Caps In The Playoffs: Game 1, Round 1: Double Farts!

There is a wide divergence of opinion about the Capitals' game 1 loss to the Rangers last night. Most seem to be trying to avoid blaming goalie Jose Theodore for the loss. There were numerous defensive breakdowns, so the argument goes, that led to the four Ranger goals, and it's never just one person's fault, even if that person is the last line of defense. Here's the poop-coated elephant sitting on the crushed remains of the coffee table: sometimes it really is one person's fault.

That isn't to say there aren't other ways the goals could have been prevented. The first goal probably should have been disallowed due to multiple penalties against the Rangers on the rush (a take-down and an illegal pick if you are curious), and the last goal was preventable simply by Jeff Schultz not falling down. But these things will happen sometimes. You can't depend on the referees to call everything (although how do you miss a penalty against Sean Avery?) and defensemen fall down from time to time. They are wearing ice skates, after all. Sometimes all there is between you and a goal is the goaltender. That's when the goaltender has to make the save, and Jose Theodore did not make any of those saves last night.

When the coach is getting asked who will be in goal for Game 2, well, it's a can of stinky stinky poop you don't want opened. Come to think of it, who wants to open a can labeled "Stinky Stinky Poop"? Sadly, Jose Theodore opened such a can last night. So fine, who is it gonna be, Coach Bruce? Theodore or Varlamov?

There's a chance anything can happen. When you lose, you make changes. I'm not saying in goal. But, I mean, there's a chance for changes in a couple of positions.

That isn't what we in the industry call a ringing endorsement, and it shouldn't be. Still I'd be shocked if Theodore isn't in goal for the Caps on Saturday. Simeon Varlamov has some exciting stats (4-0-1, .918 save percentage, and a 2.37 GAA), but he's 20 years old and has only started five NHL games. That should buy Theodore another start.

Once we get past the poop-coated elephant sitting on the crushed remains of the coffee table, which I admit is difficult to do, one can be reasonably optimistic about the Caps chances in this series. The Caps out-played the Rangers last night in the face-off circle, drawing penalties, hits, and just about all other categories save one (pun intended, thank you very much). There is still reason to believe the Caps best days may be ahead of them this season, and that's a nice take-away point from a dispiriting loss.

But when all the happy take-away points are polished and put on the shelf, there is still that poop coated elephant sitting on the crushed remains of the coffee table staring you in the face, and you remember the sad truth. The Caps aren't going anywhere if Jose Theodore doesn't start making some good saves. He can start with the Caps' season this Saturday at 1 o'clock.