Front Royal, Va.: ....Hey Tarik,
...are the playoffs still a possibility, or are we in yet another rebuilding year...at what point do we make management changes?
Tarik El-Bashir: That's a tough question. It's way too early to say that they are completely out of it. But they've dug themselves quite a hole. They've got 13 points and there are six teams between them and a playoff spot. Are all of those teams going to tank? No. In fact, some of them, like Pittsburgh, are going to pick it up at some point. I would have to say it's going to be very difficult for the Caps to make up that ground.
Very difficult?...Here's how difficult. The Caps have 13 points in 18 games. If 92 points is enough to get in, they need 79 points in their remaining 64 games.
That is a 101-point pace over a whole season.
Now, go ahead and repeat the question in your own mind.
Hey, it...could...happen. You don't know ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to the guy that always predicts a win??
ReplyDeleteIf the record isn't enough to get Hanlon fired, surely the last straw has got to be your lost optimism.
We'll always predict a win, because the boys have it in them. Beating Ottawa on their ice in the midst of an eight-game Senator winning streak. That's what is possible. The trick is putting that together for more than one game in a row.
ReplyDeleteWell, last year the Pens had 23 points through their first 18 games and ended up getting 82 over the remaining 64 games, so it is possible. Not saying they will, but if the Caps could match that feat they'd probably make the playoffs. After all, a lot of people were saying this year's Caps were going to be last year's Pens.
ReplyDeleteIf the Caps can score first more often, play through the whole game, and get guys other than OV to score, they'll do fine.
ReplyDelete