Talk about Capitals hockey & more! > Washington Capitals & Other Hockey Discussion
GDT#21 Blackhawks @ Capitals 7:00 p.m. ET Wed Nov 21, 2018 NBCSWA, WGN
BlackIce:
--- Quote from: PUCKNRUSH on Thursday November 22, 2018, 12:25:01 AM Eastern ---
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
--- End quote ---
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:
--- Quote from: Mickstix on Thursday November 22, 2018, 08:34:59 AM Eastern ---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!! :uh-huh: :rofl:
--- End quote ---
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:
--- Quote from: BlackIce on Thursday November 22, 2018, 11:28:26 AM Eastern ---
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.
--- End quote ---
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
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