Game 2 - Leafs 4 Caps 6

If there's any one conclusion that can be drawn from the first two games of the season its this: The Caps clearly feel that they can win it all and are on a mission each and every night to prove the point. For the second straight game Boudreau loaded all of scoring power into the single basket. When I saw the lineup for game one, I figured BB just wanted to jumpstart the season with a little offensive firepower - switching to a more balanced attack by the second game if not sooner. Given the results to date, and with the pending return of Flash and Fehr I think he may well be content to leave the most dangerous line combination in the league together until somebody demonstrates the ability to shut them down. (cough-Philly this tuesday-cough).

The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, never stood a chance as they spent the first two periods back on their heels trying to stem the waves of offense that poured over them. They used their timeout halfway throughout the fist period and switched goaltenders after the first intermission. The game was nowhere near as close as the 6-4 score would indicate.

Although still susceptible to the occasional breakout mis-adventure (e.g., Erskine and Laich had a left side breakdown that ended up in the net), they are playing cohesive team defense the likes of which not been seen in these parts since the Glen Hanlon era. To my eyes it seems that the team defense is actually springboarding the offense as the forwards seem to be in much better position to exploit opponent turnovers. The defense is doing a solid job taking care of business in the defensive zone but finding the stretch passes when time and space allow.

The Caps are a very dangerous team right now. Any mistake - a missed pass, a bad penalty, an ill-advised rush or pinch - has the very real possibility of ending up in the net.

Ice chips:

• Knuble and Morrison contributed their first goals as Caps - Knuble on the PP second unit; Morrison on a breakaway after collecting a Mike Green alley oop.
• Brooks Laich may be turning into a gutsy, grinding 30 goal scorer right before our eyes - showed nice touch on a breakaway.
• More PK happy goodness from Steckel and Gordon.
• Doh! - OV fanned on a second period layup after the nicest tic-tac-toe passing play of the young season.
• Two more PP goals - is 30% possible?
• Varly looked great the first two periods - but was a bit victimized by the predictable third period letdown and some tips and bounces on the last two.

Lines courtesy of Capitals Insider:

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Semin
Laich-Morrison-Knuble
Laing-Steckel-Clark
Kane-Gordon-Bradley

Defense:
Morrisonn-Green
Poti-Jurcina
Erskine-Pothier