The well-worn paperback on coach Jim Schoenfeld's desk says a lot about the Washington Capitals at the moment. The book: "I Can't Afford a Negative Thought."
Certainly, the Capitals, 13th in the 14-team Eastern Conference, can't.
They cannot afford to be bogged down by the fact that since scoring a club-record 330 goals in the 1991-92 season, the team's offense has been in decline. In 1992-93, the Caps scored 325. Last year, 277. This season, no one knows what the final numbers will be in 48 games, but in the first six games the Capitals have eight goals. They've taken 197 shots.
Despite the terrific goaltending in the NHL so far this season, only one other team, the New Jersey Devils with 11, is close to single digits in goals scored.
When the Capitals were shut out, 1-0, by the Buffalo Sabres' Dominik Hasek on Thursday, it was for the second time in six games. "Sure we need production, but there is a lot of hockey yet to be played," Schoenfeld said after yesterday's practice. "I'm not in position to panic yet, I haven't lost faith in our team and I'm quite certain they haven't lost faith in each other.
"I know these guys can score. They scored last year. We just don't have our touch now. It's not that we don't have a scoring touch. It's that we don't have it right now."
With regular-strength goals at a premium for a lot of teams this season, the success of the power play becomes even more important.
But even on the power play, the Caps are four for 37 (10.8 percent). Only San Jose (three for 28), Tampa Bay (three for 29) and New Jersey (one for 15) are worse.
"Once we get the power play set up, we're fine," said rookie Jason Allison, who has two power-play goals. "I think we don't have enough people on the puck when we're trying to get set up. If we have two people, they have two people. We're supposed to have three and we don't have three."
Schoenfeld says the key to the power play is to know "what you're going to do with the puck before you get it."
The Capitals can point to their shot total and say they are working hard, but Schoenfeld views it differently.
"Shooting is an art rather than a science," Schoenfeld said. "The shots-on-goal numbers show that you're probably outworking the other team, creating more scoring opportunities . . . . and we're getting more good scoring chances than the other team. But big deal. All it means is we're in the right place, but that won't win games, either. It all comes down to the final execution."
Which hasn't been good.
"We're playing for goals, not for chances," said Capitals left wing Peter Bondra, who has had lots of chances but only one goal.
Dale Hunter, who has been getting himself in the right spots for a lot of years, said goals come when little things come together.
"It takes crisp passing, smart plays, jamming the net," he said. "I think we did more of that in the last game and I think our practices this week have created better puck movement. We're snapping it around quicker, getting more shots."
But the lack of production has put more pressure on the power play, and opposing teams have been the aggressors in those situations.
"They're [pressuring] us and we're not very confident," said Caps defenseman Sylvain Cote. "They put pressure down low by the net, and they're not afraid of chasing the guys, rushing them to make a play. The wings and the center aren't getting time to make quality plays.
"If they know you have a good power play, the other teams will back off a bit. But right now, we're down to the basics, shooting and fighting for the loose puck. We have to make the easy passes, sure passes, and take a lot of shots."
Taking the shots has become routine. Putting them in the net? That's something else.
CAPITALS TONIGHT
Opponent: Florida Panthers
Site: USAir Arena
Time: 7:30
TV/Radio: None/WMAL (630-AM)
Outlook: Washington (1-4-1,)has been playing tenacious defense, allowing 15 goals in six games and controlling play. But the Capitals have not been able to score consistently. Florida (3-4-1) has scored 18 goals and allowed 21. Since opening the season 0-3, the Panthers have gone 3-1-1. The Capitals will start Rick Tabaracci in goal. Florida's goalie will be either Mark Fitzpatrick (1-2, 2.68 goals against) or John Vanbiesbrouck (2-2-1, 2.57). Tabaracci (0-1, 1.02) allowed one goal in his first start of the season Thursday, a 1-0 loss to Buffalo. On the injury side, Washington reports C Joe Juneau (hip flexor) is day-to-day and D Ken Klee (separated shoulder) is out. For Florida, D Keith Brown (left knee surgery) is out and RW Jody Hull (viral illness) did not make the trip yesterday. But if Hull is cleared to fly and joins the team, he will be cleared to play.