Nice HD Screens, Small Crowd

The new high definition video boards hanging above center ice are a huge improvement over the old ones. The scoreboard is bigger and easier to read. The LED ribbon boards lining the building look great and the sound system is much clearer.

Unfortunately, only a few thousand people bothered to show up for the home preseason opener. There's no way there's more than 4,000 people in the building.

More later.

Update:Okay, there might be 4,500 now. I know it's only preseason, but still...

Update:I'm done talking about attendance. Here are my impressions from tonight's game:

Mike Green has earned a spot on the team in my opinion. Six points (two goals, four assists) in four games? What more does the kid have to do?

Fleischmann threaded a great pass to Green for the Caps' first goal. He's also looking really good. First line good? We'll see about that.

Olie Kolzig also looked to be in midseason form, stopping 29 shots, including a critical pad save in OT.

Backstrom had an average night, but was in the right place when it counted. The good players seem to do that, even when they aren't at their best. He's played in all four games, so perhaps he's hit the wall a little bit.

That's it for now.