Caps’ scapegoat Green speaks for first time since playoff meltdown
Capitals defenseman Mike Green has taken his share of criticism since Washington’s shocking first-round loss to the Montreal Canadiens last Wednesday. Just like that, a brilliant regular season was rendered meaningless. It will take some time for that anguish to pass.
“To be honest with you — staying away from televisions and newspapers,” Green said about his activities since the Game 7 defeat at Verizon Center. “It almost took a couple of days to not have the anxiety almost and feel like you want to break something.”
Green spoke on Monday afternoon at Kettler Iceplex, his first public comments since the Caps were eliminated. The 24-year-old defenseman, along with teammate Alex Semin, took the brunt of criticism doled out by fans and media. Green became emotional when talking about the frustration of not contributing the way he wanted. In the regular season he had 19 goals and 57 assists and became a Norris Trophy finalist for the second straight year.
“It was overwhelming. You almost want to cry. It’s disappointing,” Green said, his eyes briefly welling with tears. “The way I felt after that game is something I never want tp feel again … The tough part for me is that it takes 82 more games to get another opportunity. That’s a long time.”
Green finished the Montreal series with three assists and no goals. He posted a plus-minus rating of +1 and shouldered some blame for a power play that went a stunning 1-for-33 against the Canadiens. Washington converted an NHL-best 25.2 percent during the regular season. Green had 10 goals and 25 points on the power play.
“Not as good as we were hoping for or he was hoping for,” Caps general manager George McPhee said of Green’s performance. “But he’s a really good player. And he was certainly trying too hard in Game 7 because he came out trying to hit everything in sight. I know [Boudreau] talked to him on the bench. ‘Settle down. You don’t have to hit everyone. Just play. That’s not your game, running around.’ But that happens.”
Caps forward Scott Walker mentioned his first playoff experience with the Nashville Predators. He worked himself into such a state before those games that he couldn’t function and was virtually useless on the ice. It wasn’t until he learned to relax that his postseason play improved.
“That happens to young players,” McPhee said. “These are the experiences they need to make them better.”
It was also clear during the Canadiens series that Green was struggling with his own identity. He is an elite offensive defenseman. It’s part of what makes him unique. But the perception — fair or not — is that he isn’t a great two-way player. Green admitted that constant carping caused him to change too much in the postseason.
“I think mentally I was preparing myself for the playoffs to play strong defensively,” Green said. “When all season you’re an offensive-minded player, and you get criticized about your defensive play, you try to adjust to become that complete player. Going into the playoffs, I wanted to play strong defensively. And maybe that [affected] my offense.”
