Talk about Capitals hockey & more! > Washington Capitals & Other Hockey Discussion
GDT R4G2 Capitals @ Knights 2018-05-30 8:00pm EST NBCSW, CBC, SN, TVAS
apace41:
--- Quote from: BlackIce on Thursday May 31, 2018, 02:26:31 PM Eastern ---
What surprises me about Vegas is only secondarily the success they've had as a first-year franchise. What REALLY surprises me is the success they had as a FIRST-DAY franchise. They have been as good as or better than any other team in the NHL from the first puck drop in the first meaningful (regular-season) game of their existence. Nobody, including Vegas I suspect, can begin to understand how this could have happened. It is as if they needed absolutely NO learning curve whatsoever. We talk all the time about how players need to gain experience and learn certain skills and qualities intrinsic to winning and how to play as a team. So nowhere on the Vegas squad was there ever any need for even one day -- one game -- to learn any of that, ever?
I am 70 years old, and I guarantee you, this is the most astounding story I have ever seen in sports, no matter which franchise wins the Cup. Unfathomable.
--- End quote ---
I think that the reason they have been able to succeed from day 1 is the style of play they adopted. They play hockey's equivalent of the old Arkansas Razorback's NCAA basketball "40 Minutes of Hell" and press the entire game. The don't play any kind of "system hockey" and that is why we saw a 4 on 1 in the 3rd period where Eller chose to shoot when he had several better options that would likely have resulted in a goal. What last night showed is that a team that plays solid system hockey, with strong goaltending, can beat a team playing a full-out press if it converts its chances. Note that in addition to the blown 4 v 1 we also had Vrana hit a post he should have scored on a 2 v 1 and Beagle mishandle on another 2 v 1. Once we got the system set pretty well they didn't have any real odd man breaks. In addition, 9 of their 37 shots came during the 5 v 3 and ensuing 5 v 4/. But, for the most part, NHL teams are not prepared to handle teams that are in incredible shape and can skate them into the ice. Vegas creates a helter-skelter game like game 1 and thrives on it. If the Caps allow themselves to play that game they are dead in the water. If they play the style they did last night, which they can certainly play even better than they did last night, they should be fine.
Ice, I agree with your assessment with two possible exceptions:
2 years ago in the English Premier League when Leicester City won the championship after being moments away from relegation the prior year was, on a larger stage, equally or more unlikely
The 1969 Mets who had been a historically bad franchise for 6 years since inception going from last in the NL (every year except 2 times second-to-last) to World Series champs is right up there
DC_1908:
--- Quote from: Ozzies09tc on Thursday May 31, 2018, 04:43:47 PM Eastern ---Caps win the cup, pundits will say "they beat a brand new team in the NHL with a bunch of 3rd liners"
--- End quote ---
Or, we got beat by an exhibition team. . . We’re screwed either way :rofl:
BlackIce:
--- Quote from: DC_1908 on Thursday May 31, 2018, 05:18:47 PM Eastern ---Or, we got beat by an exhibition team. . . We’re screwed either way :rofl:
--- End quote ---
THIS is the last thing I am worried about, for two reasons. (1) The mantra of champions always is "beat who is in front of you." and (2) It has been clear all season that Vegas is as good as or better than any of the other teams in the NHL, 1st season or not. To diss them as inferior competition in any way is nonsense.
DC_1908:
--- Quote from: BlackIce on Thursday May 31, 2018, 05:53:33 PM Eastern ---
THIS is the last thing I am worried about, for two reasons. (1) The mantra of champions always is "beat who is in front of you." and (2) It has been clear all season that Vegas is as good as or better than any of the other teams in the NHL, 1st season or not. To diss them as inferior competition in any way is nonsense.
--- End quote ---
Nonsense has never stopped the pundents, media, Hens fans, Pierre, Milbury, and the ilk. This would simply to insult us, not have any significance
Stealyerfaceoff:
--- Quote from: newtoCapsparty on Thursday May 31, 2018, 12:02:31 AM Eastern ---Trotz mentioning the hit on Kuzy was questionable...is that the general sentiment here? I'm not sure...don't know enough about 'legal' v. 'illegal' hits.
--- End quote ---
So much of what is happening in these finals would be called a penalty during the regular season. And that in a nutshell is what is F'ed up with the NHL.
Not only do the rules change somehow in the playoffs, but they change from game to game and period to period.
As to the hit on Kuzya, he did leave his feet and throw an elbow. I invite you to spin the wheel of justice....
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