Washington Capitals eyeing safe zone as it takes on San Jose Sharks – NHL Preview
Washington Capitals in not too far away from entering the list of National Hockey League (NHL) Eastern Conference’s top eight teams, which would reach the playoffs, but the team should adapt to playing under pressure against tough teams to achieve this goal.
A victory against San Jose Sharks at Verizon Center, Washington, District of Columbia, on Monday, February 13, 2012, might brighten Capitals’ chances, but San Jose is still in the safe zone and would not be an underdog for the game.
Let’s face it; Washington could have been in the safe zone as well, had it won its last two games.
After being defeated against Winnipeg Jets (3-2 in shootout) and New York Rangers (3-2), Washington is now placed at ninth spot in the conference with 61 points after 55 games.
Washington is just one point behind eighth-ranked Toronto Maple Leafs.
Against Rangers, Capitals’ offence struggled slightly as a result of which the game was lost.
Rangers scored in the first period and Capitals equalised in the second, but the former scored another in the same period to take the lead again.
Rangers increased the deficit to two goals after scoring another in the final period. With less than five minutes left in the period, Capitals managed a scoring move, but could not go ahead.
Washington’s captain, Jeff Halpern, commented after the game:
"It is nothing, nothing that we're playing any different or anything. It is not like we're drawing up a different game plan at home versus on the road. The results just aren't there for whatever reason."
While hosting Sharks, Capitals can take advantage of San Jose’s recent run in which it lost against low ranked teams.
After playing 53 games, the Sharks are ranked at third spot in the Western Conference with 66 points.
Out of the last four games, San Jose has lost three with the recent defeat coming against St. Louis Blues (3-0).
As the score suggests, the offence completely failed against the Blues, who scored a goal each in all the three periods.
The disappointed Sharks’ coach, Todd McLellan, did not have much to say about the game. He said of the loss:
“We had eight minutes of power play and did nothing with it. I’m not going to question anything."
San Jose needs to improve on its offence or it might get another defeat.
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