Team focuses on Southeast following Winter Classic
The HBO cameras are gone now, the gear packed away and the production crew scattered. The Winter Classic — in all its hype and glory — also has finally passed.
Kettler Iceplex was a quieter place on Monday as the Capitals returned to work after an emotional weekend knowing there is still plenty to be done to make this season truly memorable. That begins with putting Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Pittsburgh behind them and preparing for Tuesday night’s home game against the Tampa Bay Lightning with first place in the Southeast Division on the line.
Long tagged with the derisive title of “South Least,” the NHL’s red-headed stepchild of a division is making strides. The Caps (23-12-5, 51 points) are tied with Tampa Bay (23-11-5, 51 points) for first place — though technically in fifth overall in the Eastern Conference because of the tiebreaker. Atlanta (21-15-6, 48 points) entered play Monday as the conference’s No. 6 seed.
But a letdown would be a natural reaction after a grueling month of hockey that included the Winter Classic, an eight-game losing streak and HBO’s behind-the-scenes documentary. Washington must immediately make the transition with another divisional home game looming at the end of the week against Florida.
| Caps notes |
| » Goalie Michal Neuvirth left Monday’s practice early after catching a teammate’s stick inside his mask. He needed stitches, and Caps Web producer Brett Leonhardt, a former college goalie, filled in for the final 20 minutes. |
| » Defenseman Tom Poti hasn’t played since taking a stick to the head Dec. 23 against Pittsburgh. But he skated Monday and said he is hoping for clearance to play against Tampa Bay. |
| » Caps goalie Semyon Varlamov was named the NHL’s First Star of the Week on Monday. He stopped 57 of 58 shots in two victories, including the Winter Classic on Saturday against Pittsburgh. |
“We have two big games this week, and there should be no reason for a letdown,” Caps forward Brooks Laich said. “We had a couple days off, and after [the Tampa Bay game] we have three more days off.”
It probably doesn’t help that Washington already has whipped the Lightning twice this season — 6-3 on Veterans Day and 6-0 the day after Thanksgiving. This will be their third and final meeting at Verizon Center this season. The next three are all at St. Pete Times Forum. With attention on the game in Pittsburgh over the weekend, Tampa Bay quietly made a move to help its shaky goaltending situation when it traded for New York Islanders veteran Dwayne Roloson. The 41-year-old helped Edmonton to the Stanley Cup finals in 2006 and ranks 19th in save percentage this season at .916 in 20 games. Lightning goalies Dan Ellis (.886) and Mike Smith (.883) are 50th and 51st, respectively.
“I can’t see how we could have a letdown here,” said Caps forward Eric Fehr, who scored two goals in the Winter Classic. “It’s a big game here. We’re fighting for the division right now. It’s a very important game, and I think we all know that.”
