Boudreau, Caps counter punch tonight
By: Turner Sports Desk
Jim Turner
Turnersportsdesk.com
April 17, 2010
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? (that was a joke) Washington
Capitals Nation needs a jolt of humor after that sucker punch of reality
Thursday night. Just consider Thursday night a reminder that regular season
success does not translate into playoff success. That said, the Caps can
rebound and send the Canadiens to the golf course for the summer with a few
adjustments here and there. The NHL playoffs are like a chess match and Bruce Boudreau
faces a master in Jacques
Martin. Martin won the first match but unfortunately for him and his
Canadiens he has to beat the Caps three more times. The Caps put 47 shots on Jaroslav Halak even
without Alexander Ovechkin
playing at a high level so in a seven game series I’ll still take the Caps. Now it is up to Bruce Boudreau to counter in
terms of strategy while the Caps players dig a little deeper.
The last step in the Caps evolution is to ascend from talented
to champion. Champions can take this first game, learn from it, make the proper
adjustments and move forward. The Caps have certainly shown that they can come
back and win games and series so I am very much looking forward to the counter
punch tonight featuring a fired up Alexander Ovechkin. The good news is
Theodore played a masterful game and he looks like a guy the Caps can ride if
they just get it together in front of him. Young John Carlson was
one of the best players on the ice and he is just going keep getting better. I
know many people are bummed out after Thursday night but this is playoff hockey
folks and it is pretty obvious that the Canadiens are not just going to roll
over for the Caps. It is time for the team and the fan base to knuckle-up and fight
like champions.