EHEC 24/7 Caps vs Bolts

[Jets GM]

EHEC 24/7 will be a series covering the south east rivalry between the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning and last years Eastern Conference champions, the Washington Capitals.

[Jets GM]

Most mid-season games in the NHL lack intensity, as the grind of the eighty-two game seasons starts to take its toll mentally and physically on even the toughest of competitors. Tonight will not be one of those games, at least not according to Capitals head coach Bruce Boudreau "This is going to be a huge test for our us, we want to win the division, we want to have home ice and we want to win a championship and we need to show were capable of beating these guys. No one is invincible, no team is unbeatable." While Boudreau is right, the Lighting have come as close as you can to unbeatable in the NHL half way through the regular season.

Only seven regulation losses in thirty nine games is a staggering number, one Bolts head coach Rich Tocchet credits his defense and defensive minded system for. "Its no secret, we're not going to be a team that wins games 6-5 unless we have to. Everyone comes back every shift to support our defense in our own zone, no one is hanging around at the blueline looking for a long bomb outlet pass. All five guys on the ice playing two-way hockey whether its the first or fourth line. This is the NHL, and its tough to score in this league. Thats just the way it is." It's a system that has worked for the Lightning, a championship last year and a current first place position in the Eastern Conference. Tocchet knows however, being ranked first mid way through the season means nothing. As the season progresses, each game gains importance and tonight will be no different.

The Capitals are currently eight points behind the Lighting for first in the Eastern conference, and the Lightning hold a game in hand. Not a insurmountable lead with over forty games remaining but one the Capitals need to start making ground on, tonight being the perfect opportunity. "Win is most important for team right now" says Capitals superstar Alexander Ovechkin "Tampa has very good team but....we are better." Never lacking confidence Ovechkin has had a up and down year with only 16 goals through the first half, a number that will have to improve if the Capitals hope to be playing hockey deep into the spring. "If one of my biggest problems as the coach is Ovy not scoring as many goals as usual, I'm not to worried" laughs Bourdeau "he's been kinda inconsistent but so have his linemates, that's what the regular season is for. Figuring out how to assemble the best team, and then going out there playing your best and executing at a high level."

Bolts tough guy David Clarkson see's the Capitals problems a bit deeper then just line juggling. "There not willing to pay the price, if they get up on you early the start laughing and giggling like they have never had a lead before but as soon as things start to go the other way they throw up there hands and pout. They have no heart, its the reason they got knocked out in the first round last year and it will be the same reason this year." While Clarksons talk is mostly of the trash variety past Milan Hejduk and the finnish flash Teemu Selänne, the Capitals on paper lack a proven post season performer. Nicklas Bäckström doesn't it see it that way "thats what they said about Datsyuk before, people say a lot of things about European players having no heart.....I guess we'll find out tonight."

Puck drop at 7:30 ET.

[Bruins]

Yeah I was pissed off when I turned into HBO's 24/7 and saw Penguins/Capitals crap. I was hoping for some boxing.

[CapsGM]

The Capitals are currently eight points behind the Lighting for first in the Eastern conference, and the Lightning hold a game in hand. Not a insurmountable lead with over forty games remaining but one the Capitals need to start making ground on, tonight being the perfect opportunity. "Win is most important for team right now" says Capitals superstar Alexander Ovechkin "Tampa has very good team but....we are better."

youtube or it didnt happen

[Penguin]

Nice write-up -- The Pens will knock out both teams says GM Bernier.

[Jets GM]

In what was supposed to be a high octane mid season clash between two Southeast division titans, turned out to be somewhat of a snoozer. After sixty minutes, one minor penalty and one even strength goal the Washington Capitals walked away with a very important win. "It was a big two points for us" said Teemu Selänne after scoring the game winner half way through the second period "we were expecting a bit more from them in terms of offense, but we stuck to our system and that seemed to frustrate them." After last seasons playoff debacle Bruce Boudreau has implemented a physical defense first mentality, one that may not pay dividends to scoring races but one he hopes will ensure a deeper run into spring. "Its harder to score in the playoffs, we learned that last year the hard way" recalled Boudreau at the post game conference "we know we have to be capable of winning games like this in order to have success in the playoffs."

While the Capitals credited there defense first system for the win, Lightning head coach Rich Tocchet saw it differently when asked why his team had so much trouble generating any kind of offense "we didn't care to, no one seemed to want to so we didn't" was his answer after a season low twelve shots on goal. "We skated around the neutral zone and once we realized they were sitting back, we got frustrated and then we had a bunch of individuals trying to skate through three or four white jerseys. That lead to turnovers, which then leads to a lack of confidence with the puck. Its a snowball effect." A snowball that Tocchet and the rest of the Lightning will have to find a way to melt soon, with Anze Kopitar and the Pittsburgh Penguins due up in twenty four hours.

Simeon Varlamov received the games first star with his twelve save shutout performance, Teemu Selänne scored his tenth goal of the season and the Hershey Bears beat the Norfolk Admirals three to two. The Capitals have the next three days off before facing Florida on Saturday, and these two teams will renew there rivalry in Tampa Bay next Wednesday.

[Jets GM]

there will be a post game write-up tomor

[CapsGM]

The fourth meeting between the Lightning and Capitals this season is shaping up to be an exciting one. However, there is also a chance that it could end up being a defensive snoozefest like the last game was, where both teams combined for just 34 shots and just two goals were scored. Washington head coach Bruce Boudreau was pleased to see the commitment to defense, but knows that the Lightning will have a new game plan for tomorrow. "They haven't lost a game at home in regulation yet this season. They're relentless at home and feed off the fans well, but they will have to lose sooner or later. This will be a big test for us."

After beating Florida 6-2 tonight, Boudreau's Capitals sit five points behind the Lightning for the Southeast division lead. This has been cut down from being eight points behind playing in two games more not so long ago, so this crucial four point game could reduce or increase that ground.

Capitals winger Alexander Ovechkin was seen reviewing video footage of the last meeting between the two teams, just hours after his second hat trick in less than a month. "Do not talk," he said. "Win is most important for team right now." Footage is seen below.

[Penguin]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA-okJmri2o

Tim, that's how you won last game you cheater! Stealing files in Rick Tocchet's office..

[Jets GM]

TB blanks Caps 2-0; extend regulation undefeated streak at home

It was a reversal of last weeks meeting between the two teams, as the Bolts stifled the Capitals offense for three straight periods. A first period riddled with penalties ended with a blast from the point from Zdeno Chara, giving the Lightning the opening goal on the power play with just seconds left in the period. "It was a huge goal for us" said team captain Vincent Lecavlier "thats why our PP has good numbers, our second unit is as dangerous as our first." While the Lightning have only scored 119 goals so far this season (bottom 15 in the league) they possess the 5th ranked power play in the NHL. "Special teams are important. MacT has really elevated us from mediocre to an elite level on both the kill and the man advantage." commented head coach RIck Tochett about assistant coach Craig MacTavish.

The Capitals now find themselves at a cross roads. This time last year the Capitals were first in the NHL, and a feared offensive powerhouse that was going to contend for a Stanley Cup. Now, they find themselves seven points out of first in there division with the Hurricanes close behind trailing four points but with two games in hand. Superstar Alexander Ovechkin is on pace to score 39 goals, which would be his lowest total ever. The offensive run and gun, live by the sword mentality has been erased and replaced with a defensively responsible two way mentality. Can the transformation be completed in time for the post season, or are the offensively gifted stars in DC unwilling to change? "I dunno man, they gotta do something! Its so boring now even when they win, i wanna see goals!" local sports talk show host Jeff Douchebagian screams on his afternoon segment "No one wants to see trappy, grinding hockey man....I wanna see ice girls and Ovy sliding around on his back scoring."

"Thats stupid a question" replied head coach Bruce Boudreau when asked if has regrets about his defensive system "Your asking about systems, what wins championships and you have no idea what your talking about. If you did know, you'd be behind this table and inside those doors over there" as Boudreau pointed over towards the Capitals dressing room. "Ya were having some problems, and ya some players could be playing better. Were 4th in the Conference and we have one of the most dominant players in the game today in our lineup. Get a grip. Certain people, like you guys in the media are acting like were in half in the tank ready to call it a season." Needless to say, the Capitals aren't lacking any emotion behind the bench.

These two teams will square off February 4th, back in the St. Pete Times forum.