Make it 9 in a Row

Chris Clark returned. Olie Kolzig is back. Chris Clark nails his first hat trick of the year. Caps take a 3-0 lead. All a recipe for ending an 8 game skid.

But it didn't happen. Penalties in the third period allowed the Boston Bruins to score two goals, both under two minutes from the start of the third period, allowing Boston to rally back and tie it up at 3-3. Caps again, just like many times this season, had shots and opportunities in overtime, but failed to score, sending the game to a shootout. We all could pretty much predict that outcome based on the dismal performance of the Caps in shootouts this season. The Caps are now 1-11 in shoouts in 2006-07. Unbelievable.

The frustration is mounting ...

"We have to learn how to win hockey games," said Kolzig, who had been sidelined the previous 13 games with a torn medial collateral ligament. "We had a 3-0 lead. It's very frustrating. There was just a fine line tonight."

This is one of the tougher ones, especially having a 3-0 lead and not coming out with two points," Clark said. "That was probably the hardest one to swallow."

Who would have thought? Last year the Capitals were 7-6 in overtime shootouts and most expected the Caps to improve that in 2006/07, considering the offensive firepower the Caps boast.

Look at the difference in the top three shootout shooters from last season to this season ...

Alexander Ovechkin: 2005/06: 6/13 (46%) 2006/07: 2/12 (20%)
Alexander Semin: 2005/06: Not Here 2006/07: 2/10 (20%)
Matt Pettinger: 2005/06: 3/7 (43%) 2006/07: 1/4 (25%)
Brooks Laich: 2005/06: 2/6 (33%) 2006/07: 0/2 (0%)

It's not hard to see that the big guns have fallen way down this year. Most NHL analysis, if you listen to Home Ice on XM at all, will tell you many around the NHL are shocked at the lack of success the Caps have had with shootouts. Caps were expected, with Ovechkin and Semin, to have significant firepower, yet the numbers have tumbled from last season. Last season, the Caps converted 33% of shootout shots, 18 for54. Compare that to this season, the Caps are a dismal 5 for 40, a barely traceable 13%. Now, how may losses has that attributed to? How many points has that cost the Caps.

Besides personnel upgrades, particularly on defense and a Center, and even goalie depth, geesh, sounds like a new rebuild, the Caps need to focus in the off-season on shootouts and coming up with a group of three that can turn the dismal 2006/07 numbers around. You just know if the Caps make it to a shootout, there walking away with a single point. That is just the drumline for this year.

Back to last nights game. Kolzig returned and played fairly well until penalties took over. Kolzig made 36 saves on 39 shots, but it wasn't enough. Kolzig fell 19-20 on the year and 1-5 in shootouts. But the big story for the Caps last night was Clark. Clark nailed his first hat trick of the season, scoring three goals, one being shorthanded. Caps now have 12 shot handed goals on the season, 4 of them coming from Clark. Clark scored his 25h and 26th goals of the season in the first period followed up with his 27th goal in the second period. From then on, the Caps were silent.

Next Up: Tonight 7PM against Toronto

Peak at Hershey:

Hershey Bears are happy to have the return of goalie Frederick Cassivi as they close in the playoffs. Cassivi was optioned back to Hershey upon Olaf Kolzig's return tot he Caps from a knee injury. The Bears remain 5 points behind Norfolk for the vision lead and face off tonight against Worcester at 7PM. Cassivi is expected to be available for the Worcester showdown.