Kuzy Hit

[Chris19]

After watching the replay over and over it appears McNabb hits Kuzy in the upper body/ head area.  McNabb rises up at the time of impact and makes contact with Kuzys head.  Much like the Wilson hit against the Pens.  It first appeared that Kuzy hurt his shoulder/ arm, but could it be a concussion as well?  Should the league review this due to contact made with the head?  They wont, but should!
https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/1001990101801500673

[alta]

How did you post this? This is the second time you've have an issue with text size, and we are trying to figure out why it happens

It was a clean hit, initially. The only issue would be the way McNabb threw his arm back well after contact. The reason I think it's a broken wrist is the way his hand dangled while getting up and Kuzy immediately trying to support it. There doesn't appear to be any concussion issue.

[KitFisto]

Nothing will come of it so no point worrying about it. Just have to hope Kuzy is ok. If not it's gonna be tough to win 3 more.

[Chris19]

Alta - I just typed as I normally would.  Then realized after that the font was too small.  I went back in and increased it.  Not sure what's causing it.  Will be sure the font is 10pt and not 8

[BlackIce]

The Kuzy hit was a legitimate check that just happened to catch him the wrong way.  It happens, and it's unfortunate that the outcome of the series could be decided by a piece of bad luck like this, but it is what it is.


Two weeks before the 1975 playoffs the Boston Red Sox lost one of their premiere players when Jim Rice was hit in the arm by a pitch and broke it.  The Sox got to the World Series that year and lost to the Cincinnati Reds in the 9th inning of game 7.  To this day Sox fans imagine how different it might have been if Rice had been available for the World Series, but he wasn't, and the franchise had to wait almost another 30 years to get its elusive championship -- by which time all the players on the 1975 team were long gone, of course.  That is the way things happen.

[waynerivers]

Nothing wrong with the Kuz hit, just an unfortunate injury.  I'd be surprised if he comes back the way things looked last night.  However, this is the type of thing teams can rally around to boost their game to another level.

[apace41]

Agreed that it was a clean hit and an unfortunate situation.  I would have preferred if Trotz didn't raise questions about that hit and, instead, sought to make his hay with Reaves' blatant multiple cheap shot cross-checks to the head.  The guy is really a loose cannon and will hurt someone given his approach.  It's one thing to be tough but to take a stick and cross-check the face like he did to Willy is total bullshit.

I think that even without Kuzy we can beat this team.  When you move Nick up with Ovi and Willy there is plenty of familiarity.  Eller has shown stepping in on the second line works well.  I like Stephenson as a 3C when he steps into that spot and putting Chiasson back on the 4th line creates a little more grit and toughness on that line.  Yes, we lose one of the best creative forces we have and an important cog on the power play (although Eller's pass cross crease last night to Ovi was pretty sweet) and we lose perhaps our best outright skater, but I don't think that is insurmountable.  We also pick up additional toughness which might be an even more important commodity against a team like Vegas, especially if it goes 7.

[BlackIce]

Agreed that it was a clean hit and an unfortunate situation.  I would have preferred if Trotz didn't raise questions about that hit and, instead, sought to make his hay with Reaves' blatant multiple cheap shot cross-checks to the head.  The guy is really a loose cannon and will hurt someone given his approach.  It's one thing to be tough but to take a stick and cross-check the face like he did to Willy is total bullshit.

I think that even without Kuzy we can beat this team.  When you move Nick up with Ovi and Willy there is plenty of familiarity.  Eller has shown stepping in on the second line works well.  I like Stephenson as a 3C when he steps into that spot and putting Chiasson back on the 4th line creates a little more grit and toughness on that line.  Yes, we lose one of the best creative forces we have and an important cog on the power play (although Eller's pass cross crease last night to Ovi was pretty sweet) and we lose perhaps our best outright skater, but I don't think that is insurmountable.  We also pick up additional toughness which might be an even more important commodity against a team like Vegas, especially if it goes 7.

I am very doubtful about the capability to beat Vegas without Kuzy.  First, you lose the capability for about a goal per game, minus whatever Eller gives you when he upgrades and gets extra minutes -- and then you have to consider what happens on the 3rd line when Eller isn't there to stabilize it.  But even more important is Kuzy's speed.  It is all the Caps can do to keep Vegas' speed-based attack under control, and if the eventual replacement for Kuzy is Chaisson, that's taking a thoroughbred out of the lineup and replacing it with a plow horse.  If Chaisson does get the call, my betting is that he doesn't play more than 5-7 minutes at most, and his TOI will have to be meted out very carefully.


There have been hints that the Caps "will play somewhat differently" if Kuzy is out longer term.  My bet is that means that the team pulls in its horns, concentrates on defense, and hopes for the breaks to score goals.  In other words, they play a road game regardless of venue.

[Beaglefan2]

I haven’t heard the final prognosis on Kuzy but assuming he is out, we will still win this series for three reasons.


Ovi has got it back in gear and will be huge.


Holtby will springboard from one of the best clutch saves in NHL history and just be phenomenal the rest of the series.


This team believes they can win.

[RavenCp]

I haven’t heard the final prognosis on Kuzy but assuming he is out, we will still win this series for three reasons.


Ovi has got it back in gear and will be huge.


Holtby will springboard from one of the best clutch saves in NHL history and just be phenomenal the rest of the series.


This team believes they can win.

We can get by a game and may be win, but we need him. Same was with Backstrom.

[Chris19]

Kuzy is on the ice and practicing - great news!

[alta]

technically it's an optional morning skate, the full practice is this afternoon. Either way, it is very good news

[KitFisto]

Man I hope he's ok.

[alta]

Man I hope he's ok.

well now I'm confused, are you still using reverse psychology?? 




 

[KitFisto]

well now I'm confused, are you still using reverse psychology?? 




 

Gave it up after game 1. It failed in games 3-5 in the Tampa series. I went silent in games 6 and 7. It failed in game 1 against Vegas. I went silent in game 2.

[alta]

Gave it up after game 1. It failed in games 3-5 in the Tampa series. I went silent in games 6 and 7. It failed in game 1 against Vegas. I went silent in game 2.

yea but didn’t the Caps finish Tampa off in an authoritive fashion?

[KitFisto]

yea but didn’t the Caps finish Tampa off in an authoritive fashion?

Only after I stopped the negative post in the GDT.

[Mickstix]

Kuzy listed as day to day... Hmm.. 


Kit, you and everyone else knows that superstition shit never fails, to fail..

[ArJunaZ]

That's really great news about Kuzy. He was wearing the full contact red jersey too.  The only thing that I find odd and maybe even suspicious is Trotz saying he's not medically cleared and a game time decision and Ovie saying he's sure Kuzy will be fine for game 3.  I would expect the team would have a more clear coordinated message on the subject. The lack of clarity must surely be by design.  I'd love to hear from a witness as to how Kuzy's practice went.

[Maacoshark]

That's really great news about Kuzy. He was wearing the full contact red jersey too.  The only thing that I find odd and maybe even suspicious is Trotz saying he's not medically cleared and a game time decision and Ovie saying he's sure Kuzy will be fine for game 3.  I would expect the team would have a more clear coordinated message on the subject. The lack of clarity must surely be by design.  I'd love to hear from a witness as to how Kuzy's practice went.

   Sounds like they don't want to tip off anything for Vegas.