Caps Take Off Night against San Jose

By Rodger M. WoodComing off successively strong two way wins against conference rivals Tampa and Pittsburgh, the Capitals once again decided to take a night off Monday to lose at home to a hustling Western Conference challenger, San Jose Sharks 2-0.As in the other seven games they were shut out this season, the Caps showedvery little of the infamous rhyming game virtues, spark and heart.It’s also a possibility they just weren’t tough enough after two days rest to cope with the very big tough defensemen protecting the Sharks blue line.Highly rated rookie defensemen, John Carlson, Kurt Alzner, and the Caps first line forwards, Ovie, Niklaus Backstrom, and Jason Chimera were on the ice for both the Sharks goals from the Caps blue line midway through the third period.In any event, they lost again with only the excuse that coming off a six game injury, $6.2 million dollar man, Alexander Semin, was not yet in game shape.If that was case, why did they send Jay Beagle, who gave the Caps 100% spark and heart all of the time for lots less money, back to Hershey the day before.Penguins Matt Cooke Suspended Four GamesPenguins Matt Cooke, who tried to injure Alex O with a knee to knee check in Saturday’s game, was suspended by the NHL for the 4 games for a hit from behind on Columbus’ Fedor Tyutin on Tuesday night.

Fans are split on trade deadline moves.

Is Stars Brad Richards Coming to the Caps?There are some wild rumors circulating around the Caps are considering a trade of right wing Matt Bradley, one of the rookie goaltenders, Semyon Varlomov,Michal Neuvirth, or Braden Holtby, and a #1 draft pick, for Dallas center and leading scorer, Brad Richards. Richards leads the Stars in scoring with 22 goals and 39 assiststhe 2010-2011 campaign.

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