GDT#21 Blackhawks @ Capitals 7:00 p.m. ET Wed Nov 21, 2018 NBCSWA, WGN

[Maacoshark]

We needed that. We got a bit sloppy. On that last goal we gave up Djoos got caught pinching, Eller covered for him but failed.

[alta]

Doesn’t DSP have more goals than Connolly now?

their stats say they both have 3 goals, not sure how updated that is, may have to wait til games over

[dpf1971]

Doesn’t DSP have more goals than Connolly now?

You'd have more goals than Connolly too if you had Burakovsky playing the other wing on your line.

[ArJunaZ]

1st Period
00:54  GOAL 43-Wilson, assists 8-Ovechkin & 19-Bäckström   1-0 WSH
06:36  PP GOAL 65-Burakovsky, assists 13-Vrana & 2-Niskanen   2-0 WSH

2nd Period
09:28  GOAL 6-Kempny, assist 13-Vrana   3-0 WSH
11:37  Hawks GOAL Saad, assists Toews & Keith   3-1 WSH

3rd Period
05:23  Hawks GOAL Gustafsson, assists Anisimov & Schmaltz   3-2 WSH
07:12 GOAL 25-Smith-Pelly, assists 72-Boyd & 74-Carlson   4-2 WSH

FINAL:    4-2 WSH

[ArJunaZ]

Good night all.

Happy Turkey Day! 
50% off Papa johns Pizza on Friday.

[richkrt99]

I couldn't watch the game - only access to NHL tonight so seeing highlights.
I'm liking Boyd more and more.  He adds some spark and has made some very nice plays with his hustle


Send Burka packing. We could use the salary elsewhere and at this point I'll take just about any of [size=78%]our other options over Burka. [/size]


Sweet goal by OVIE/willie


Curious as to which team played better. Can't tell from random bits of highlights

[alta]

wasn’t a bad game, great start for once, and their first 3 game win streak

[PUCKNRUSH]

I couldn't watch the game - only access to NHL tonight so seeing highlights.
I'm liking Boyd more and more.  He adds some spark and has made some very nice plays with his hustle


Send Burka packing. We could use the salary elsewhere and at this point I'll take just about any of [size=78%]our other options over Burka. [/size]


Sweet goal by OVIE/willie


Curious as to which team played better. Can't tell from random bits of highlights

Overall we played better,IMO, Rich. We scorched them in the first period at both ends. We could have had 2 or 3 more, with a bit more puck luck. Crawford kept the hawks in the game at end of 1st P with some good saves! Later in game we laid off the gas a little, not atypical for us to do!
Generally held on at 3-2 in the 3rd until DSP scored.
It would be unfair to say Chicago played a good game! They were mostly off a bit, some of it on them, and quite a bit we also dictated!
My 2 cents.
Happy Thanksgiving Rich, and EVERYONE!!


Rush

[4 Caps]

Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone.  Caps did their part by winning and sending home all the Cap fans happy.  We are playing pretty well especially since we are missing two top six forwards.  I am really worried about Oshie, another concussion.  That I believe is five.  I believe he will be out awhile, in fact with his family history I wonder if we will consider calling it a career. 

[BlackIce]

Back from the game.


Chicago plays a different looking game from most teams.  It seemed as though all their lines were doing a weave in their own zone after they got the puck, trying to generate lanes to skate through the neutral zone.  They are a little quicker than we are, and hemmed us in from time to time, which explains the shot disparity.


Funny how Wilson simply can't avoid contact.  Right after his goal he steamrolled Crawford, who was completely out of position setting up for what he thought was going to be an Ovechkin shot.


Face-offs were almost 50/50, which surprised the heck out of me, because it seemed to me as if we were losing 2 out of 3 in our zone.  The refs are getting really picky on face-offs.  One team or the other got a man thrown out on almost every one before a good face-off was executed.


I don't know why people are complaining about Burakovsky at this moment.  His game was fine tonight. 


Backstrom/Ovie/Wilson were on the ice almost all the time that Kane/Toews/Saad were.


Virtually no hitting in the game -- 14 hits total between the two teams.


Wilson led the forwards in ice time again tonight.  The man is a beast -- pp now, pk, you name it.  The rest of the lines were sometimes good, sometimes not.  Because of the Kuzy/Oshie injuries there are a number of guys playing out of their comfort zone.


I was hoping to see Siegenthaler tonight, but no, it was Bowey and Djoos, I suspect because the Blackhawks are all shiftiness and virtually no toughness.


Bigger crowd than I expected for a Thanksgiving eve game.

[PUCKNRUSH]

Always glad to see any Caps player bury the biscuit! OF COURSE!!


Bura got #3 tonite, on a silver platter, slick-ass pass from Vrana! Happy for the Caps team, and glad he had the skill to sink it!  Does nothing to raise his value, in my eyes. WHY? There’s just no other meat on the bone, for him!!


So let’s be real and admit his last two goals have been basically serve-up types, where all you have to do is sink it! Ok...great. FOR THE TEAM, mainly, but helping his individual  “teamwork” issues, I don’t see much solace there.


His goals this year, so far, seem to have a “lonesome” feel to them, meaning he contributes little or nothing, being mostly uninvolved, in the puck movement process that leads to him having a great shot opportunity, in the first place!
That’s not necessarily a BAD thing, generally, but when you’re Bura, right now, you need to be showing consistent line INVOLVEMENT, that contributes to either you OR your linemates production!!


I compare it to an employee at work, who is on the verge of getting fired for low performance of their duties. Then, near the end of the month, comes in with a lucky, big dollar sale, that’s just enough to keep his employment, barely afloat, but management knows it’s just a matter of time, as he’s been written up numerous times prior, and hasn’t responded well too the extra training classes offered by the company!! Ask any manager, and they will admit to the large cloud of frustration surrounding the situation!!!


COME ON, TRADE DEADLINE!!


Rush

[PUCKNRUSH]

Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone.  Caps did their part by winning and sending home all the Cap fans happy.  We are playing pretty well especially since we are missing two top six forwards.  I am really worried about Oshie, another concussion.  That I believe is five.  I believe he will be out awhile, in fact with his family history I wonder if we will consider calling it a career.

Always appreciate the macro-view 4Caps!
We’re doing well overall! Especially sans Oshie and Kuzy!
Wilson is a great positive for us!


Happy Thanksgiving


Rush

[PUCKNRUSH]

Back from the game.


Chicago plays a different looking game from most teams.  It seemed as though all their lines were doing a weave in their own zone after they got the puck, trying to generate lanes to skate through the neutral zone.  They are a little quicker than we are, and hemmed us in from time to time, which explains the shot disparity.


Funny how Wilson simply can't avoid contact.  Right after his goal he steamrolled Crawford, who was completely out of position setting up for what he thought was going to be an Ovechkin shot.


Face-offs were almost 50/50, which surprised the heck out of me, because it seemed to me as if we were losing 2 out of 3 in our zone.  The refs are getting really picky on face-offs.  One team or the other got a man thrown out on almost every one before a good face-off was executed.


I don't know why people are complaining about Burakovsky at this moment.  His game was fine tonight. 


Backstrom/Ovie/Wilson were on the ice almost all the time that Kane/Toews/Saad were.


Virtually no hitting in the game -- 14 hits total between the two teams.


Wilson led the forwards in ice time again tonight.  The man is a beast -- pp now, pk, you name it.  The rest of the lines were sometimes good, sometimes not.  Because of the Kuzy/Oshie injuries there are a number of guys playing out of their comfort zone.


I was hoping to see Siegenthaler tonight, but no, it was Bowey and Djoos, I suspect because the Blackhawks are all shiftiness and virtually no toughness.


Bigger crowd than I expected for a Thanksgiving eve game.

Hey Black!
Had to sell my tix tonite.
Agree with much of your analysis, especially with the weave stuff from Chicago. I thought Caps had a decent answer for most of it.
With Willie hitting Crawford, I only saw it once, but my thought was that Crawford was nearly half out of the crease, and may have been moving further out into Wilson’s path! Not 100% on that, though. I’ll look at it on highlights. Either way, Willie still would have known that SOME form of contact was going to occur, when he chose his final approach path! He does need to have that extra awareness etched into his brain, as he has already shown some marginal decision making since returning. He MUST be careful!  Especially as we witness his ever increasing value to the team!


Was surprised to see face offs at 50/50 as well! The old eye test thought otherwise!


Finally, I just posted an anti-Bura message, just before reading your post that I’m quoting now!
Respectfully, I just disagree about #65!
I will say my opinion is HEAVILY influenced by the prolonged efforts of the past, to get him going! Injuries notwithstanding, for me, he’s at the point where his improvement needs to be OBVIOUS, and undeniable, in my book, in order to forge some realistic HOPE for him in the near future!
In my eyes, it’s just not there, being, at best, quite vanilla in substantive, observable improvement, not even mentioning that it would also have to be consistent for one season!


I’m going to try and make the Redwings game, Friday, but a 4pm start is tough!


Rush

[Surreylily]

I'm so sorry.  I fell asleep.   

[Mickstix]

I don't know all the rules about contacting the goalie, but he was right in the play with the puck and not even close to being "in the paint".. IMO, he should just be a regular player at that point? If he gets checked, run over, etc. that's on him? Now, if you get him when the pucks isn't around, sure it's interference, but that obviously wasn't the case last night. Seems like the consensus was that the call was correct, not to penalize Willie..


As for Burp.. His breath didn't stink quite as bad last night, but he better keep that tooth brush close by!! 

[BlackIce]

Hey Black!
Had to sell my tix tonite.
Agree with much of your analysis, especially with the weave stuff from Chicago. I thought Caps had a decent answer for most of it.
With Willie hitting Crawford, I only saw it once, but my thought was that Crawford was nearly half out of the crease, and may have been moving further out into Wilson’s path! Not 100% on that, though. I’ll look at it on highlights. Either way, Willie still would have known that SOME form of contact was going to occur, when he chose his final approach path! He does need to have that extra awareness etched into his brain, as he has already shown some marginal decision making since returning. He MUST be careful!  Especially as we witness his ever increasing value to the team!


Was surprised to see face offs at 50/50 as well! The old eye test thought otherwise!


Finally, I just posted an anti-Bura message, just before reading your post that I’m quoting now!
Respectfully, I just disagree about #65!
I will say my opinion is HEAVILY influenced by the prolonged efforts of the past, to get him going! Injuries notwithstanding, for me, he’s at the point where his improvement needs to be OBVIOUS, and undeniable, in my book, in order to forge some realistic HOPE for him in the near future!
In my eyes, it’s just not there, being, at best, quite vanilla in substantive, observable improvement, not even mentioning that it would also have to be consistent for one season!


I’m going to try and make the Redwings game, Friday, but a 4pm start is tough!


Rush

There was nothing Wilson could do on that goal/collision with Crawford.  Ovie's setup led him right into Crawford's path.  It almost looked as if Wilson was trying to jump OVER Crawford after he scored, to avoid/minimize contact.


As for Burakovsky's score, yes Vrana gave him a fantastic setup, but it wasn't a layup (say, in the way that Wilson's was).  Crawford WAS coming across to face him as best he could, and so the shot had to be taken instantaneously and up high -- which it was.  It was very much a sniper's goal.  Interestingly, Vrana knew exactly what he wanted to do with the puck from the time he got to it, but he missed it his first swing because the puck was bouncing.  He got it on the 2nd try.


Bura is an enigma to me.  He plays OK defense -- he isn't great, but he generally doesn't hurt you.  He back checks OK.  He will go to the boards to get pucks.  Like Backstrom, he depends on quickness and anticipation to get possession along the boards, rather than strength and positioning.  To me, his big problem seems to be that he works well in space, but for some reason he can't find it or create it consistently for himself.  He doesn't seem to have "hockey sense" that way.  He can sometimes create space by high cycling, which he does better than anyone else on the team besides Kuznetsov, but that creates space in a non-scoring area.  A sniper who can't often create space to get shots off (and Ovie is of course the zen master at this) can't score goals consistently.  Bura's total game is not a disaster in the way some people characterize it, but if he can't figure out ways to take advantage of his best skills he looks like the type of guy whose breakthrough is always going to lie tantalizingly just out of reach. 

[PUCKNRUSH]

I don't know all the rules about contacting the goalie, but he was right in the play with the puck and not even close to being "in the paint".. IMO, he should just be a regular player at that point? If he gets checked, run over, etc. that's on him? Now, if you get him when the pucks isn't around, sure it's interference, but that obviously wasn't the case last night. Seems like the consensus was that the call was correct, not to penalize Willie..


As for Burp.. His breath didn't stink quite as bad last night, but he better keep that tooth brush close by!! 

Hey Mick.
I ran that replay on Wilson’s goal several times, and have a more solid opinion on it.
Yeah, it’s not even close to any fault on Wilson. I’ve probably become a little gun shy about him using caution, due to my belief that NHL has him as a marked man! (And I’m hardly a conspiracy guy)!
He did attempt to avoid contact, and the resulting “no call”, says it all! Crawford was way out of position, as well!


Rush

[PUCKNRUSH]

There was nothing Wilson could do on that goal/collision with Crawford.  Ovie's setup led him right into Crawford's path.  It almost looked as if Wilson was trying to jump OVER Crawford after he scored, to avoid/minimize contact.


As for Burakovsky's score, yes Vrana gave him a fantastic setup, but it wasn't a layup (say, in the way that Wilson's was).  Crawford WAS coming across to face him as best he could, and so the shot had to be taken instantaneously and up high -- which it was.  It was very much a sniper's goal.  Interestingly, Vrana knew exactly what he wanted to do with the puck from the time he got to it, but he missed it his first swing because the puck was bouncing.  He got it on the 2nd try.


Bura is an enigma to me.  He plays OK defense -- he isn't great, but he generally doesn't hurt you.  He back checks OK.  He will go to the boards to get pucks.  Like Backstrom, he depends on quickness and anticipation to get possession along the boards, rather than strength and positioning.  To me, his big problem seems to be that he works well in space, but for some reason he can't find it or create it consistently for himself.  He doesn't seem to have "hockey sense" that way.  He can sometimes create space by high cycling, which he does better than anyone else on the team besides Kuznetsov, but that creates space in a non-scoring area.  A sniper who can't often create space to get shots off (and Ovie is of course the zen master at this) can't score goals consistently.  Bura's total game is not a disaster in the way some people characterize it, but if he can't figure out ways to take advantage of his best skills he looks like the type of guy whose breakthrough is always going to lie tantalizingly just out of reach. 

Got a few good looks at Willies goal. I’m solid, now, that all was good by Willie!


On Bura, I do see the Kuzy-esque high cycle aspect of his game being done well, but as you mention, a lesser choice area to score from. Also did not mean to imply Buras goal was a gimme. It took stick timing and big skill to sink it, surely! Maybe I just want to see more contribution to his own cause, in general.


I think you hit the nail on the head, for me, in describing a Bura breakthrough as possibly remaining continually just out of reach! My pessimism with that is in the frustration in waiting for it. I just don’t see the maturity happening anytime soon.
Thanks, Black


Rush