Why is it a bad idea to keep playing Varly until he is back to form? What exactly do the Caps have to lose at this point in the regular season?

That is why you are not a GM or coach in the NHL… Just sayin’…

It took Varly a while to get his legs under him at the beginning of the season, and sure enough in November and early December he was playing consistently at a high level. Meanwhile, everyone was ripping Theo apart in the media and blogs.

Theo’s success is exactly what you called it ’streaky.’ I doubt it will hold up for the rest of this season, let alone in the months-long playoffs.

Varlamov is the best goalie in our system, period.

I actually disagree with this. Varlamov is the most athletic goalie in our system, yes. But he is not the best. Michal Neuvirth took the Bears all the way to the Calder Cup last season, and has had a good showing in DC this season, and Braden Holtby, despite not yet seeing ice time in DC, is also quite good. In a year or so, Holtby might be on his way to Washington. We have three excellent goaltending prospects, and if you ask me, Varlamov has two guys champing at the bit to take his job from him… and they just might do it, if he doesn’t get back to pre-injury form really quick.

It took him several games at the beginning of the season to warm up, too, and sitting on his duff in Edmonton did NOT help him, despite all the good conversations he supposedly had with Tretiak. Trediak. However you transliterate it. Третья́к.

If these last games are about preparing our best lineup for the playoffs, I say you keep playing Varly until he is back to form. When Varly is at his best, few goalies in the league are as good.

This coming from a goalie who is softer than Velveeta in the microwave on high for 2 minutes.

Either way let us hope Theodore has learned how to keep it “ON” and ride it until he can be sipping margaritas, (or whatever French Canadians drink, maybe the gravy from their poutine) on the beach in July using the giant silver cup on top.

I hope Boudreau is working on how to get them to play their best at the snap of a finger, because the Caps do lose focus a little too much for the liking.