Live Q&As

Morning, everyone! Let's get started.

It's so easy to blame the goalie when things go wrong. There's no doubt Theodore has had his struggles, but he's not the sum total of the concern. I agree that this is temporary, for him and for the Caps. I think it's more a case of the yips than anything else, or boredom, maybe. I think they are itching to start the playoffs but of course looking ahead is always a bad idea.

The real concern I have re the goaltending is that Varlamov has been less than stellar off the bench. That's a hard role to fill but if both those guys are down at the same time, the Caps could have problems.

That said, I think they right the ship tonight against Atlanta.

Hi yourself! I think that might be too big a risk. That's a big stage for Neuvirth and if he wets the bed, you've messed up his head and maybe cost yourself a game. The Caps have two talented goalies; one of them has to pull it together for the playoffs. And I really think they will.

It is certainly possible. Of course Ovechkin is a key for the Caps but Brooks is, too. Boudreau was talking Monday morning about how he keeps looking for Laich on the bench to put him in because he can fill any role for him. That's a high compliment from a guy not prone to give a lot of them.

The good news is that he's itching to come back. His eyeball still looks awful, though. Can't believe he won't wear a visor.

Oh, yes, that's part of the equation. They are playing teams with something still to win/prove. Obviously the Caps don't have a lot of incentive other than the Presidents' Trophy and getting Ovechkin the scoring title.

Two of their three losses have come at home, which surprises me a bit. That can't happen very often in the playoffs.

Really? You want me to tell you you're wrong? Okay, you're wrong! Theodore is struggling now but we've got, what, two weeks before the playoffs begin? That's a long time. It's too early to panic.

There, did that really help?

If the Caps start the playoffs and Theodore is soft, I could see Boudreau giving Varlamov a start to get Theodore's attention. Shouldn't have to do that, and I don't know Theodore well enough to psychoanalyze him, but he might be a guy who needs that kind of push.

But I do think that this is a team that's "been there" and that they'll be more than ready when that puck drops. Speaking of which...

I doubt he'd use the pre-trade lines. I think he really wants to get those guys involved. Then again, he put Knuble on the shootout, so he's a surprising guy.

I think he might save that Game 7 tape in case he thinks the team is going off the rails later in the playoffs. I also think those guys remember that horrible moment as well as you do. But for some teams, that's a good motivator. I trust Boudreau to figure that out; he's a clever fellow.

Well, I think Boudreau, in a perfect world, would like to rest everybody. This is allowing him to rest Laich without upsetting Laich (just giving him a game off wouldn't make him happy; those guys do not want days off, as Knuble made clear to me). Ovie got his rest via suspension.

I think we'll see Laich soon because you don't want his first game back to be game 1 of the first round. And in fairness to the team, those games didn't mean much to them. But they were home games, so they meant a lot to the fans.

If the individual races end up the way they look right now, it'd be hard to argue with Sedin as MVP.

I realize I didn't answer the previous question about Ovechkin being tentative. That drives me crazy when people only answer half the question, so sorry. I don't think Ovechkin has played with as much fire the past couple of games. Not sure if it's tentative or if it's the same affliction as everyone else -- bored and wanting the playoffs to start. Let's all take a close look tonight and perhaps answers will be revealed.

The age-old question. Is there another sport that changes so dramatically between the regular season and the playoffs?

As a former Detroiter, I follow the Wings, and I know this was a problem with some of their very good teams. For fans who got used to breezing through the regular season, it's jarring to get eliminatedt in the first round by the Devils when you're favored to win the whole thing. (I think I'm remembering that right.)

Can the Caps make it through? Yes, I think they can. The goaltending has to shape up and they have to be healthy, really healthy, all across the board.

I think it's a little early on some of these guys. They are trying to adjust to being here and Boudreau is trying to figure out where they best fit in. That's the downside of making all these deals.

I think when push comes to shove you go with the guys you know. But then Boudreau is cagey; he could surprise us.

Well, this is something I've been thinking about. It's so apples and oranges. Hockey has a big roster; basketball doesn't. Hockey has a farm system; basketball, for all intents and purposes, doesn't. Hockey has a big, deep draft, basketball doesn't. It's going to be a different approach and you can't build a team entirely through the draft; there isn't enough fodder and not enough really good fodder.

The good news is, Leonsis knows all that.

Where I think his experience will translate across to the NBA is in the fan experience and being really involved day to day. He already knows the arena and he knows how to get people in the seats and make them happy. He attends games and doesn't sit up high on a throne; he walks around and notices problems and fixes them. That aspect of his ownership will carry over just fine.

I'm going with Opening Day. But then, my team isn't in Indy and while Tiger will be doing something, it isn't the first round. I want to see him play golf. If Strasburg were starting, can you imagine?

I'm sure Russia's implosion affected him; boy, did they look awful. I was at that game and couldn't believe it.

I do not think the C is weighing on him.

I would like to see him make  a couple fewer hard hits a game and focus more on his scoring. Although I will admit I like to watch him hit. I think he needs those extra few pounds if he's going to keep engaging like he does.

That Olympic break was unfortunate for some people and fortunate for others. I think he's one who was hurt by it; he was on such a tear and then looked pretty average in Vancouver. But he needs to snap out of it or the Caps will not go far. He is smart enough to know that. He didn't get the Olympic gold medal; he needs to focus now on the Cup.

Oops, we're out of time. Sorry I didn't get to all your questions. Join me again tomorrow morning when perhaps we'll be discussing the end of the Caps' losing streak.