Hunter yanks Vokoun again

For nearly three months, Dale Hunter refused to criticize his players, calling bad plays "hockey plays" and trying to tell everyone around him the Capitals were on the verge of breaking through.

Not anymore.

After watching his team lose for the sixth time in seven games and for the 12th time in 16 games, Hunter has resorted to calling out his players. After Wednesday night's 5-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators, Hunter took aim at goaltender Tomas Vokoun.

"Tomas would like a few of them back," Hunter said after pulling Vokoun for a second straight game. "He wasn't as sharp as he should have been. We played a good solid road game and we lose. Goaltending is a big part of the game and we need good goaltending."

For those counting, that's eight times this season the Caps have had to change goalies.

Vokoun is not the only player who has been called out by Hunter in recent days. Hunter said he scratched veteran right wing Mike Knuble from the lineup because of he wasn't scoring goals and had the worst plus-minus on the team (true statements) and said he scratched veteran defenseman Roman Hamrlik because he took a bad penalty that led to a goal (another true statement).

The days of coddling the underachieving Capitals are over. Hunter will continue talking tough until the end of the regular season, when the play of his team will determine whether he returns as coach.

Their next chance comes Friday night when the Caps return home to face the Montreal Canadiens after a 1-3 road trip. It's a pretty safe bet backup Michal Neuvirth will get the start in that game.

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