Larry Gude
Strung Out
Yup. If you miss the old Patrick division clutch and grab slug fests, this ain't for you. Great skating and movement.
Nhl 2016/2017
- Thread starter Hank
- Start date
Yup. If you miss the old Patrick division clutch and grab slug fests, this ain't for you. Great skating and movement.
Hank
my war
Yeah. Officiating pretty much sucked ass.
Larry Gude
Strung Out
This relationship is now officially abusive.
I watched most of the first period. Looked like the Caps were on the power play the entire period. Predictable outcome, as Pitt did last year to TB. Relentless.
Larry Gude
Strung Out
OK, 48 hours to think about it; Niskanen hit?
I tried every way I could think of to blame this on Sid; his flopping from the Ovechkin 'hit', the way he came into Matt, Matt just reflexively defending himself.
If that's Ovie or any Cap, it's flat out a shot to the back of the head; a clearly dirty play.
I tried every way I could think of to blame this on Sid; his flopping from the Ovechkin 'hit', the way he came into Matt, Matt just reflexively defending himself.
If that's Ovie or any Cap, it's flat out a shot to the back of the head; a clearly dirty play.
Chris0nllyn
Well-Known Member
Could they have called the slah on Ovi? Yes. Some are saying it was at his head, I saw it hit his shoulder/bicep area. Then he and Crosby's skates got tangled in the crease (something that happens when charging to the net) which caused Crosby to lose his balance sending him into Niskanen who was looking for a body check to protect himself. Crosby unfortunately was lower than expected from falling and his head hit the stick.
A series of unfortunate events led to it and I think everyone is looking at the slo-mo.
That being said, I hope Crosby is back soon and doesn't have any lasting effects. This is his 4th (?) concussion and could lead to life-long brain issues. The Pittsburgh media (mainly Rob Rossi) is painting this team as one that went into a players only meeting and came out with a plan in injure Crosby. Not only that, but they believe they had buy-in from Trotz (and Rossi believes buy-in from the NHL). They believe Ovi intentionally did all of it. I
Chris0nllyn
Well-Known Member
Ok, for real this time.
It's amazing how this team continually disappears in the playoffs. No matter the players, coaches, GM, etc. Same ole' song and dance.
Larry Gude
Strung Out
What I've learned, and you an correct me as I know you have far more hockey knowledge than me, others in here, too, is this;
The common theme in Caps playoff shortcomings over the years has been 1 thing; lack of top level play and a solid #2 center on the second line. From the Langway era where our strength was defense and wingers, on through the Kolzig era, again, good teams but not elite at center. And that besides the obvious, Lemieux and Gretzky and Crosby, the old Islander teams, the old Flyer teams, the great Detroit teams of the last 20 years, Blackhawks, you name it, Messier when he went to the Rangers, it's always been about center in the NHL.
Yeah, nay?
Chris0nllyn
Well-Known Member
What I've learned, and you an correct me as I know you have far more hockey knowledge than me, others in here, too, is this;
The common theme in Caps playoff shortcomings over the years has been 1 thing; lack of top level play and a solid #2 center on the second line. From the Langway era where our strength was defense and wingers, on through the Kolzig era, again, good teams but not elite at center. And that besides the obvious, Lemieux and Gretzky and Crosby, the old Islander teams, the old Flyer teams, the great Detroit teams of the last 20 years, Blackhawks, you name it, Messier when he went to the Rangers, it's always been about center in the NHL.
Yeah, nay?
Ovi is a "point and shoot" player and he's lost his ability to puck handle. His passes are suspect and him gaining the zone with the puck is almost nonexistent. But this team is surrounded by talent. If if the top line doesn't get it done we've seen time and time again the layup shots the Caps had throughout these playoffs alone. From the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th lines.
The expectations for this team are constantly too much for these players. Which is why I believe they'll only win when they aren't expected to.
It also feels a bit like the proverbial "hockey gods" simply don't like the Caps. Between the crazy bounces, the bad luck, etc. that simply doesn't seem to go our way as often as the other team. Not to mention officiating. Sure, it's not perfect, but there habve been some absolute #### calls throughout the playoffs. If you're interested, look up the "roughing" call from last night.
https://twitter.com/dcsportsbog/sta...t&l=#version=d3a5970415e73b8455175a98b1861579
TJ Oshie's "high stick" that hit Bonino's shoulder (which he sold like a child at a cruise ship port)
https://twitter.com/dcsportsbog/sta...igh-stick-penaltywasnt-actually-a-high-stick/
Regardless, this happens all the time and it's simply making excuses at this point. This is a Pens team without multiple superstar players and they find a way to beat the best team of the regular season (who is healthy). Maybe it's coaching?
Larry Gude
Strung Out
What has always baffled me is that it seems some of the better teams seem to focus on HOW they wanna do things during the regular season in preparation of the playoffs; they focus on tight playing at the risk of losing more regular season games in exchange for being more solid come playoffs. It seems the Caps play more to win in the regular season and when they are maybe a little looser come playoff time?
So, it's not about centers?
Chris0nllyn
Well-Known Member
So, it's not about centers?
If it were, the Pens should have lost last night without arguably the best center in the world on their team.
Larry Gude
Strung Out
I wish I understood the game of hockey better. It seems that the Pens are, clearly, the smoother team that does a better job handling the puck and being in the right place at the right time. And the Caps are bigger and stronger and rougher but all too often seem to just not have their stick in the right place at the right time or just can't settle the puck. Crosby feels like Micheal Jordan out there, every time he has the puck I feel like he's gonna score or make a great pass to an open shooter and Malkin is right behind him. They feel almost unstoppable and it's all up to the goalie. No one on the Caps approaches that, it seems.
Chris0nllyn
Well-Known Member
The Caps held them in their D-zone for quite a while last night. They couldn't connect on passes, couldn't get out of their zone, couldn't get a line change, etc.
Larry Gude
Strung Out
Yeah, I caught that but I've seen them do that to the Pens before, hold them, shut them down, stop them, hold them, beat them up...Crosby scores...
Larry Gude
Strung Out
Good lord. For 4 periods now, the Caps have totally outplayed last years champs. I've seen them outplay them before but they've been stopped by a hot goalie or just missed shots the Pens always make, etc.
What a performance!!!
What a performance!!!
Hank
my war
Caps are just wearing them down. What a game!
Larry Gude
Strung Out
Yup. They didn't even look tired at the end. Gave no sense of enormous relief or celebration. They looked like they were just playing, carefree, no thinking, just play, like a gang of banshees pillaging some poor little coastal village.
If the Caps could shoot and Fleury and Holtby didn't play so well, this coulda been 8-4, easy.