Players

Words That Stink: “Save by Lundqvist!”

(Caps Outsider)

Just when I was sure that the three most annoying words ever broadcast by a radio or television sports announcer were, “Save by Halak,” I found that my certainty was premature and misguided.  The three most grating words ever broadcast are, without a doubt, “Save by Lundqvist!”

Lundqvist (heavy sigh). Henrik Lundqvist, the veteran goalie for the New York Rangers, has been the bane of the Caps’ existence in the Stanley Cup playoffs since the 2011-2012 postseason.  The 33-year-old Swede flips and flops in front of the net with the flexibility of a much younger athlete, making astonishing saves. How are the Caps going to consistently break the seemingly impenetrable barrier that is Lundqvist? According to Caps’ coach Barry Trotz, traffic in front of the net is the key.  The Caps need to get in close, create confusion and screen Lundqvist’s view of the puck.

The Caps also need to play with conviction.  They need to display the “urgency” that Coach Trotz so frequently speaks about —mostly after they play a lackluster game.  The first period of Game 2 with the Rangers was one such circumstance leaving Caps’ fans puzzled and disheartened.  Even though periods 2 and 3 showed us that someone must have given the Caps quite a tongue lashing (or thrown a few chairs) during the first intermission, it wasn’t enough.  The first third of the game was a complete disaster and the damage had already been done resulting in a 3-2 loss.

Monday night was game 3 at home for Washington with their nemesis, Rangers goalie “King” Henrik, playing in his 100th postseason game.  Has he ever had such a formidable opponent as the youthful, exuberant Braden Holtby?  Perhaps. But the king was dethroned, at least for a time, by the Holtbeast and his crew.  The Caps downed the Rangers 1-0 on a goal by Jay Beagle bring the series to 2-1 in favor of the Caps.

But it’s not over yet.  Game 4 needs to be played with the same intensity.  And remember, when you hear the words “Save by Lundqvist”, just as with fingernails being dragged down a chalkboard, I will be cringing.

Let’s Go Caps!

Barbara Banks

Barbara Ann Banks is a freelance writer out of Rockville, MD.

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