Since trading away team leader and expert benchwarmer Brian Sutherby to save money and cure a losing streak, the Caps have chalked up two more uninspired losses to teams from subtropical climatic zones. Last night’s nominal crowd at Verizon Center cheered optimistically when the Caps lobbed soft shots from the blueline into the catching glove of Atlanta’s third-string goalie, Johan Hedberg. They cheered sarcastically when Capitals museum piece Olaf Kolzig stopped easy shots. Some fans at the back of section 405 even yelled, “sarcasatic cheer!”
Coach Glen Hanlon juggled the lineup even more than usual last night, giving Tomas Fleischman and Donald Brashear chances on the power play, keeping Ovechkin on the ice as much as possible and finding ample ice time for the apparently still injured Alexander Semin. Hanlon even abandoned his “energy line” concept in favor of a system of three offensive lines and one defensive line. The Buffalo Sabres employed that structure very successfully last year, and many fans have wondered if it could work here. Of course, Hanlon’s offensive lines came out different every shift, in what appeared to be a frantic and fruitless bout of alchemy. Speaking of frantic and fruitless, the Caps spent the third period rushing up the ice, making unpredictable behind the back passes, some of which had targets, and then turning the puck over without taking any good shots. The crowd responded with rhythmic clapping and chants of “Fire Hanlon.”
While this might all sound like bad news for the Caps, there was an uplifting message behind all the earsplitting boos. Washington finally has an ample supply of locally developed hockey fans who expect success and feel comfortable complaining when their team does not provide it. In decades of hockey in Washington, win or lose, it’s been rare to encounter fans who know all the names of the players on the team, let alone fans who can call them all out and suggest specific improvements at relevant times. With just ten thousand more fans in the seats, last night’s game could have taken place in Toronto or even Montreal. In the midst of another season headed down the drain, let’s not overlook an important development. Washington is becoming a real hockey city.
Update: In spite of last night’s frantic efforts to right the ship, Caps coach Glen Hanlon has indeed been sacked.
