Talk about Capitals hockey & more! > Washington Capitals & Other Hockey Discussion
GDT#66 Capitals at Ducks March 6 @10pm
Devise:
I sat through all of that game. I haven't been more disappointed in this team this season. That may seem harsh, considering we got potted for 7 goals not that long ago. But in that game we didn't even show up. You know what was so pathetic about this "effort"? After not showing up in the first, showing up for a few shifts in the start of the second, the Caps did what they usually do. Take the night off, try to rally in the third.
What was pathetic was then to see every good play we made be outdone by 2 or 3 good defensive plays by Anaheim. For all the people saying Anaheim played like you should with a lead, I agree. They weren't playing to score though, you should note that. When they got in the zone they played keepaway cycle, and leveraged the body. But we did push in the third period, only to be thoroughly outplayed.
This looked like a Washington Capitals playoff game. The effort we played with in the third period, where we were forcing Anaheim to make defensive plays is how you have to play all periods, every shift you can. I don't know if it's arrogance, over confidence, lack of fortitude, I don't know anymore. It's hard to tell. All I know is sometimes this team plays in a way that suggests they only want to get it done when it's easy. That isn't the NHL. That isn't the playoffs. It's going to be hard every series, every game, and you can't take anything for granted. If you want to point to a reason why we never get out of the 2nd round maybe it's inside the psyche of some of our core players.
Devise:
I also wanted to take note about something I saw Anaheim doing a lot. Some people in this thread were mentioning that Anaheim looked to show a speed advantage, which I don't disagree with. But I think it's important to distinct how they used and leveraged their speed advantage. As opposed to trying to simply skate to the other end of the rink and skill the puck in, their forwards did almost all the forechecking work.
However whenever their forwards would change after a dump in, their fast defenders would FORECHECK to make up for that. A low risk, high reward play. If they miss, so what, you have forwards changing to cover up for defense. We and a lot of typical speed NHL teams like to employ a pinching speed system with their defense that tries to keep the puck alive at the blue line. That is a high risk high reward situation.
It wasn't just even on the forecheck, in general. Anaheim players weren't speading down the ice for breakaways. They would speed side to side in the neutral, they would speed on the wall. They would speed to beat you to the hard areas. That isn't the same thing as Connor McDvaid speed imo. And that needs to be noted. That is called a coach utilizing a typical "skill" tool in a method that allows you to play more physical. It's how we should be playing imo.
DC_1908:
--- Quote from: Devise on Wednesday March 07, 2018, 05:03:06 PM Eastern ---I also wanted to take note about something I saw Anaheim doing a lot. Some people in this thread were mentioning that Anaheim looked to show a speed advantage, which I don't disagree with. But I think it's important to distinct how they used and leveraged their speed advantage. As opposed to trying to simply skate to the other end of the rink and skill the puck in, their forwards did almost all the forechecking work.
However whenever their forwards would change after a dump in, their fast defenders would FORECHECK to make up for that. A low risk, high reward play. If they miss, so what, you have forwards changing to cover up for defense. We and a lot of typical speed NHL teams like to employ a pinching speed system with their defense that tries to keep the puck alive at the blue line. That is a high risk high reward situation.
It wasn't just even on the forecheck, in general. Anaheim players weren't speading down the ice for breakaways. They would speed side to side in the neutral, they would speed on the wall. They would speed to beat you to the hard areas. That isn't the same thing as Connor McDvaid speed imo. And that needs to be noted. That is called a coach utilizing a typical "skill" tool in a method that allows you to play more physical. It's how we should be playing imo.
--- End quote ---
While I didn’t see the game, I know what you mean, and as usual agree.
I am of the opinion that “speed” is such an overused buzz-word that it is misdiagnosed and not correctly analyzed. What you’re describing is basically and in layman’s terms; a quick system.
Now I wouldn’t be surprised in the least that if we faced Anaheim in a 1-1 fastest skater races, best of 18 that we would beat em maybe even crush em. . .
But when a player gets to the puck first, shuts the pass down before it gets made, steals a pass and goes on a break away, . . . That’s more than just there lap time, that’s being smart and in a good system
Beaglefan2:
Good points by both of you guys. Also, let's remember that when the other team has a lot of "speed" it usually means our guys aren't skating....lack of effort. It's easy to look like a fast team when you are playing against guys that are coasting.
DC_1908:
--- Quote from: Beaglefan2 on Wednesday March 07, 2018, 10:48:26 PM Eastern ---Good points by both of you guys. Also, let's remember that when the other team has a lot of "speed" it usually means our guys aren't skating....lack of effort. It's easy to look like a fast team when you are playing against guys that are coasting.
--- End quote ---
HA! I forgot to include that :rofl: :rofl:
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[*] Previous page
Go to full version