GDT#42 Flyers @ Capitals 7:30pm Tue Jan 8, 2019 NBCSWA, NBCSN, TVAS

[alta]

OSHIE with the eng

[apace41]

TJ

200!

[ArJunaZ]

[ArJunaZ]

1st Period
04:21  GOAL 43-Wilson, assist 13-Vrana   1-0 WSH
09:28  Flyers GOAL Voracek, assist Lindblom   1-1 TIE

2nd Period
09:19  GOAL 77-Oshie, assists 20-Eller & 74-Carlson   2-1 WSH
11:22  GOAL 13-Vrana, unassisted   3-1 WSH
15:55  PP GOAL 13-Vrana, assists 72-Boyd & 74-Carlson   4-1 WSH

3rd Period
16:33  Flyers GOAL Simmonds, assists Voracek & Couturier   4-2 WSH
19:53  Flyers GOAL Giroux, asssists Couturier & Voracek   4-3 WSH
19:58  EN GOAL 77-Oshie, unassisted   5-3

FINAL:    5-3 WSH

[Mickstix]

Good game.. Refs were afraid the thing might end on it's own, had to get further involved. Get well soon Nicky!! Catch you peeps next time!

[Surreylily]

Good for Oshie.  200   

[BarfingMonkey]

why do they schedule a damn hockey game on the same night as the new Oak Island,? don't these asshats know I don't have a DVR?

(looking up Oak Island)

[Surreylily]

Glad I managed to get to the end for the win.
Refs were awfull.
See's y'all soon.   

[ArJunaZ]

Much better effort in last 40 min.  Good to see.  Still not great.

See you all Thursday for Capitals @ Marchand . . .. er Wilson @ Bruins!       or something like that!

[alta]

Carlin definitely wears eye liner,




lame

[ArJunaZ]

Carlin definitely wears eye liner,




lame

It does appear so.

[alta]

I've only had eye liner on once in my life and that was for hollowween

[PUCKNRUSH]

This game is what I mean by Burakovsky getting miscast consistently by the organization.


Why are the #3 line wings Bura and Connolly?  They are both snipers, and who is going to get the puck off the boards?  A lot of times Bura is in this type of role and ends up trying to retrieve the puck off the boards, which is precisely what his skills AREN'T.   Bura and Smith-Pelly would make a lot more sense on a line with Boyd, and Connolly with Stephenson and Dowd, who could handle the defensive responsibilities on that line.

If Bura’s gotta be in there, then yes, I agree Black
If they’re going to attempt to showcase the guy a bit, then help him out. Don’t defeat your purpose!


Puck retrieval along the boards is SURELY one of his consistent vices!! He’s REALLY bad at it, especially as he’s taller, with some reach and height!! He’s no shorty!


I’m ok with the Eller/Connolly chemistry so far. It would be interesting to see Stephenson, or even maybe be test Jaskin also, on 3rd line!
Bura, Boyd, DSP/Dowd would be an ok try at 4th!  Truth is, we’re good with forwards, so, IMO, Bura can sit, as I’m not confident he’ll do any better while showcased, either! There’s not much to suggest anything except a few decent flashes of talent, maybe, and a lot of neutral filler in between!

If the goal of showcasing him, is to hopefully increase his value, then a few flashes, aren’t going to move the needle much, if any!

I’d rather see a healthy good rotation of Jaskin, Dowd, Boyd, DSP, and Stephenson, where Jaskin and Dowd, bear a little more of the healthy scratch time, unless their play really stands out, OR, DSP or Stephenson start going south a bit.

You want to keep these guys well-oiled and ready going into March!
I prioritize that over giving Bura some “hope and cross your fingers”, TOI!
But again, if he’s in, your line change ups make good sense!!


Rush

[zerofox]

Hate to be a debbie downer - I'm glad they got the win but honestly I've gotta see more consistent, 60 minute efforts where they play like a team that gives a shit and where they play like a team that has chemistry and general flow before I have any hopes of a Cup repeat. A good game here and there against another garbage team on a back to back doesn't move the needle much.

[DC_1908]

Hate to be a debbie downer - I'm glad they got the win but honestly I've gotta see more consistent, 60 minute efforts where they play like a team that gives a shit and where they play like a team that has chemistry and general flow before I have any hopes of a Cup repeat. A good game here and there against another garbage team on a back to back doesn't move the needle much.

Yep, tell that to the zealots

[Beaglefan2]

Vrana has something in his makeup that gives him the desire to drive to the net whenever he has the slightest edge from the outside - at full speed - with reckless abandon.  In the current NHL with big contracts and gentlemen's agreements on no checking, it is very rare.  Way to go Jake!

[Beaglefan2]

I really don't like Jaskin sitting - I think he is getting a raw deal. If DSP hadn't scored a few key goals in the run last year, I think everybody would be calling for him to sit - he is slow, has hands of stone and is a poor passer.  Time to move on.


While I am at it. Stephenson better start stepping it up.  For a buy that has great skills, other than playing a decent defensive game, he is not coming close to his potential.  I know, I know - his role is defensive, blah, blah, blah - but if he had half the desire Vrana had, he could be a star.

[richkrt99]

I started watching recorded game about two hours late...fell asleep when it was 3-1.


It's funny to check these boards the day after and see all the "sky is falling", "this team is crap", "I've given up watching" "comments posted when its the middle of the first period...and then the Caps actually wake up and play well, score 5 goals and then we all love them again.  (Yes, I know they played a bottom feeder team)


Well, except for DC...I'll grant him at least he is consistent....  This organization is crap no matter what the game result:  Too much scoring, Not enough toughness, not enough D, not enough bloody massacre, Owner sucks, GM sucks, Head coach sucks, assistant coaches suck, same team core sucks, League sucks, etc. etc.


Back to last night's game:



Damn, Vrana has some serious wheels.  Loving him this year.  Also love that he actually drives the net.  He is balls out full throttle as soon as he sees a glimmer of opportunity.  Can't coach that mentality into someone I don't think.  I honestly thought they should have traded him couple years ago, but glad they didn't.  When does his current contract expire?  Do we have to find money for him next year or the year after?  (Oh hell, looked it up and he's RFA next year)  He has totally supplanted any hopes of Burka actually making the top two lines, which pretty much makes Burka a worthless asset for this team.  Like many others have said....Bura just isn't a 3rd or 4th line guy, so it makes no sense to put him there - that just robs a guy the 3rd/4th line spot who does it better than Bura anyway.  I really think Bura could be a viable 2nd line sniper in the right environment - just not here.  Why not just face the music and move him already?


Glad to see Oshie wake up also.


Willy - just love his game.  Speed, size, skill, toughness.  I think he is one of the biggest factors for the Caps now and in the future.  I really don't understand the NHL's beef with him.  He could be a superstar if they embraced him rather than making him out to be the bad guy.  I mean, who doesn't want to watch him play?  He has really become what the Caps have desperately needed for so long.   
Was he a #1 draft pick?  I don't recall.


Glad to see the PP finally do something, but overall the PP isn't my biggest concern.  It usually is not the biggest factor in the playoffs, so why get bent over it.
I'd rather see some solid 5v5 TEAM cohesion and team D.  Hoping they are just saving it for the playoffs and that they haven't lost that ability.


Eller had good game - still don't understand all the hate for him.  He is a serviceable 3C and he fills in at 2C with a passing grade on short term basis - (all this relative to what he is paid).


Kempny -     Nice pass dipshit.  He'd better be buying Copely a nice steak or something for that one  (Either that or the Flyers should be buying him one).  Kempny must have been watching Carlson tape [/size](that one's for you Maako)
Actually I like Kempny all right.  He has his total crap moments (like everyone), but overall I think his game has improved.  Good pickup for the price.


So, since I have so much work to do....I thought I'd waste 30 minutes on Caps stuff... 


Copley and Vrana are both RFA next year.  I don't see where the money is coming from for BOTH.  To me, easy decision to pay Vrana with Burka's money and send Burka packing.
Not sure what Copley will require, but don't think you can pay a true NHL backup goalie peanuts and expect to keep him.


Stephenson, Jaskin, and Siegenthaler are RFA's next year also.  I like them all, but not sure any would make or break us.  I'd like to see them develop Siegenthaler further.  Maybe "we" can get him on the cheap for a couple years?


Dowd, Connolly, Orpik, Smith-Pelly are all UFA's.  Again, none of them real deal breakers.  Do you pay Orpik $1 mil for another year?  Guess that depends on how many D youngsters you get back.

[Mickstix]

Ah, the joys of a GDT..    It's a roller coaster!! Wilson was indeed a 1st rd pick.. Game wasn't -that- bad. They started slow, then gave up that dumb goal off the Kempny brain fart, then settled in and just played hockey for the last 2 frames.. End of the game was a little stupid, fucked up Cops numbers, but what are ya gonna do.. 1 timers, setup from across the ice, rarely get stopped if they're on target. The Simmonds goal was just a gritty goal in the paint. Should of ended 4/5-2 but is what it is..

[BlackIce]

Hate to be a debbie downer - I'm glad they got the win but honestly I've gotta see more consistent, 60 minute efforts where they play like a team that gives a shit and where they play like a team that has chemistry and general flow before I have any hopes of a Cup repeat. A good game here and there against another garbage team on a back to back doesn't move the needle much.

You're right -- it was a sort of ehhhhhh game.  The sort of game that is really tough for a Stanley Cup champion to play in the middle of the 6 month regular season grind.  It's great to envision a team playing on the top of its game all the time, but virtually no one can do it.  Look at the back-to-back champion Penguins.  They had lots of such games in the midst of and the aftermath of Stanley Cup seasons.  It happens.