GDT R2G1 Penguins @ Capitals 2018-04-26 7:00pm EST NBCSN, CBC

[DC_1908]

I was at work, recorded the game, did everything I could while at work not to hear the results, got in my car, forgot I'd left the radio on and they announce the score.   So f'n glad I don't have to watch us collapse yet again.   We can't even beat this team without Malkin.   What a joke.


On the other side, VGK up 3-0 early in the first.  Nice to see a team get a two goal lead and actually try to increase it.

Schidtt, Eakin, Ward, Fehr, . . . We could of used all of em tonight

[justwincaps]

4-0 VGK!

[apace41]

Wow, another 2 goal lead lost at home. In the 3rd period no less.   

The softness of this team continues. After showing toughness vs CBJ they give up o e deflection and fold like a cheap tent.

[DC_1908]

TUCH!!!




That was ridiculous!!!!

[apace41]

Credit to Murray.  He made a couple of ridiculous saves on sure goals and wound up being the difference.  Holts was great other than the Crosby goal.  Largely on Ovie for poor D but that one should not get through.

[waynerivers]

Anybody surprised?  Anyone at all?  All the elements of past losses were there; squandering leads, failing to press the attack after we had the lead, confusion in our own end and poor goaltending at critical moments.  Most of all though, besides having better talent, Pittsburgh is just a vastly better coached team.  Trotz and co. just have no clue at all about how to win   This one is already over and everyone knows it.  Imagine when Malkin and Hagelin return.

[waynerivers]

 
 

Holtby made a bad play on the 3rd goal, too.  He dumped it around the boards right to Crosby.  If you're going to shoot it up the boards, you have to have some idea as to who is there.  He was barely back in position and the puck was off Crosby's stick headed to the net.

[justwincaps]

Anybody surprised?  Anyone at all?  All the elements of past losses were there; squandering leads, failing to press the attack after we had the lead, confusion in our own end and poor goaltending at critical moments.  Most of all though, besides having better talent, Pittsburgh is just a vastly better coached team.  Trotz and co. just have no clue at all about how to win   This one is already over and everyone knows it.  Imagine when Malkin and Hagelin return.

Agree.  Agree. Agree.
And the sad truth is that as soon as our sorry asses are escorted out in the second round again, Trotz will be fired and will bring in his assistant to take over.   just like GMGM was shown the door only to bring in his protege in GMBM, Trotz will be fired and Rierdan will take over.
And it will be SSDD all over again.

[Beaglefan2]

Caps win the next 4. You heard it here first. They will become the first team to win the Cup that loses the first game in every series.

[justwincaps]

Caps win the next 4. You heard it here first. They will become the first team to win the Cup that loses the first game in every series.

Love the optimism.
Question the sanity - but love the optimism.

[Racer17l]

Caps win the next 4. You heard it here first. They will become the first team to win the Cup that loses the first game in every series.

Not trying to troll you but the Pens did that already in 1991 and beat the Caps along the way.

[RavenCp]

I'm sure there were many different teams. We can say may be they beat Holtby and Kuzya 2 times and Ovie/Backstrom 3 times. Their organization is better staring with owner who understands hockey, etc. Sill Caps have chances. This will be third year when I'm rooting for ousting Trotz. Nash did right a thing to rid of him, they are doing much better now. Anyway, this the first game, with a home disadvantage.   

[KitFisto]

V-G-K!!!!

Easy to build a team when you're taking everyone else's talent.

[DC_1908]

Easy to build a team when you're taking everyone else's talent.

Actually, not really.


   There where plenty of names and starts that we’re unprotected, and/or opportunities to get 3 or-so mega-stars to sell the team and hope for the best.


But GMGM went through & found high value players with good contracts that were under appreciated by thier teams.  Hell, there are GMs that would have chosen Orpik over Schmidt on a brand new team.


If the Caps had added TUCH, R. Smith, or Karrlson, most Caps fans wouldn’t of heard of them, or wondered why when we have Connolly and Bura, because “skill” or whatever.


Bottom line is GMGM went through and built a combination of contracts and castoffs that have become one of the best teams in league in one year. 


Besides, just go to a game there, its the abut the craziest time you'll have at a hockey game!

[Maacoshark]

 

Holtby made a bad play on the 3rd goal, too.  He dumped it around the boards right to Crosby.  If you're going to shoot it up the boards, you have to have some idea as to who is there.  He was barely back in position and the puck was off Crosby's stick headed to the net.

   The dmen didn't give him any support. Maybe miscommunication.

[Maacoshark]

Easy to build a team when you're taking everyone else's talent.

    Vegas had a lot if guys to choose from but it looks like they chose the right guys.
  I really don't like how this whole Vegas thing played out. There was way too much talent available for them in the expansion draft. That along with deals that were made to prevent Vegas from taking certain players. Vegas made out very well. GMGM did a good job at drafting and dealing but it was made pretty easy for him. With the talent available there was no doubt they would be decent. They are still exceeding expectations.

[waynerivers]

Easy to build a team when you're taking everyone else's talent.

Not really.  The talent available were the guys other teams didn't want.  That you could select wisely, hire the right coach, install the right system and have the team they have is a tribute to their management.  McPhee did there what he couldn't do here but it was arguably a much tougher task.  The lesson of Vegas is also that coaching is very important.  Gallant has them playing very smart hockey.  You never see them just dumping the puck up the boards blindly to the other team or throwing it mindlessly into empty space in a panic.  The Caps do this constantly all game.  It's one of the reasons they can't beat Pittsburgh.  No discipline and too much dumb play.  Vegas also has the mindset of attack, attack, attack whether up 3 or down 3.  That's another lesson the Caps have never learned.  I'm seeing some sour grapes here because the local crew can't do it.

[DC_1908]

Not really.  The talent available were the guys other teams didn't want.  That you could select wisely, hire the right coach, install the right system and have the team they have is a tribute to their management.  McPhee did there what he couldn't do here but it was arguably a much tougher task.  The lesson of Vegas is also that coaching is very important.  Gallant has them playing very smart hockey.  You never see them just dumping the puck up the boards blindly to the other team or throwing it mindlessly into empty space in a panic.  The Caps do this constantly all game.  It's one of the reasons they can't beat Pittsburgh.  No discipline and too much dumb play.  Vegas also has the mindset of attack, attack, attack whether up 3 or down 3.  That's another lesson the Caps have never learned.

Yep, which is why we need to question Dick Patrick and the Monumental Board.


Before getting into the multiple runours etc , it’s simple to see that not a lot has changed since GMGM left, and what has just has been for the worse.


But without Patrick, Ted, et all.,  look what GMGM has done,

[KitFisto]

Yep, which is why we need to question Dick Patrick and the Monumental Board.


Before getting into the multiple runours etc , it’s simple to see that not a lot has changed since GMGM left, and what has just has been for the worse.


But without Patrick, Ted, et all.,  look what GMGM has done,

I'll always disagree about McPhee. He was terrible. I want to see where Vegas is in 6 or 7 years when his draft picks are the core of the team. Look at McPhee's entire draft history outside of the first round while in Washington. I think Out of 16 years Holtby and Orlov had an impact? It's an atrocious record.

[ArJunaZ]

    Vegas had a lot if guys to choose from but it looks like they chose the right guys.
  I really don't like how this whole Vegas thing played out. There was way too much talent available for them in the expansion draft. That along with deals that were made to prevent Vegas from taking certain players. Vegas made out very well. GMGM did a good job at drafting and dealing but it was made pretty easy for him. With the talent available there was no doubt they would be decent. They are still exceeding expectations.

I agree. I said from the beginning it was unfair. They had twice the pool to choose from than the last expansion draft in 2000 from which the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild had to draw from. This means they had four times the opportunity of the last expansion teams.