With a Chance to make History, Capitals say commitment to defense has been a big key

By: Justin Creech
The Washington Capitals have a chance to make history tomorrow night against the Boston Bruins. With a win at TD Banknorth Garden, the Capitals will set a new franchise record for consecutive regular season wins, with 11.
“We feel great,” said Capitals right wing, Eric Fehr. “We’ve been playing pretty good during the streak, and now we have a chance to put a stamp on this organization. So, we definitely want to go out and do it.”
The Capitals, who earned their franchise record tying 10th straight victory with a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning Sunday afternoon at Verizon Center, have put themselves in their current position due to improved play in their defensive zone as well as on the penalty kill.
During the current 10 game streak, the Capitals are allowing just 2.1 goals per game, and have killed off 38 of 44 short-handed situations; an 86.3 percent kill rate that is 6.1 percent higher than their season average of 80.5 percent.
“Bruce [Boudreau] has definitely been all over us this year just to make sure that we are strong defensively, we bear down on chances to get the pucks out, and just make sure we are a little more responsible,” said Fehr. “He said we are going to score goals and so far that’s what we have been doing, and hopefully the guys can learn from that and we can continue to play good defense.”
The Capitals have made their reputation the last several season’s as a team that can score goals in bunches because of the explosive offensive capabilities forwards Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, and Nicklas Backstrom. However, the Capitals and there trio of star forwards have also built a reputation as a team that cannot play consistent defense, especially late in games when trying to hold leads.
Over the last 10 games, however, that has not been the case. The Capitals have suffocated opponents in the third period over the last 10 games, outscoring their opposition 20-5. The Capitals scored multiple goals in the third period of the first five games of the streak, and in seven of the 10 overall.
The Capitals two goals in the third period on January 19 allowed them to erase a late one goal deficit in their 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings; then scored three goals in the third period two nights later in their 6-3 win in Pittsburgh over the defending Stanley Cup Champion Penguins.
“I think there definitely is a learning process for young guys, and I think this core group of guys has learned a lot the past couple of years playing in the playoffs,” said Capitals’ Center Brendan Morrison. “Guys understand come playoff time, you’re not going to score 4, 5, 6 goals a night. You have to adapt and you have to learn how to play different styles, and guys are buying into that. If we play better defensively we’ll have the puck more, therefore we should be able to create more offense, so they kind of go hand in hand.”
Capitals Coach Bruce Boudreau said it is tough sometimes for talented young forwards to learn to play defensive hockey when their offensive talent is what got them into the NHL in the first place. However, he is proud that his young forwards have finally learned that lesson.
“If Alex Ovechkin can learn [to play defense] then anybody can learn it,” said Boudreau. Nicky’s a natural at it and some guys have to push themselves, but they’re all getting better at it, so it’s good.”
The Capitals are well aware that they have an opportunity to make history tomorrow night, and are also aware it comes against a team that has lost seven straight overall and have not won a game in regulation since January 5.
Still, they are just trying to stay focused on taking a one game at a time approach.
“Just don’t really worry about the streak. Just worry about preparing and playing consistent, which we’ve been doing pretty much every game,” said Morrison. “The big thing is to just take care of the details. If we take care of what we’re supposed to be doing and we take care of the process, then the outcome is going to be there.”