Hockey Thoughts: Imposters

Someone snuck in during the night on New Year's Eve and kidnapped my Nashville Predators.  I didn't realize it right away.  Coming off a six game skid one or two wins went unnoticed.  Now that we're at the end of January and Nashville hold the best record for the first month of 2011 and sits just four points behind Division-leading Detroit I'm taking notice.  And I'm not the only one.  No matter how hard they fight it, the national hockey media is having a difficult time ignoring the surging Predators.

Sunday and Monday's games notwithstanding, not only are the Preds managing to win games, they are managing to do so with multiple goals which is a new trend in Smashville.  Luckily, the trend isn't just taking hold in Smashville, as the Preds are winning on this two week long road trip and now also possess the 2nd best road record for the season, just one road win behind the league-leading Flyers.  So...who are these players and what did they do with my Predators?

Tonight the answer became clear.  About the same time the Preds began to climb, the Caps started sliding off their huge New Year's Day win against the Penguins in the Winter Classic.  The team I saw suit up in red that day was most definitely my Caps.  The team I've watched play since is most definitely not.  They are playing more like the Preds.  Not scoring.  Not even really getting any decent scoring chances.  Never having a guy there for the rebound.  Lacking speed and confidence.  Suffering from goalie woes.  Dropping games late in the 3rd, blowing an overtime and losing pitifully in the shootout.  Alright guys!  I figured it out!  Time to switch back, mmmkay?

I had faith in December, when the Caps lost eight in a row.  I knew Coach B was trying a new defensive system.  I understood it was "necessary" to win in the playoffs.  I wasn't upset in Sasha's lack of goals--I saw him contributing to the overall production of the team like a good Captain should.  Maybe it makes me a bad fan, but two months in I'm finding it hard to have faith in a "new system" that's supposed to produce wins in the playoffs when it's not producing wins against some of the worst teams in the league...and threatening to keep the team out of the playoffs entirely.  How can you prove the system worked in the playoffs if you never get there?  Riddle me that.

To be fair, the Caps are suffering from some critical injuries.  Their scoring leader is out and BOTH goalies are also hurt.  But I'm more than a little disappointed in the Caps 3rd string goalie.  Really?  That's the best Hershey or Leonsis' wheeling and dealing could do?  Why didn't the nab Nabi off waivers on Saturday?  He said he wanted to help a team "win in the playoffs."  Sure, he was talking about Detroit--and NOT the Islanders--but don't the Caps fit that description, too?  What would his excuse been then to not report?

The Caps aren't the only team suffering from injuries, though.  The Preds are, too.  They lost some star veterans and some new up and comers.  One of their most important grinders is out indefinitely for substance abuse problems.  If any team had a reason to whine and cry--and lose--over injuries right now, it would be Nashville.  Detroit has more major players out, and we can't forget the Pens' woes without Crosby and now Malkin.  But both of those teams are strong and deep, and can still compete at a high level without a handful of good players.  The Preds were a lean, stripped-to-the-bone team to begin with.  Remove a couple key players and what do you have left?  No one would even bat an eye if the Preds were losing night after night.  But they aren't.  They are winning.  And winning big.

We are just a few days away from the All-Star break.  What the last two months of the season holds for any team is still a crap shoot.  This season has been full of ups and downs by just about every team out there, more than I can remember since I've been following hockey.  Just when you think you can count a team out they are back.  I've always said November is the most critical month of the season, and come March and April everyone's looking back at the points they left on the table in the fall.  I'm getting a feeling that this season will be different and January will be the month all the borderline teams look back on in their rear view mirrors.