Yesterday afternoon, the Washington Capitals ended Bruce Boudreau’s tenure as interim coach. They also announced the hiring of permanent head coach Bruce Boudreau. Clarifying the intricacies of replacing himself at his job, Boudreau told the Canadian Press, “Until further notice, I’m here.”

Since taking the Caps’ farm team to two consecutive Calder Cup finals, Boudreau has done an excellent job as the team’s interim coach. Where Glen Hanlon had relied heavily on the team’s proven free agent acquisitions at the start of the season, Boudreau has leaned naturally on the players who led his dominant AHL teams in the last couple seasons.

This has led to excellent showings from players who weren’t making headlines under Hanlon. Quintin Laing, who had yet to play any games for the Capitals, has made a huge impression with the team, diving to block shots at the end of close games. Defenseman Mike Green, who was one of the most talented defenseman in the AHL last year, has gotten more ice time and started leading all NHL defensemen in goal scoring.

Also, the Caps are winning more games than they’re losing. Players have been very careful to point out that this is not a reflection on outgoing coach Glen Hanlon, but rather the result of the team waking up after realizing their poor play cost Hanlon his job. Whatever the reason, with Boudreau as an interim coach the Caps played as a team, ignoring adversity, competing every night and looking better than they had since the season’s first week. With Boudreau as a head coach, the Caps have won their first game, beating Tampa Bay with goals from three different people not named Ovechkin. Tonight they’ll travel to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins and try to bring their new coach’s record to 2-0.