Capitals Fall to Bruins on Opening Night | Wole & Ed Frankovic Break Down Washington’s Loss
[Music] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] You’re listening to the urban sports scene Washington Capitals Boston Bruins recap show. And in the opening night of the NHL season, well for the Capitals, the Caps fell to the Bruins 3 to1. I’m Wle. I’m joined by former WNXT’s Capitals reporter Edovich. What’s going on, Ed? Wall, it’s good to see you. Good to be talking hockey again. Yeah, I told I made this promise after last year. We was having such a good time in the po after last season. We had such a good time in the in the in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Like we I was like, we got to do it again. We got to like just from the season and just to the season to the postseason, we have to do it. Yeah. I mean, it’s hard to believe what it’s been almost six months, right? Five months. Caps got ousted by Carolina and you know our my big takeaway was they got to be better up the middle of the ice and they brought most of the same team back, right? So we don’t have many tweaks. I mean we got we didn’t have Farravari in the playoffs and he was back. So that’s a big positive. Um so they had the same defense goalending’s the same and there’s some tweaks up front. We got Ryan Leonard. I know we’re going to talk about him. Um, first year in the NHL, Boston College product. So, um, yeah, I mean, it’s a lot of the same team coming back. Yeah, a lot. But before we dive into this game, let’s knock out some logistics. Subscribe to our podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcast, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and other podcast platforms. Just search the urban sports scene. Make sure you subscribe to the Urban Sports Scene YouTube channel. If you’re in the YouTube chat, we accept super chat. Super chats help support the show. Uh the super chats will be prioritized over all comments in the in the chat. Don’t forget to tweet us at Urban Sports Scene. Hit up hit us up on IG and Tik Tok at Urban Sports Scene and like our Urban Sports Scene Facebook page. You can also join our Urban Sports Scene Facebook group. Just search urban sports scene sports bloggers, sports podcasters, and sport and sports debates. All right, let’s get into it. You mentioned you mentioned a little a few things, but what were your overall thoughts on the Capitals performance? Was it more of what the Bruins did or was more something or was it more self-inflicted wounds for the Caps? Well, I think you can start with special teams where this game was won, right? Boston was one for two on the power play and the Capitals were 0 for five including, you know, two and a half in the first period and then early second period they get a gift and they got over a minute five on three and they say when you don’t score on a five on three you typically lose the game and and basically that’s what happened. Boston, you know, did what they had to do. They played a, you know, they didn’t get a lot of shots themselves. They were opportunistic and their goalender played well, but he also um Boston did a good job of not letting the Capitals get to the key spots on the ice to get some really quality chances. So, I think my big takeaway is Boston won this game on the special teams. The Capitals did outshoot them what 258 at even strength. I think the Caps had 11 power play shots. No, so I’m gonna, you know, the special teams were a factor and I I also think the Capitals still have some lingering effects from things we talked about last spring about better play up the middle of the ice, getting to the hard spots of the ice and getting some ugly goals. Do you think they have enough speed on speed on perimeter? Um, you know, Ryan Leonard, I think once he gets going and adjusts, I think he’s going to bring some speed. Um, that’s questionable, right? They lost a guy who had some speed, man. He’s with Edmonton now. Scored a goal last night uh against the Flames in their opening night. Um I I think they I think I don’t know if speed’s a problem. I I want to see a little more um going to the hard areas, right? Which is a little more grit, right? I mean, the only goalie Capital scored was Tom Wilson gets to the middle of the ice in front of the net and scores, right? And Tom Wilson’s a guy you don’t have to worry about bringing grit or grind to the game, right? I’m more worried about the centers. I’m very worried about Dylan Stro and Pierre Luke Dwis right now because they’re the one and two centers and if you’re going to win in this league you go back you look at all the Stanley Cup champions all the teams that go deep in the playoffs they’re strong up the middle of the ice and those two did not perform in the playoffs and neither one of them had a good game last night. Now there’s 81 more games to go. We got a whole playoffs to get to, but that’s my focus right now is how are those two guys going to elevate their game to take the Capitals from being just a team that may get in and play in the first round to a team that can maybe get to the Eastern Conference Finals. And and like you mentioned, uh the the Caps outshot the uh outshot the uh Bruins on goal 36 to 22, which you know, um and and for a while it was like the Caps had 30 some odd shot shots on goal, like 32. I think the Bruins had like 16 at the time. They were and the Caps were still down. Um yeah, I think the turning point was obviously obviously obviously like you said the special teams uh the power kill versus the power play. um Caps going 0 for five on power play opportunity and the Bruins taking advantage of their I think their second power plays when they took advantage and scored that goal. Um yeah, and it was it was really a busted play while they started to interrupt. I mean you go back you watch the film on that one if you saw it. I mean you’re short-handed and you give up a rush goal. I mean it was guys got caught up ice. Nick Dao got caught up the ice and his guy actually scores but the defenseman were out of position. Um the Capitals were overaggressive on the penalty kill there and were not set defensively and the Bruins made them pay. Yeah. And it’s and that’s the thing like and the the Caps just scored the goal with Tom Wilson. Then they get that uh you call it questionable uh penalty on um Carlson. Uh questionable. And then they follow up with the power play goal uh to go up. Um and then that was kind of it, right? But that’s to a point it shouldn’t have got to that point. I felt like the Caps, like you said, Ed, during those power play opportunities in the first period, they had enough opportunity to put this game, I felt away, and they didn’t. They gave the Bruins an opportunity to kind of stay in the game and get their goalie confidence to a point where they felt like, okay, we’re in the game. We can we can pull this out. Yeah, it was the first game for Boston. They’re kind of a team that’s on the regroup, right? They Yeah, they they were the best team in the league two years ago with Jim Montgomery as their coach and, you know, they ended up falling apart last year. They fired Montgomery. Um they sent Brad Marsh on to Florida. He won a Stanley Cup. He signed there for a long-term deal. I think five more years. So Boston’s got some young guys they’re bringing in and they’re they’re kind of retooling and um and you remember too they got rid of a goalie last year, too. They had Swayman and then they sent the other one to Ottawa. Um Omar, right? And they said Swayman’s going to be our guy. And uh he was our guy last night for sure. And you know, Boston’s kind of on the regroup. They’re in a really tough division. I mean, you look at that division, you got Florida, even though Bararkov’s out for the regular season and Kachchuck doesn’t come back till December. I mean, they still got um Maron, they still got Reinhardt. They’ve got Verhi. That’s still a loaded team. And their defense, their blue line is deep. Yeah. And you got Tampa’s got a good team. You’ve got Montreal’s up and coming. We talked a lot about Montreal in the first round last year. Montreal’s got some good young players. Now, they lost the Leafs and the Leafs sent Mitch Mner away. Um, so they lost Mitch Mner to the Vegas. Um, he went free agent. So the Leafs lost Mner, but the Leafs, you know, beat the Canadians. Of course, they were at home. But, you know, Boston, that division is super tough. Boston, Montreal, Tampa, Florida, you know, Buffalo always seems to screw it up because of their owner, much did for years with Snyder. Yeah, exactly. Very similar. But the Redskins got a good owner now. So, I’m I’m up and up on Jaden Daniels and company. But um yeah, I think that division’s really tough and the Capitals are going to benefit from a weaker division in in the Metropolitan. So um I give Boston credit. They came in, they played a great road game, right? You get a couple the penalties against you in the first period and you survive those, you get confidence just like you said. And their goalender gave them confidence. They were they were confident that the Capitals were gonna have to do really something special to score. And it took, you know, a busting bit of a play. Wilson driving the slot to get the only goal. And Capitals didn’t get any looks like that other than maybe Carlson on the five on three when he was in there and he shot unfortunately shot about two or three feet wide when he a golden chance would have made it one- nothing. Maybe a different game. But Boston, I give them full credit. They did what they had to do to survive all those early the four power plays. And then from then on it was, you know, they got two p power plays and the Caps only got one. And the Bruins gained confidence as the game went on. The Bruins played their best period in the third. Yeah. And and they deserve to win the game the way they played. I mean, they got to this they got to the hard spots. I felt like even though the shots were disproportionate, I felt like the Bruins had better opportunities. They had a breakaway in the first period. Yeah. And Logan Thompson had to stop. I felt like Boston had as many quality chances as the Caps did, if not maybe more. Yeah, I agree with that. I felt like the Caps did I forgot what the play was. It was a cross ice pass. I for one I don’t know who made the cross ice pass and they they they um it was a Capitals. They had an opportunity. It was a cross ice pass. Yes. And he whiffed in somebody whiffed on the side. The net was open though, but he whiffed. I’m trying to figure out I’m trying to remember which play it was. Yeah, it was a lefty shot. I remember too. I don’t remember which player. It was in the It was I think it was in the first period, right? Yeah, first period. He spinned on the came down the left wing and the guy was back door. Yeah. And he’s driving to the net, but he’s a lefty shot, so his sticks back here. If he’s a righty, he puts it in, right? So, yeah. Yeah. So, that’s where you need righty there. Yeah. just there were situations where in the game I’m like, you know, if they if they I don’t know if they just took advantage of certain situations. I it felt like to me it was early. It was in that first period early in the first period where it was definitely if they took advantage of multiple situations they would have I felt like they could have had a twogoal two to nothing two to nothing lead at best to be honest with you. Just that’s how because the Capitals were the more aggressive team. Um they were initially they’re more aggressive team. Um, but yeah, but I I felt like what the difference to me was just that Boston did a better chance of taking advantage of their opportunities compared to the Caps and and they really executed on their their opportunities. I do want to ask you about going back to the power the power play situation. Do you feel like it was more person was more of a personnel issue, execution issue, or both? I thought it was a little of both. Wally, that’s a great question. Um, I felt like, um, I didn’t like the way they were I would have liked to have seen somebody in front of that. I would like to see a little more, um, jam up there in front. I felt like they were I felt like the whole power play was all perimeter, right? Um, I didn’t feel like they ever got a chance where you want to get the what you want to do is you want to get the puck to the point and have your a Carlson move to the middle or a check run move to the middle with two guys going to the net screening right and creating havoc in front. They never really did that in the game. They didn’t really get that movement. It was all well let’s try and do the OV play and even when Obie wasn’t out there it just there was it was even worse right because there was no threat of Obie’s shot. So, uh, they did get 11 shots, but I don’t feel like there were many good ones other than the the only one I really remember that was like that’s a great a chance was Carlson coming into the slot on the five on three and he just totally missed the net. Um, it it I thought the power play need it definitely needs a lot of work. So, um, and maybe they switched some of the personnel up, you know, Wilson’s got to be out there on the first unit. Um maybe maybe put I mean Dylan Stro was great on the power play last year as a quarterback on the on the on the you know on the flank you know where Nick Backstrom used to play on the side and feed guys. I didn’t really notice Dylan Stro till the third period last night. I’m like is he even playing? So um that’s a guy that can’t have that type of game, right? Dylan Stro when he was on last year, the Capitals scored goals and and won. And right now I feel like the problem with the Capitals is going to be scoring goals this year, right? I feel their defense is strong. They got six good blue liners, two good goalies. They got to find a way to score goals and they’re there’s a lot of tape on the Capitals from last year when they were the number one team right in the East. Lot of t lot of tape there. People probably they watched it and they know I mean that they’re mostly a rush or perimeter team. Um so the Capitals going to have to make some adjustments. Do you think that people that folks have kind of wa they studied what happened in the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Hurricane? Yeah, I mean, yeah, there’s no doubt about it, right? Um, they’re gonna the teams it was pretty clear that car well Carolina had the puck what seemed like the whole series, right? I mean, yeah. I mean, part of the problem was a little part of the problem was no Ferravari, right? Because when you take Farravari out, you got to bump Sandine up to the second pair. That’s a big drop off in my opinion. I think Sandine’s a third pair D and Farravari is a top four stud. Um so they kind of struggled with their breakouts there but again I mean what was it Fesnikov? Um they had um you know the guys and the guys Carolina had up the middle of the ice dominated the Capitals up the middle of the ice in that series. And I think you know Boston was solid up the middle of the ice. I thought Pastor Knock had a good game. Oh he had a great game. Pastor had great man. I think two assists in a goal. Two assists and a goal. Yeah he was great. And Uh, I just didn’t think the Capitals um centers played as well as Boston centers. And again, you can look at the shots. I’m not a big shots guy. Okay. Because a lot of it depends on where they come from. Like when I worked for the coaches, we would track the quality shots, right? That’s what the coaches look like. How many quality shots did we have? How many quality shots did they have? Right. That’s a good point. And I really felt like Boston had as many or if not more. So, the Capitalism, they got to get back to work and and guys got to play a little harder and and willing to pay a price, take a hit to make a play, right? Go to the front of the net, take a cross check or two. It’s going to they’re going to have to get those kind of goals because they can’t count on Obie scoring all these goals like he did last year. I mean, the guy’s 40 years old, right? I know. I know. And he’s, you know, when you talk about speed, I mean, Obie doesn’t have the speed. Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. He’s still very productive, but he’s not, you know, I’ll be surprised if he could play like he did last year. Yeah. I want to let let’s talking about Obie. Um, first off, did you did you find it kind of neat that they switched them a lot? They moved him around on the power play. Like they moved him from the left to the right. Typically, he’s on that left side. Um, but they had him on the right side every once in a while. Did you uh find that? Did you like that change? Well, I mean, if you’re not going to put him on the left side on the on the dot where you know the Obie off Ob’s office, you’re not gonna put him there. I want him in front of the net. Fine. That’s my theory. Got you. And Bruce Bau’s done it. Other coaches have done it where they put Obie in front of the net. If Obie’s not in there, I want Obie in front of the net because he’s a big guy and you cannot move him. He’s going to screen the goalie. There’s going to be rebounds. So, I didn’t like them moving him off the office spot unless they put him in front of the net. That’s what I want to see. That’s a good point. That’s I like that. I do like I like that because he is a big body and he’s a he’s very I mean for a goal scorer he’s very physical. So to your point yeah he doesn’t have you know he’s not he doesn’t have the speed he used to have right but he is big and he is strong and you know you look at the history of Obie’s career when he’s been in droughts the coaches would put him in front of the net right I know Bruce Joe did that in the playoffs against the Rangers in 2009 when they came back and beat the Rangers in the playoffs. Um, I know that, uh, you know, other coaches have put Barry Trotz put him in front of the net. Sometimes he would, sometimes he would go one minute in the office and sometimes he’d be in front of the net for a minute. So, I just think he’s the type of guy, him and Wilson, those are the type of guys that are going to just cause all kinds of havoc in front of the other team’s net. These goalies are too good. Swayman saw just about every shot last night and he stopped them. And that’s what these goalies are going to do. You got to take their eyes away. You got to get them moving. You got to have pucks going into them hard low from the points with traffic so that bounces off their pads and the other guys are going to the net for the rebounds. I mean, that’s the way that’s going to have to be the way the Capitals play this year because they’re not going to be able to play this, you know, this move the puck train, you know, not go to the hard areas type of game and score goals. I I think they’re going to have to Carberry is going to have to change things on how they’re going to play with with the talent they have. Um, Ryan Leonard’s a guy who who who will be big, but what Ryan’s what, 19 or 20 years old? He’s 20. I think he’s 20. He’s 20. Um, he’s still filling out, but I think he’s going to be a big guy, and I’d like to see him, you know, be one of those guys that get to the perimeter because we certainly saw he could do it in college, but now he’s he’s playing against a lot bigger guys. Yeah. On Twitter, my friend, my guy David said they failed they failed on opportunities and lacked some edge. Swayman is a better goalie than anything Carolina has. Boston wasn’t on uh Boston wasn’t on caps defensively like Carolina was was though. Um offense was sluggish. If they start to jail on on uh on the New York trip the uh they’ll be fine. Yeah. I mean and that’s our guy, right? He was in all the commenting last year and I do agree with him. Boston was not all over. I mean the Carolina Caps in the playoffs last year was a mismatch, right? Capitals had a key guy out on the blue line and you know Fetchnikov took over that series. He was he was dynamite in that series. So um I I agree with what he said. I mean hopefully they can go up to New York and and turn, you know, get this thing going. Um it’s a long season, but you don’t want to get off to a bad start. And people pointed out last night after the game, they did lose their first game last year. So uh you you don’t panic when it’s 82 game season. Oh yeah. I just there’s certain things I want to see them do differently than last year because the way they’re not getting out of the first or second round playing the way they did last year. They’re going to have to make some changes the way they play their game and and get to those get guys get more bodies in front of the net. Right. So, um I see that last night. I saw a lot of perimeter hockey last night. M so let’s go into you know I always love talking about the goalending like how would you like I thought you know personally I thought he was good but how would you have evaluated Logan uh Logan Thompson’s u play I thought he was really good I mean one goal you know was a ricochet the first one was a ricochet right and the second one is a oddman rust while you’re short-handed which you cannot give up and uh I can’t fault them on either goalie stops a breakaway in the first period right yeah I mean like I said I I thought Boston had good chances and he made some good saves. I mean, when Boston got ch when Boston got in the zone, they did a good job. They got they generate some good shots or they they prayed off Capitals mistakes. I don’t I didn’t feel like the Capitals did that. There was a there was a big turnover by Boston. And I want to say it was in the maybe the first period and Obie came down the right wing and someone’s driving the net there. Mhm. And um although the Boston defenseman was coming back, but I would have liked to seen Obie Obie kind of he didn’t I would have liked to seen Obie angle more into the net. Swaying came out and just took away every took his ankle. Yeah, I know you’re talking about another play you’re talking about. Yeah, that was a great play by Swayman. The only thing Obie could have really done there instead of try to go up with it was to go low because Swayman goes down, right? And if you can bounce it into the pads there, maybe the guy coming in the net scores, but I got to give Swayman all the credit there to just come out and just say, “Oh, you’re not beating me with your shot.” Yeah. Then like then and then over like he hit that straight hit it straight on his chest, right? That’s the one he hit straight on his chest, right? Yeah. I thought first he was going to pass it at first. pass. Yeah. And in that case, the best pass is a rebound, right? He didn’t pass. Yeah. You know, because Swayman came out, took all the angles away. So that’s why going high, he’s either going to hit the goalie or he’s going to miss the net. So that’s why I would have liked to see him just throw it hard into his pads and and hope it bounces in the slot and the guy coming down the slot, I can’t remember who it was, beats the Boston guy to the puff, but he shot it right in his chest. It’s a faceoff. Yeah. Yeah, I thought so, too. I was like cuz I was watching it when I was watching I was like oh he’s going to pass it initially I thought because he was hesitating like he was going to pass. Yeah I thought too I was like he was like I thought he was then all of a sudden I felt like once he felt like he didn’t have the pass then he just shot it. That’s kind of how I looked at it. I was like all right are you going to pass this cuz I the dude because he was streaking like his teammate I don’t know coming right down the middle. Yeah he was streaking. Um, but to your point, yeah, if you’re gonna shoot it, shoot it low where you get a rebound or something like that because he was coming he was coming out he was coming high, right? The goalender was taking his angle high, right? Pushed out like he’s supposed to. He pushed hard to his left and Obie has no angle at that point. So, um, great play by the goalender was and the only thing you can really do there is is throw it either throw it in the middle, right, or throw it off his pads. I would have tried to throw it off his pads, but you know, 197 goals. He knows what he’s doing, right? Exactly. Exactly. That was just an that was one of the few opportunities I felt where Boston made a mistake and they didn’t capitalize. Yeah. I Yeah. And the goalender was very aggressive, too. Swway Swayman was very aggressive. Like Mhm. I feel like it’s like I felt like after the first period he got he got so confident like I think like especially like you like you were talking about after the five the five five on three power uh the kill like I felt like he got really confident to a point where he then he started to be more aggressive. He took more chances in terms of like I even he would play a puck real high like he would play the puck high like when a Capital guy was barring barring down on him just to clear the ice or clear the zone he would go he would come up high. I just thought he was really you could tell he was really confident. I looked at him I was like oh yeah he’s confident. Yeah he was the number one star of the game. He was great and pass him and pass too. And you know Bruins got Mackaoy back from Makavoy missed a lot of time last year from injury on D. Huge difference for them on the blue line. one of the best players in the league uh as a defenseman. So, you know, if you’re a Bruins fan, you’re pretty happy, right? You go on the road, you kind of you you beat the Eastern Conference champs. Um in their barn um survived first four power plays, go to the home team. I mean, the the deck was stacked against the Bruins and they withtood it. I mean, if I’m their coach, I’m I’m like, “Hey guys,” and they they got to play again tonight. The Bruins are right up again tonight. Yeah, I know. Back to back and those are tough, but you know, they got they got a big win. So, have to swim in. Yeah, I I think so. But you mentioned this too also. I mean, I like I mean, I like Leonard a lot. I talked to you about him before we started recording. Um, what do you think his potential is like after watching after watching yesterday’s game, what do you think his potential is going forward this season? I know he’s only 20 years old, but what do you think? How how how important and how impactful can he be for this team this season? Well, I think he’s important, right? Because there’s not a lot I mean, they have I mean, he’s a first round pick, highly touted coming out of of Boston College. Probably should have been the Hobie Baker winner two years ago. Um, but I he’s got speed. He just needs to keep getting stronger. But I want to see him this year be the second line guy, right? I want to see him play the second line and I’d like to see 20 goals, right? Maybe 25 goals, right? So, um they got to get him I think I last night I I don’t remember the lines really well. Um but you know, last year in the playoffs they had him on the third line, right? He wasn’t really with he was with Lars Eller, right? And I like Lars. He was great when we won the cup, but Lars is done last year, right? So, you put him with a center that can’t play. I’d like to see him with PLLD or Stro and see what he can do, right? because he needs a center that can get him the puck. So, uh I I’m hoping he can fill he can be on a top six this year, right? Maybe I’m asking a lot and maybe Carberry is going to bring him along slowly on a third line, but I think the Caps if they want to get anywhere in the playoffs, he’s got to be top six. I I I think he can get to this. I personally, from what I’ve se what I’ve what I’ve seen what I saw yesterday was different from what I saw in the postseason. Like in the postseason, I saw a guy who wasn’t sure of himself. um in the yesterday I saw a guy that was confident in what he’s in his ability and he know he knew what he brought to the table like it’s it was two different individuals and it’s so I feel like it’s what he possesses the speed the creativity and trying as as a goal scorer is something that the Caps desperately need and I just think that he has it um and I and for I think a talent like that on the second line to your to your point at second line would do wonders for for him uh for this team. Especially again when you got a guy that an aging Obie uh who is one like obviously one of the greatest of all time. I love Obie. One of the greatest of all time. I wish forever to be honest. I wish he can play forever. Um but I feel like it’s time like during this season when you’re going I feel like you’re going to need to give him some time off, some breaks in between, especially towards the end of the season where you want so you can make sure he’s has all his energy into the postseason. That’s where I like when I’m thinking of Obie this year. And I know I’m going off going off topic a little bit. When I look at Obie this year, we’re talking about this team going into the postseason. I would like for the Caps to kind of give him some days off or games off where or you know some time off even within games where you can he can utilize he can save that energy for a nice Stanley Stanley Cup run and I think a guy like do that. They got to manage his practice in ice time. Yeah. The thing is, I think, you know, Carol, I think, like we talked about, I think five teams are going to come out of the Atlantic. I think Carolina’s going to win the Metro. You know, injuries can change all this while. I mean, we’re one game. I mean, look, everyone was picking the Baltimore Ravens in football to be Super Bowl contender. You got you got uh injuries, the defensive lineman go down. You get Roan Smith down. You got Bobby Humphrey go I mean, yeah, Humphrey go down. You got Hamilton down. and the greatest Lamar, one of the best quarterbacks in the league, arguably the best. Yeah. Goes down and they’re done. They’re one and four. They’re done, right? So, anything can happen during the season. Um, you know, Barov’s out for the year, right? One of the best players in the league. So, but I think the Capitals are going to be battling with the Rangers, um, the Devils, the Penguins for that second and third playoff spot. Second and third place in the division is going to be, you know, the the Islanders. The Islanders are always going to be the Islanders. I mean, they’ll probably screw up and fall apart at the end, but they’re gonna have to battle with they’re gonna have to battle with two teams. I mean, for they’re going to be battling with all the rest of the Metro for those last two spots because I think the Metro is going to get three and the Atlantic’s going to get five. Yeah. I I just hope Yeah. I just hope that like But I do think that to your point, um, talking about like Riley Leonard, I think he can definitely he’s very important. I I think he’s extremely important and I What I do, again, what I do like about what I saw, if we’re going to look at positive, what I do, and we’re going to talk about another positive, but what I do like about what I saw last night is that I saw confidence. And then, and if you told me what I saw with him last, I mean, in the playoffs, I didn’t see that. I saw a guy with a lot of ability ability, but I didn’t see confidence. I see a guy now with a lot of ability, with confidence, and I think that can do wonders. I feel like to your point, I think he can score 20, you know, especially if you put him in a higher if you put him in a in a second a second the second line, I think there’ll be more opportunities for him to get 20. Yeah. I’d like to see him get on some power play time, right? Me, too. Me, too. I’d like to see him become the new TJ Oshi. Right. Right. TJ O rightwing. I mean, that’s what I would like him to fill that role. Right. TJ scored goals. He set up goals. He’s a power play guy. Um TJ was just great in the locker room, too. Yeah. you know that he evolved over years. TJ’s one of the best guys in that locker room ever. I mean, super guy. Everybody will tell you one of the greatest teammates ever. It’s good to see him on TV, too. I guess he’s on ESPN now doing the games. Um, but yeah, Leonard, they have to they have to get Leonard to to take that next step this year because they just don’t have anybody else. Yeah. And I don’t I mean they’ll the Capitals will probably depending on where they are will make deals at the deadline to try and add, right? Because I think they’ll be okay capwise, but there’s not much out there right now. Um and and I like the way Leonard I I saw a lot of skill from him in the playoffs, too, like you did. But I saw a guy that was coming from college going to play in the NHL player. That’s almost impossible to go right to the Stanley Cup playoffs. But I’m happy he did it because I didn’t think the Capitals were going to go far anyways. So, putting him in will give him that confidence. I think we talked about this last year. You remember Brett Connelly the year the first year the Capitals signed him 2017 and they went to game seven, they lost to the Penguins um in the second round because Mark Andre Flurry absolutely stood on his head. But Brett Connelly was a scratch. He did not play. Yeah. Next year, the Capitals lost a bunch of guys. Brett Connley was on that third line with Burke Hoski and um Lars Eller and they were in the playoffs. That line was huge. I mean they had the winning goal in the uh in the Stanley Cup clinching goal Eller scores um off of off of I think it was a Connelly shot or it was a Burks shot, one or the other. But Brett Connelly was a scratch in 2017 and he figured out he played a few games, figured out how to play in the playoffs. The next year he came back and he was at a whole new level, right? This is a former first round pick, bounced around teams. He was with the Bruins, he was with the Lightning, and he just found his niche with that Capital team. I think Ryan Leonard, having gotten that experience in the playoffs, and we saw a little bit of it last night, I think he’s got more confidence now. He knows what to expect. I think so, too. The regular season is nothing like the playoffs. Yeah. He has a chance to now play at this level in the regular season, and then he’ll know where he has to be in the playoffs. Agreed. From what he did last year. Yeah. just you got to get to the you have to get to the point to believe in yourself when you get into the postseason. Then you can kind of like and you already know he already knows the temperature of the postseason cuz he was in there last year. It’s just about going into that going into the postseason knowing who you are who and what your your abilities are what you’re capable of, you know what I mean? in this at this level and I feel like what I do like again it’s you know it’s early but I like that compared to what I saw last year and it and like you said edit last year was the postseason so it’s totally different right but compared to what I saw like this dude is far more confident than what I saw in the past so I’m happy for I think that I think big things for him I really do I believe big things are on the horizon for him yeah and and to to start with your original question I think he is a huge key to where this team’s going to go this year, right? I think he plays well, they make the playoffs, and then if he can continue that in the postseason, they got a chance to maybe get out of the Metropolitan in the playoffs, right? Um, a lot of that’s going to depend on other guys, Ryan, uh, Dylan Stro and and Pierre Luke Dubois have got to get to a higher level, no doubt about it, and they got to stay healthy on the blue line. Um, but I I think Ryan Leonard’s a big is is going to be a guy to watch and that you and I can track through the season and see how he’s progressed. And I just hope that he gets a couple to go in here and that conf. He gets on the hot streak because he he can score. He did that at Boston College. Yeah, I’m waiting on that. That’s what I want. I want him to get a couple early goals. That’s what I really want. I I feel like once that happens, if it can happen early, I think then you’re going to see something really special out that kid. I really do. I really believe it. Um so speaking of something like I mentioned, we just to dive in on some more positive stuff. You mentioned Tom Wilson having the first goal. Um Tom Wilson um bringing that physical edge, toughness. Um how important is his leadership and presence for setting the tone for the in this season early? Oh, it’s it’s big. I mean, Tom, every team in the league would love to have Tom Wilson. And every team almost had a shot at him that first year. I know a lot of teams passed on him. Wish they had in 2012 draft. Yeah, I bet. Yeah, I know. Yeah, the Capitals were ecstatic when he fell to them. Um but I mean Tom is Tom’s Tom and Oshi were buddies. really tight. He learned a lot about leadership from TJ Oshi. Tom Wilson’s a leader, right? Obie’s the captain and Tom Tom’s probably Tom and Carlson the next two guys in line to lead this team. Um and Carlson’s, you know, Carlson’s still playing 26 minutes. I think you look at his time last night, he was almost 26 minutes, right? Hey, he played his butt off, too. He played his butt off, too. I Yeah, he just missed the net on that one chance. Probably could have changed the game and he’ll be the first to tell you, man, I gotta bury that. You know, that’s John’s always been a standup guy. Um, but I I think Wilson Wilson has to be healthy and has to be playing smart. They can’t he can’t take penalties, right? He’s got to he’s got to get the other team off their game and get the penalties, right? They And Tom has learned he’s evolved. He’s learned how to try to stay out of it for the most part. There’s nights when he goes off and usually those are when the caps are losing. He’s like, “We’re not winning anyway, so I’m just going to get it in right now.” Well, they were trying to bait him last night. They were trying to bait him. He didn’t fall for it. They tried. They tried. He wasn’t going for it. He knows. He knows it’s early in the season. The Bruins, you know, the Bruins aren’t uh in their division. Not a game to go get off your rocker on, especially early on. Now, they go, they’re playing Carolina. They’re down three or four nothing. You know, like we saw last year. Remember I told you that one game. Yeah, you did. They uh you did. That’s when you That’s when you try to send messages. Unfortunately, you know, the Capitals just didn’t have the talent to take Carolina out last year. Mhm. No, he definitely to his to his credit last night. They tried to bait him, he didn’t. And you know, he ended up scoring a goal in that game, an important goal. Um, but yeah, he’s his growth is amazing to me because I know event uh before, you know, we need to think of him as a 30 score a 30 goal score guy and now that’s who he is. He’s a guy who scores the puck. Uh he’s the enforcer, he’s the physical enforcer, he’s the protector. Um but now he’s one of the he’s now a guy who you rely on for big games in terms of goal scoring which is kind of kind of co cool when you think about it. Yeah. I mean the Barry Trotz and Lane Lambert when they came over from Nashville to coach the Cavs they worked really hard with with Tom because Adam Oats misused him. you know, the Cavs probably should have put him another year in the OHL and they they just didn’t want him to fight. But then he comes up the NHL and he’s fighting up here instead of playing Adam totally mismanaged him. But Trotz and Lane Lambert really worked with him and credit to Tom, he worked hard as well. And when the Capitals won that Stanley Cup, that top line was Kusnet, Ovie, and Wilson. And they were they just dominated every Tampa, Vegas, they were physical. Pittsburgh, you know, they that was that was Tom using his physicality in a smart way, right? He did get suspended in in the Pittsburgh series for the hit on um what was his name? Austin Reese or whatever his name is for Pittsburgh along the boards there. But Wilson is Wilson’s a guy who uh creates open space on the ice for his teammates and he got his goal going to the net and that if he’s going to score 30 again, that’s how he’s going to do it. to be going on the net. No, I know. I love it. I love I love his aggressive I love his aggressiveness. I just love his leadership. Um I like how he sets the tone. I just I feel like and he’s to me if if nonovie he is like the people’s well he could be honest. Even with Oie, he’s the people’s champ in this in terms of camp fans. Even even fans who don’t watch even folks who don’t watch hockey like know Tom Wilson because of because of it. He’s like the people’s champion. He’s he’s hated in all the other barns, but he’s loved here. Kind of like Hunter back, right? Yeah, he is loved here. Tom Wilson is loved. He’s the kind of guy that um you hate him when he’s on the opposition, but he was on your team. You love him. Yep. You love him to death, too. Not just you love him to death. He’s just like one of those individuals. Um so, the Caps have the Islanders next um Saturday, I believe. Um how do you how do you see them bouncing back? What’s the key for them to bounce back? Well, that’s the that’s the good news that that’s the good thing I want to see carry over from last year. The Cavs were a great road team last year. It was almost like they played better when they got out of here, right? They got and and you know, we all love our families, right, and stuff, but sometimes getting out on the road with the guys. That team bonded, right? That that team had a really good bond. They got the same guys. I know they’re probably anxious to get out on the road and and spend some time together. So, you got to be uh positive, feel positive about the way that team plays on the road. And they’re going to simplify and they’re going to, you know, hopefully they’ll, you know, Carberry will show some film to them, show some air opportunities where they could have got guys to the net and made some plays instead of peeling off or not stopping. Allan May always loves to talk about stop at the net. Stop at the net, right? Don’t go do a flyby, right? So, don’t pull a Maverick and do a flyby. Stop at the net. Wait for the puck to get there. distract the goalie, get the rebound. So, I hope to see that kind of stuff on on Saturday in the Island. Yeah. I just I I feel like take advantage of your opportunities. That’s the most important thing for me after after what I saw yesterday. Take advantage of your opportunities. Don’t waste opportunities. Um you get the power play, you know, cuz it’s wild because for me, I’m not used to the caps being like piss poor or average in power plays, right? Because typically, you know, the caps have always been like one of the better power play teams in in hockey. So, you know, over five and or going f, you know, having a five on three advantage and not being able to score a goal. Um, it’s kind of odd to me being a Caps fan and a person who’s watched this team for years, especially in the, uh, the OV era. The OV era, they’ve been really great in power play goals. Um, yeah, just hopefully they take advantage of that situation. They’re put in that situation again. um it may not be as as as high as five um five power play opportunities, but if they just, you know, get a a good number uh maybe three, just take advantage of it. Just don’t have a situation where like you you you you like you want to punch yourself in the face for not, you know, for losing a game that you shouldn’t have lost. You know what I mean? Like that’s how I look at that the Bruins game. I look at it I don’t look at it like that team came in here and beat you. I look at it like you didn’t take advantage of your situations. Your situations put you in the lead to to to win this game and you didn’t do it. You didn’t take advantage of it. So, I just want to see them in this game. If you’re going to lose, make sure the Islanders beat you. Don’t lose because you didn’t do what it took to win to win the game. Yeah, they didn’t they didn’t have killer instinct last night. They let Boston way. That’s the best way to say they let Boston hang around. They had four power plays before Boston had any. and they let Boston hang around and and Boston did what they had to do. And then the last 30 minutes was pretty much an even game. Maybe edge to like I said, edge to Boston. I felt like they had more chances. So, it’s got to be different. You got to come out with some intensity. Um, and maybe getting on the road. It’ll be good for them and they’ll they’ll come right out with some real hard jump and get some dirty goals. You got to get some dirty goals in this league. Yeah, I agree. I agree. Well, Ed, this has been this has been fun. It’s always fun doing it. We’re gonna be doing this. We’re gonna be doing this a lot. Yeah. You know what I mean? We’re gonna be doing this. So, I we’re gonna make sure uh I gotta figure out what game because, you know, life is life. So, make sure which game we get to we get just jump on. Maybe we’ll do the Islanders game. Well, maybe. I got to say what time. Maybe maybe we’ll do see how it goes. See how it tracks and you let me know and we’ll uh we’ll get together and and talk hockey. Yeah. And uh you know, the the the skins are looking the commanders, they’re looking good. They’re on the up and Sometimes I call them skins, so don’t worry about it. I mean, hey, I grew up in this area. They were the I mean, I know. I still can hear Frank Herszog going touchdown Washington. I can hear all Frank Herszog. I can see George Michael talking about it on channel 4. I see a lot a lot. It’s like I go back the 80s around here. The George Michael sports machine. Greatest. It’s the greatest. And and I always remember it was the Redskins and George Michael sports machine and then Hulk Hogan, you know. I just remember he was Yeah, he was big into the wrestling, right? And he had mania and he got the Redskins were winning three Super Bowls. There was no Baltimore football team because Urs moved the Colts. It was the 80s were the glory years around here. I mean, the Redskins were the front page. I mean, when you picked up the Washington Post, it was the Redskins. Always on the front page. Always on the front page. It was no politics. It was all Redskins. I mean, it was it was special times. It was um you know, I talk about like, you know, rest in peace. I talk about George Michaels a lot because he’s like my favorite like sports like personality. Um or yeah, anchor. Um but yeah, back then it was it’s something totally different. Like George Michaels was amazing and then like I’m glad you like he used to have his because he did love wrestling. He used he used to have his he would have a Wednesday segment. It’d be like Wednesday wrestling and then it would be like like and it would be he’ll show you highlights of like what happened and he was the only one that was really doing that because I grew up a big wrestler. So I used to get so hype I used to get so hyped for Wednesdays like I go like I was oh what happened on oh okay showing this happened at Wrestlemania or this happened he’s showing footage of Wrestlemania because I we wouldn’t we couldn’t afford pay-per-views and stuff like that when I was growing up. So, like I would definitely watch like I watch it like, “Oh, he’s showing the highlights. Oh my god.” So, I would get so excited to see George Michaels uh Wednesday like his Wednesday wrestling segment. Yeah, he was so good. I mean, it was, you know, ESPN was just kind of finding their way, right, with uh with Chris Burman on Sunday nights with the with the countdown. They started that, I don’t know, mid to late 80s and couldn’t miss that. George Michael before that. I remember like if you were playing fantasy football back then and there was no internet, you would call the George Michael sports machine line, right? You would have hit the line too. Hit the line too. Yeah, he had he was and he helped so many different which I like he helped so many different like reporters and like not even this in this region but reporters outside this region because he would just it just wasn’t you know him with the DC guys. It was more a lot of guys he like helped with like in Philadelphia. Um some guys a lot in Philadelphia to be honest with you. Some from the West Coast. He would have guys from like I remember now he’s like a household name who which is annoying to me but it is what it is. Stephen A. Smith. He would have Stephen A. Smith on his shows. Um back in the day he would have a lot of people on his shows. I mean obviously we know about like locally Tony Cornheiser, Michael Wilbond he would have on his shows. He was just one of the like most he was like one of the best no not one to me he was the he is the best anchor u personality sports personality that I’ve ever seen like period to be honest with you he was a great guy he would come out to the games he was very he was innovative I I consider him innovative right way I’ll describe George Michael he he knew how to take the highlights and and and the the special events and package it all together and make it make you want to watch it like it was an event to watch the George Michaels sports machine on Sunday nights. Yes. And and to your point, Will Bond and Cornheiser, those guys, they would come out. I would meet those guys because they come out. Will Bbon would come over and talk talk hockey with me. Will’s from Chicago. He loved hockey. And I would see him. He would only come in the playoffs, right? Because the Redskins were so good back then. He was always he and Corniser were doing that. And then Tony wasn’t a hockey guy. Tony was a basketball. Oh, I know he was. I could tell. But Michael like Michael likes hockey. and he would come out and he would talk and you know ask about different things and then he you know I’d see him I’d see him every year in Pittsburgh when we get our butts kicked by the Penguins in the early 90s when I was working for the team. So but yeah he he liked hockey a lot and you know look what those two guys have done. They paid their dues you know watching they got their show and it’s been running show for how many years? 30 years now. Yeah. Now they’re like I think I don’t know they did they still do the show. I don’t know if they still do the show or not. Um my dad still watches. My dad’s 87, right? He was the one started dragging me to games. He was a reporter, right? Awesome. And he uh he was the one dragging me to the games and um he would, you know, he would talk to Tony and Will Bond. I’d see those guys at Maryland games because I covered Maryland football in basketball in the 80s, too. So, I would see them there, too. Right. Like I mean, I I was fortunate I was doing the stats for the Cavs, but I was still covering for the PG County paper Maryland basketball when Lars Oh, really? Did you cover You cover You cover Lindsay. I covered Lenny. I mean, yeah. Awesome. Oh, he was uh Yeah. And Derek Lewis was probably my favorite, you know. Um remember Derrick Lewis from Maryland, shot blocker. He played with Bias and Keith Gatlin. They had some good teams there. They just could never get over the hump. You cover Limbi. Ain’t that some That’s cool. That’s a dude like I haven’t I didn’t I only see clips of Limbas. He’s like a little bit before me in terms of my visual my memory of watching basketball. He’s a little bit before me because my I always tell like I pick up my good memories of basketball is more like as a kid like 89 90 but that’s more NBA basketball like I grew up like in and Georgetown basketball I cuz when I was a kid I just watch Georgetown basketball so good. Yeah I was like a big the KBE rest in peace to KB Matumbo a big the KB Mumbo Alonzo morning fan like I love those two those two are like my f like my favorite some of my favorite Hoyers because they were on the same team. Um, but yeah, like that’s when like my memory, but I’m just so I had to go back and like, you know, cuz I’m from PG County, so I always we always hear. Yeah, we always hear about the limb. You always hear about Lambias and his greatness. So I always go back and try to look at it. And when I looked at his highlights, I was like, “Oh, I see.” Was an amazing player and he worked hard, right? He was same thing Jordan, right? Um, yeah. So I when I was growing up, I was uh remember the Capitol Classic they used to host the host. Oh, yeah. I love it. Yeah. So, I think I was in 10th grade and they were billing this is you being a Georgetown guy, I’m going bring this up. It was Pat Euing was going to take on the two guys, Steuart Gray and Greg Drying uh for Kansas, right? And they’re billing this Capital Classic as this 7 foot big men battle, right? And I’m all pumped up. I’m going to the game, right? I get to the game and there’s this guard totally taking over the game, right? Totally takes the game over. And I’m like, who the heck’s that guy? And at the end you go the MVP of the Capital Classic is Michael Jordan. And I knew who he was from then on. He was a still in high school. He was committed to go to Carolina. And then the next year you know you were a little young for but they played Georgetown in the in the final, right? He hit the shot to win the game. Yeah. So and that was an epic battle between Georgetown and North Carolina. James Worthy was on that team. That was an incredible game. And and Michael Jordan as a freshman hit the winning shot. No. I hate I mean I see the highlights. my friends who are because I’m not a big I’m like I’m like that I’m not the biggest Jordan fan. So my friends like they get on because they’re all like most of my friends are are Jordan fans and so and they’re Carolina fans too because of that and they always remind even though they never saw that they didn’t see it in real time but they talk about the shot right against the Hoyas and I’m like I’m like yeah and then I went back and I’m looking I I had I went back and watched that game like you know we God bless like YouTube and all these other um outlets to watch uh stuff streaming devices to watch games like that. And I look back and watch I watch that game like we had that game. Like we totally had that game. Like we had that game. It was Freddy Brown teammate. He threw it right to worthy then had the last shot. Yeah. Like we would like we would have won. We would have gave the ball to Pat. We would have been good. Like we have won that game. Like I think Jordan went glass on the winning shot too, didn’t he? Yeah. He went pee bananked it. Right. And he wasn’t even a shooter. That’s what pisses me off. Like that shot piss me off. Like you gonna make that shot? Like you gonna make that shot? I didn’t I saw enough of his jumper in in that game. Like you’re gonna make that shot. Like really? Well, I mean he is but Well, that kind of built the whole aura of his clutchness. He is clutch. Like Jordan is super clutch. So it did work out. I still go back to Portland. I think we talked about I still go back to Portland taking Sam Buoie over Jordan. I’m like you made a mistake. You made I feel bad for Sam Buoie because he’s always going to be known for that. It’s not even his fault. It’s not his fault that he was You know what I mean? It’s not his fault. It’s just like, oh, okay. Like, and now he’s always going to be remembered for it. That’s just just like, and Sam wasn’t a horrible basketball player, but it just was it was what it was. It’s the same thing like if you going to go into modern times, um, like Greg Odin being drafted ahead of Kevin Durant. And it’s not Greg Odin’s fault because Greg Holden was a really good basketball player. He was, injury just knocked him out. But you’re going to always look at, dang, you could have got Kevin Durant, but you chose Greg Odin. It’s one of those. It sucks. It does suck. It does suck. Like I want You can do that in every sport though, right? Went in the sixth round. Joe Montana went in the fourth round. Right. Exactly. Exactly. That’s where like Yeah. I I say all the time like, you know, it’s not And also Well, basketball is different, but I always feel like Well, basketball is different in this element, though. Also, it always depends. Well, no, no, it’s this is fair for all sports. It does depend where you get drafted at too, though. Like coaching and environment. I always, you know, when folks debate about why this player isn’t successful or whatever, like it also does depend on like where you get drafted at. Like you mentioned the Redskins commanders, like with under Snyder, you could have a great player, but now you’re into that regime, you may not be destined to be successful. You know what I mean? Now, if you go to like this the Ravens or the Steelers or organization like that compared, you know, you would be like, “Oh, you have better chance to be successful.” Sometimes it just depends on where you’re drafted at. Those were two great examples, the Steelers and the Ravens. I mean, I have the utmost respect for Mike Tomlin, what he’s done there with the talent he has not had, if you will. Right. Yes. I mean, once Rotheber’s left, they’ve really struggled to I mean, it’s such a quarterback league in the NFL, right? God. Yeah. It’s like that’s what it is. is it’s just like if you get a quarterback now, you know, once you get a, you know, in the NFL, you once you have a quarterback, you’re pretty much set up. But even even then, if you’re a quarterback, like Jaden Daniels is like a great situation where he’s got he’s blessed to be in a situation where this regime is not like the over. Right. This is like a these are grown-ups running an establishment. Um then, you know, then you look at other situations where it’s not the same. You know, I’ve always that’s but like but that that’s always a thing where I’m always like I when I was younger, I used to be quick on saying bust or this that and the other, but now as I’ve gotten older, I’m more like, you know, give it like five years like because we’re we’re in such a microwave society um where everybody wants everything like now or they want a player to be great like now. Um there’s examples in in like in all sports where if you take the normal course of action like how it used to be um like how in the 80s or the 90s where you gave a kid five years to be you know and see where they were after that then we then you can d you can diagnose or dissect or say like oh analyze and say this player okay this player is is going to be this player but you got to give them like five years and you see it now in like all sports you get hockey basketball, football, baseball, you give him you give him enough time to a point where yeah, okay, they’re a good quarter, a good player. Like I use use Gino Smith as an example all the time like right him off early. I used to love Gino Smith in college in West Virginia. I loved him in West Virginia, but I said I told folks like, you know, Gino Smith had a bad situation. He went to the Jets. That wasn’t a great situation for him. Awful situation, you know what I mean? And then, you know, then he had to because we’re in a microwave society because he didn’t show you to you quick. He had to be a he had to be a backup. It took Pete Curl in Seattle to believe in him to give him an opportunity to to a point where now folks know he can play. He can actually be a starting NFL quarterback. Now he’s struggling this year with the um Raiders. But he’s a starting quarterback. But if you but he went off the microwave society mentality, he would never and he truth be told it had to take a coach to believe in him because once you get once you get tight casted as a backup, typically you are a backup forever like once you get typ casted. So, um it’s just like that in all sports. Um you know, basketball, football, like even hockey, like once you get typoccasted or something and you don’t s you’re not successful off the, you know, in off the bat or show promise in year three, then people want to write you off, which isn’t fair though because you’re still young and still trying to find your way. Yep. Well, I think Jane Daniels is in a great situation with this regime. Cliff Kingsbury is a great offensive coordinator. It was a perfect fit for him. Yes, I agree. It’s a perfect fit. like you know and just like like like Lamar in Baltimore. Um I think like that’s a great situation for him. Like it’s always like that’s always been a great situation because you went to a great organization. Shoot even Drake May with the Patriots getting Mike Vrael over there to help him like before it was like but then you got Mike Vrael like a guy that was under that like Bellich tree. Um so it’s like a good situation for him. Yeah. They got the offense coordinator, right? Yeah. And Josh Yeah. Yeah. So, it’s McDaniels, right? Perfect situation for Exactly. Exactly. You can see they beat Buffalo, right? They knocked him off, right? Yeah. Yeah. That’s what I’m saying. It’s just like it’s always That’s why one thing I love about sports, but I hate how fans break down sports at times. It’s like it’s the ultimate team game. It’s the ult and I mean team, I’m talking about from coaching from ownership to coaching to players. is the So when you say this player is better than that player, I rather you the way you how if you’re going to say it, I would prefer you to to to to compare organizations first and the whole team first and then we can come up and then we can make that debate. But if you’re going if you’re going to compare a player who’s not in a position of of is not a position and not in a position that is favorable to them compared to a person who’s in a position that is very favorable to them and then you want to compare it. That’s unfair. Yeah. Well, let me give you two hockey. I’ll take it back to hockey here. Yeah. Go ahead. Sure. Buffalo Sabres. I alluded to this that their owner always screws them up. Yes. Um you look at two guys that have won Stanley Cups recently. Sam Reinhardt, Buffalo screwed him up. He went to Florida. He’s won two cups. There you go. Jack Michael, they had that whole runin with his, you know, whether to do the surgery or not in his neck. He goes to Vegas. He wins a cup, right? So, you know, there there’s two really good players like Reinhardt was a team Canada, you know, one of the stars on team Canada and the juniors and Eichel is, you know, he was the McDavid year in the draft right after Mc would have been the number one pick if it wasn’t for McDavid. Here’s two guys the Sabres could have built their whole future around right there and their ownership screwed it up and Reinhardt’s winning cups in Florida and Michael’s winning cups in Vegas. So, um, again, it’s a situation. See, that’s a good point. That’s what I’m saying. It just depends on the sit like it’s always a situation. It’s always a situation. Sometimes it’s not the players. Sometime it sounds good. It’s easy to blame the player. Like a lot of fans like to blame the players. It’s very easy. But sometimes it’s not the players. All right, folks. I’m glad y’all heard us talk about everything. We talked about all we talked about hockey and the caps, but then we talked about everything. You know, once Ed, I’m not going to lie, once Ed told me he knew like he’d cover Lim Vice, I was already I was already there. So, but folks, thanks for tuning in. We appreciate it. Anyway, you’ve been listening to the Urban Sports for ages. You dig? Deuces. We are out. Peace. [Music] attention when you see me to the swag. Lead you to the swag. To the swag. To the swag.
The Washington Capitals opened their 2025–26 season at Capital One Arena but fell 3–1 to the Boston Bruins. David Pastrnak led the way for Boston with a goal and two assists, while Elias Lindholm netted the go-ahead goal early in the third period. Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman stopped 35 shots to keep the Capitals’ offense in check.
For Washington, Tom Wilson provided the lone goal, tying the game briefly in the third period. The Capitals struggled on special teams, going 0-for-5 on the power play, while the Bruins capitalized on one of their two chances. Goalie Logan Thompson recorded 18 saves, but Boston’s pressure and opportunistic scoring made the difference down the stretch.
🗣️ Discussion with Ed Frankovic
Former WNST Capitals reporter Ed Frankovic joins Wole to break down the Capitals’ performance and what it means moving forward:
• Why the Capitals struggled on the power play and in transition
• Key takeaways from Logan Thompson’s in net
• How the team responded under pressure in the third period
• Adjustments Washington must make heading into the next matchup
📊 Key Notes
• Washington has now dropped its last four season openers.
• Bruins head coach Marco Sturm earned his first NHL coaching victory.
#ALLCAPS #RockTheRed #Caps #NHLBruins #NHL #HockeyTwitter #NHLFaceOff #CapsNation #WashingtonCapitals #DCsports #Hockey
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