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Caps Shootouts We Haven’t Seen

Time is running out to see Ribeiro at his full potential during the shootout. (Caps Outsider)

The Caps have only had three shootouts this season, but all three times, as soon as the clocked ticked down to 0:00 in overtime, I can only think: Game over.

And not just because of Alex Ovechkin and Matt “Paralyzer” Hendricks. With Mike Ribeiro and Wojtek Wolski, the Caps’ shootout specialists are some of the most exciting in the league. But we haven’t actually seen either of these guys do anything.

The Caps’ 3-0 shootout record isn’t a surprise, even when these fellas miss some of their shots. But with the lockout-shortened season and Wolski scratched, one has to wonder how many more shootouts we could’ve seen in a full 82-game season. Chances are, the lockout robbed us of opportunities to see some of the most electrifying, circus-like shootouts the team has ever delivered.

With Ribeiro and Wolski, we can only look at what they have done for previous teams. Caps fans may even remember what Wolski did to Braden Holtby at Verizon Center a few years back.

Ouch.

Though I can’t argue Wolski deserves playing time now, it’s clear the Caps have a magician sitting in the press box.

As for Ribeiro, we’ve seen him this season – miss. And while none of these guys are perfect, it’s clear that Ribeiro tries a wide range of creative moves, ones that would bring the Verizon Center crowd to its feet if he had more opportunities.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYdUJysPArs

As great as it is watching Ovechkin stick handle home a puck or Hendricks stun a goalie with his patented pump-fake, what Wolski and Ribeiro have pulled off for other teams are moves that would blow the roof off of Verizon Center. With just a few games left, Ribeiro a free agent and Wolski benched, we’re missing quite a show.

Ben Sumner

Ben Sumner is the editor of Capitals Outsider. He also works for The Washington Post and contributes there when he gets a scoop.

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