The Hockey Stop

Dear Washington Capitals Coach Bruce Boudreau,

Please start Jose Theodore in Game 7 against the Montreal Canadiens. Theo deserves one more chance to defeat his former team and what better chance than a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup playoffs?

Following the tragic premature death of his son Chase, Theo had his best regular season since the 2001-02 season and is a big reason the Caps had their most prolific regular season in franchise history.

And while Semyon Varlamov played exceptionally well in replacing Theo in Game 2 and then in Games 3 and 4, he played average the past two games, letting in two first period goals the past two games that forced the Caps to play catch up against a hot netminder in Jaroslav Halak.

Theo is also nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy this year which honors a "player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey."

While I understand if you go with Varly, I ask you please consider Theo for Game 7. I believe he deserves a chance at redemption.

Sincerely,

Caps fan