Hey everyone, how them nerves going?
Apart of me wants to be proud of whatever happens. I think the team has showed some serious heart and evolution these playoffs. Yes, I know I know, Cup or bust. Absolutely. But if it is bust, at least some growing pains were handled, some evolution happened, and the narrative shifted even if slightly. I said it before but experience is so important for going on deep playoff runs most of the time. The west had a wild year for some first timers but look at Tampa they've been in these spots tons. Pitt was the same previous, and so were a lot of Cup winners.
It sucks that we finally get a deeper playoff run so late into Ovie and Nicky's careers, but at this point as a fan I'd of taken anything from this season.
Now all that said. I don't want to be too optimistic about tonights chances because with how things go for us, you never know. But despite my nerves, I have more confidence in this group that I ever have. So there is that. I believe there is absolutely a way where the Caps get into that arena and walk away with a W and a first cup final with Ovechkin. Just about the execution.
I feel like regardless of what happens tonight for me, the narrative of this season and especially this playoffs is growth in surprising places. I feel far more confident in our forward and defensive depth than I used to, and it's because of players like Wilson, Stephenson, Vrana, Kempny and Oshie. The first three are all draft picks for us and seeing the evolution of their games, Wilson settling into not just a great agitator and physical presence but a scoring threat, and an asset on the forecheck. Stephenson has become a hustle machine, he's like if Brooks Laich could of actually skated fast and not just had hustle. He works, he's an excellent PK guy and he is comfortable playing any forward position to boot. With faceoff skills as a former natural center. Vrana has impressed me these playoffs, he's been fast yes, but he's now finally learning to utilize his speed to hit. Yes hit. He forechecked a bunch these playoffs, and his defensive stick has been more active. He may not be a defensive wizard, but he's committed, he cares. Kempny is just a surprise for me, we needed another Top 4 D who simply could be steady, not look out of place out there. I have no idea how Chicago let him go, maybe it was just a placement thing, he needed the right roster and role to excel. But he's looked very steady next to Carlson in big hard games and seems none the worse wear and tear wise. One of BMGM's few surprise "hits" in regards to trading honestly. Lastly Oshie, if we ever lose Ovechkin it's either Oshie or Beagle that gets the C imo. I don't know if people remember this but Oshie was injured heading into the playoffs and hasn't been playing 100% all playoffs health wise. Yet he's still out there making a difference in every facet of the ice. Forecheck, PP, PK, cycle, backcheck, netural clog, net presence. I mean he out works more than one defender on the ice while injured.
A lot of those names are players who are younger, and signed to us for a decent length of time. So my reason for optimism is that those are names that have shown growth in the crucial playoff games and they certainly make our future seem far less bleak than I had originally thought heading into the season.
Anyway, rant over, let's go Caps crazy Game 7 I can't wait but also don't know if I can take it.
