caps couldn't compete with the Rangers' defensive acumen and <span>Henrik Lundqvist</span>'s world-class goaltending. The Caps experienced those things again during their season series, going 1-2-1 and scoring six goals in four games. This time, Washington will be ready.</p>
<p>With an unprecedented amount of playoff experience thanks to new acquisitions <span>Jason Arnott</span>, <span>Marco Sturm</span> and <span>Scott Hannan</span>, the Caps will figure out what it takes to win right away. On the other hand, New York's defensive corps is inexperienced and will have the tough task of shutting down Washington's explosive forwards.</p>
<p>Henrik Lundqvist is the key to this series. He can steal games, but if the Caps get to him, the Rangers won't be able to respond. The Caps will disrupt Lundqvist's play and shut down the Rangers with their new, playoff-like style of play.</p>
<p><b>PREDICTION: The Caps will beat the Rangers in six games.</b></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-capitals/2011/4/12/2105434/nhl-playoffs-2011-capitals-vs-rangers-preview-predictionAdam Vingan2011-04-12T09:38:31-04:002011-04-12T09:38:31-04:00NHL Playoffs 2011: Capitals Vs. Rangers Preview: Michal Neuvirth Or Semyon Varlamov In Goal?
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<p><i>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.japersrink.com/">Washington Capitals</a> are once again the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for the 2011 NHL Playoffs and they will look to vanquish their playoff demons from the past two years when they square off against the No. 8 seed <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/">New York Rangers</a>. Game 1 will take place on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. on Versus and Comcast SportsNet, <a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/washington-capitals/2011/4/10/2102468/nhl-playoffs-2011-schedule-capitals-vs-rangers">according to the 2011 NHL Playoffs Schedule</a>.</i></p>
<p><i>In Part IV of our preview, we'll take a look at the Capitals' two-headed goaltending tandem v. the Rangers' one-man kingdom.</i></p>
<p>The battle between the pipes in Washington has been one to watch all season long. Both <span>Michal Neuvirth</span> and <span>Semyon Varlamov</span> have proven themselves worthy of earning the starting position, but who will ultimately claim that spot is still undecided.</p>
<p>While Varlamov battled injuries all season, Neuvirth stole the spotlight. A 27-12-4 record with a 2.45 GAA and 914 save percentage has established Neuvirth as a solid starter in the NHL. Varlamov, when healthy, has shown flashes of his past brilliance, going 11-9-5 with a 2.23 GAA and .924 save percentage.</p>
<p>Even with Neuvirth getting most of the starts, expect to see both him and Varlamov sharing duties during the playoffs. Head coach Bruce Boudreau has been known to put his goalies on a short leash. In each of the last two postseasons, Boudreau pulled appointed starter <span>Jose Theodore</span> after one game in favor of Varlamov.</p>
<p>The Rangers will have no such problem. <span>Henrik Lundqvist</span> has owned the crease for years on Broadway and that didn't change this season, as he went 36-27-5. "King Henrik" had a career-high and NHL-leading 11 shutouts this season, two of which came against the Caps. He has the ability to steal the series and almost did two years ago when these two teams met in the first round.</p>
<p>For the Caps to solve Lundqvist, they must create traffic in front of the net and look for dirty goals. Neuvirth and Varlamov will unite to help the Caps win, but whoever earns the starting job might do so for years to come, leaving the other one on the outside looking in.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-capitals/2011/4/12/2105392/nhl-playoffs-2011-capitals-vs-rangers-michal-neuvirth-semyon-varlamov-henrik-lundqvist-Adam Vingan2011-04-12T09:35:24-04:002011-04-12T09:35:24-04:00NHL Playoffs 2011, Capitals Vs. Rangers Preview: Washington Needs To Rediscover Power Play
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<p><i>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.japersrink.com/">Washington Capitals</a> are once again the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for the 2011 NHL Playoffs and they will look to vanquish their playoff demons from the past two years when they square off against the No. 8 seed <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/">New York Rangers</a>. Game 1 will take place on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. on Versus and Comcast SportsNet, <a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/washington-capitals/2011/4/10/2102468/nhl-playoffs-2011-schedule-capitals-vs-rangers">according to the 2011 NHL Playoffs Schedule</a>.</i></p>
<p><i>In Part III of our preview, we'll take a look at the Capitals' struggling power play and strong penalty kill vs. the Rangers' mediocre play with the man advantage and dangerous penalty kill.</i></p>
<p>Along with their high-scoring offense, the Capitals lost their touch on the power play this season. For two straight seasons, the Caps finished with a power play percentage of 25 percent or higher. This season, the Caps struggled at 17.5 percent. Washington scored multiple power-play goals in a game only 10 times this season, not something one would expect from a power-play unit with several offensive superstars.</p>
<p>Yet, with the power play's failure came the penalty kill's success. Washington's penalty kill ranked second in the NHL at 85.6 percent.</p>
<p>New York's power play was actually worse than Washington's at 16.9 percent. The penalty kill ranked 10th at 83.7 percent and had 11 shorthanded goals on the season, including five from <span>Brandon Prust</span>.</p>
<p>Special teams will be something to watch in the series. Both teams have a great penalty kill to combat mediocre power plays. If Washington can keep its recent hot streak on the power play alive (5-for-10 in the last four games), it can swing the series in its favor.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-capitals/2011/4/12/2105352/nhl-playoffs-2011-capitals-vs-rangers-preview-power-playAdam Vingan2011-04-12T09:31:20-04:002011-04-12T09:31:20-04:00NHL Playoffs 2011, Capitals Vs. Rangers Preview: Injuries Hamper Capitals' Much-Improved Defense
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<p><i>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.japersrink.com/">Washington Capitals</a> are once again the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for the 2011 NHL Playoffs and they will look to vanquish their playoff demons from the past two years when they square off against the No. 8 seed <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/">New York Rangers</a>. Game 1 will take place on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. on Versus and Comcast SportsNet, <a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/washington-capitals/2011/4/10/2102468/nhl-playoffs-2011-schedule-capitals-vs-rangers">according to the 2011 NHL Playoffs Schedule.</a></i></p>
<p><i>In Part II of our preview, we'll take a look at the Capitals' improving, but banged-up defense (thanks to an injury to <span>Dennis Wideman</span> and the rusty return of <span>Mike Green</span>) vs. the Rangers' young, but stingy defensive corps.</i></p>
<p>"Defense" is not a word synonymous with the Capitals, but Washington's defense is vastly improved thanks to a healthy mix of youth and experience.</p>
<p>The Caps gave up only 2.33 goals per game, fourth-best in the NHL, down from last year's 2.77. The pairing of <span>John Carlson</span> and <span>Karl Alzner</span> is the team's youngest and brightest, having unmatched chemistry from several years of playing together. The veteran experience of <span>Scott Hannan</span> has helped them as well. Meanwhile, <span>Jeff Schultz</span> has struggled this season, going from a plus-50 to a plus-6.</p>
<p>The biggest problem with Washington's defense has been injuries. Green, <span>Tom Poti</span> and Wideman have all missed significant time with injuries. Poti hasn't played since mid-January because of a nagging groin injury. Wideman suffered a hematoma in his leg March 29 and is out for the first round. Green i<a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/washington-capitals/2011/4/11/2104254/mike-green-injury-head-nhl-playoffs-2011-capitals-vs-rangers">s planning to return</a> from head injuries suffered February 6 and February 25, and will need to find his All-Star play quickly to give the Caps a chance.</p>
<p>The Rangers' defensive corps is incredibly young. <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/VogsCaps/status/57542743207063552">Via Mike Vogel</a>, 55 percent of the career games played by New York's unit have been by recently-acquired Bryan McCabe. Other than McCabe, none of the Rangers' defensemen are over the age of 27. The young group is led by <span>Marc Staal</span> and <span>Dan Girardi</span>, who are capable of blocking shots and shutting down their opponent's top line. Rookies Michael Sauer and <span>Ryan McDonagh</span> will enter their first postseason.</p>
<p>If New York wants any chance of winning this series, their defense will have to outplay both Washington's offense and defense.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-capitals/2011/4/12/2105300/nhl-playoffs-2011-capitals-vs-rangers-preview-mike-greenAdam Vingan2011-04-12T09:24:50-04:002011-04-12T09:24:50-04:00NHL Playoffs 2011, Capitals Vs. Rangers Preview: Alex Ovechkin, Washington Still Have Upper Hand Offensively
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<p><i>The <a href="https://www.japersrink.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Capitals</a> are once again the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for the 2011 NHL Playoffs and they will look to vanquish their playoff demons from the past two years when they square off against the No. 8 seed <a href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Rangers</a>. Game 1 will take place on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. on Versus and Comcast SportsNet, <a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/washington-capitals/2011/4/10/2102468/nhl-playoffs-2011-schedule-capitals-vs-rangers">according to the 2011 NHL Playoffs Schedule</a>.</i></p>
<p><i>In Part I of our preview, we'll take a look at the Capitals' new-look offense v. the Rangers' deceptive offense. </i></p>
<p>For several years, the Capitals have been known throughout the NHL for having one of the highest-scoring offenses. That didn't happen this year. Last year's league-leading 313 total goals and 3.82 goals per game was replaced by an average of 219 total goals and 2.67 goals per game. <span>Alex Ovechkin</span> had a career-low 32 goals, <span>Alexander Semin</span> went three months without scoring a goal and <span>Nicklas Backstrom</span>'s point production dropped 36 points. Despite all of that, the Caps still found a way to win the East.</p>
<p>The Rangers' offense, despite scoring more total goals (224) and goals per game (2.73) than the Caps, tended to disappear on occasion throughout the season. New York easily scored five or more goals in some games (which they did against the Caps twice this season), but also struggled to score two or three goals in other games. The Rangers have several forwards capable of changing a game (<span>Marian Gaborik</span>, <span>Derek Stepan</span>, <span>Brandon Dubinsky</span>), but will be shorthanded with <span>Ryan Callahan</span> out with a leg injury for the rest of the season.</p>
<p>If the series becomes a shootout, the Capitals outmatch the Rangers. A high-scoring game plays into the hands of Washington, regardless of New York's 18-6 scoring advantage in the season series.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-capitals/2011/4/12/2105229/nhl-playoffs-2011-capitals-vs-rangers-preview-alex-ovechkinAdam Vingan2011-04-11T20:29:24-04:002011-04-11T20:29:24-04:00NHL Playoffs 2011, Capitals Vs. Rangers Preview: Washington Tries To Shake Playoff Demons
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.japersrink.com/">Washington Capitals</a> are once again the No. 1 seed in the East bracket of the 2011 NHL Playoffs, and they will look to vanquish their playoff demons from the past two years when they square off against the No. 8 seed <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/">New York Rangers</a>. Game 1 will take place on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. on Versus and Comcast SportsNet, <a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/washington-capitals/2011/4/10/2102468/nhl-playoffs-2011-schedule-capitals-vs-rangers">according to the 2011 NHL Playoffs Schedule</a>.</p>
<p>The Capitals will look to fare better as the East's top seed than they did last season, when they squandered a 3-1 lead and fell to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.habseyesontheprize.com/">Montreal Canadiens</a> in seven games. The Rangers are returning to the postseason after just missing last season. Both teams are dealing with key injuries. The Capitals will be without defensemen <span>Dennis Wideman</span> and are seeing fellow defensemen <span>Mike Green</span> return to action for the first time since late February. The Rangers will be without winger <span>Ryan Callahan</span>.</p>
<p>We will be previewing this series in five parts on Tuesday, so stay tuned to this StoryStream for more updates. Also, be sure to check out <a href="http://www.japersrink.com/">Japers' Rink</a> for all your Capitals needs. For more on the Rangers, check out <a href="http://blueshirtbanter.com/">Blueshirt Banter </a>and <a href="http://newyork.sbnation.com/">SB Nation New York</a>.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2011/4/11/2333265/nhl-playoffs-2011-capitals-vs-rangers-preview-washington-tries-toMike Prada