Time To See Some Hershey Prospects?

Last night was bad in a couple of ways, despite the exciting 3 goal surge late in the game and the continued sensational play of Alexander Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. Besides the obvious three game losing streak (first in Gabby's tenure as head coach), the Caps lost Boyd Gordon, John Erskine (eh...) and Jeff Schultz (eh...) last night, and Schultz is going to be out for a while with a broken finger. If those three are out on wednesday (and I can only think that Gordon and Erskine's injuries were not nearly as serious as Schultz's), then that coupled with the likely absence of Semin, Green, and Feds is going to result in a likely call up(s) from Hershey. My guess (and everyone elses) is Sami Lepisto, who in my opinon had a pretty good stint in the big leagues last year and is in the same mold of Green and Pothier in defenseman style, which the Caps basically lack right now (pretty much all defensive D-men at this point with the possible exception of Tom Poti). Assuming that either Gordon or Erskine (or both) isn't able to go on wednesday, then we've got a problem in that we'll have 11 forwards (if Gordo is out) and 4 defensemen (if Erskine is out), all this without the likely call up of Sami Lepisto in the picture.

Think this team is banged up? Lets hope to get some bodies back... soon. Semin and Green are obviously the most crucial at this point. How much of a stretch would it be to say that if those two were healthy than we would have come out of the last three games with at least 2 points?

Oh, and we're still on the top of the southeast. Sweet.

Some random thoughts on the game:

• Theo was good. That save on Bouchard was highway robbery. And what happened on that play? Bad line change? Whatever it was it was letting in a two on none with no other Cap even in the defensive zone is just terrible.
• Gotta love the comeback in the final five minutes. Just a little late.
• I've seen a closing the hand on the puck penalty maybe twice in my hockey-watching and playing life (well, five times now).
• Ovechkin's snipe was sweet.
• Erskine and Jurcina together continues to scare me. Their puck control is horrendous and neither can hit the net with their point shots even though they have no problem taking them. Maybe they should try for the more accurate, low shots to try to get a deflection and get some garbage goals, you know, like they teach you in pee wees.
  
• That Niklas Backstrom character was pretty good in goal. Until maybe the 54 minute mark.
  

So, not the best road trip ever, but at least we got 3 points and we're on home ice (still undefeated in regulation) for 6 of the next 9 games. The Thrashers and the always deadly Kovalchuk are in town Monday, and a little bit of revenge for opening night is in order. Don't you think?