GDT#46 Capitals @ Predators 8:00pm Tue Jan 15 2019 NBCSWA, SN, TVAS, FS-TN

[richkrt99]

OUCH (last night's game)

[richkrt99]

I wonder if Rich still thinks we are being too critical






no offense Rich,

No offense taken



The caps earned it (the criticism) last night - for the most part


And...the intent of my original "you guys (including me) sometimes are too negative" post was.....we start bitching well before the 1st period is over.  That when reading the negative posts from the first period (reading them the next day) would indicate that the Caps have had/are having a horrible season and are a shit team, which is NOT the case.  And that giving up in the FIRST period is a little premature.  Just like giving up on this team and this season is a little premature at this point.  Am I counting another Cup already?  Hell No.  I honestly don't think the Caps will get close this year.  Am I going to stay and watch and find out? HELL YES.  Am I going to be disappointed when they under perform?  Of course.  AM I going to be over the top negative?  No.


They are certainly playing like a shit team of late, but it's a very long season.  We have had good stretches as well as bad stretches, but the fan negativity during the bad stretches COMPLETELY outweighs the positivity shown during the good stretches.  I know that's just human nature and probably especially true with LONG time Cap fans like myself who suffered long and hard through decades of disappointment.  But if all I want to see is negative spew and Caps bashing, I could go to the Hens board (well, okay, let's be reasonable)  If I need to hear how bad the Caps organization is I could just filter and read DC's posts     just teasing you DC, you know we love you (most of the time)


I guess I should just be used to it.  We won the cup last year and if you read the posts DURING the playoffs you'd have thought the Caps were the worst team in hockey.  There was MUCH more negative than positive.  Yet, in the end the Caps did what they never had and overcame all the adversity, all the bad luck, all the bad bounces, all the bad D play and just got it done.  I am NOT saying they will do the same this year - I;m just saying we tend to focus more on the negative play than the positive.  I know hindsight is 20/20, but we tend to be way to fickle IMO.  Even in mid-season last year, all the talk was fire Trotz, Trotz has to go.  Trotz can't get, never has, never will be a winner.  Trotz can't adjust during the playoffs, Trotz can't motivate his team...Blah, blah, blah.  Now what?  Now he's this great coach and our team is shit without him?  I don't buy it.  No wonder he left...the Caps treated him the same way as we did.
The only one I remember being positive (during the playoff run) was AJ - who for some crazy reason was saying (in writing for all the world to see) he had confidence in the Caps playoffs chances...even early on he was saying that.


Don't misunderstand me - I enjoy coming to the boards and discussing the Caps.  I enjoy seeing other peoples point of view and reading their input about the Caps.  It has probably enhanced my Cap fandom.  It's like a family (with all the misfits).  I don't enjoy the total negativity at times - even if it is earned in the short term.  I support and watch and hope and pray for my team.  I am no longer an athlete, but I am still an athletic supporter.


GO CAPS  and WAKE THE HELL UP! (and quiet all those fears of massive disappointment we are all harboring)

[richkrt99]

SO...about last night's game....


1st period - Caps played like shit  (think they set there clocks back two hours instead of one for the time change)
2nd period - I thought we honestly played better than we have in several games and better than the Preds for most of the period - had some great chances, hit three posts, hustled, worked, etc.  Thought we had the better of the chances DESPITE what the score was.  Unfortunately, everything the Preds did worked, and nothing the Caps did...did.
Stupid stupid stupid PP play to try to get in the zone there.  That was the end of any hope the Caps had.
3rd period - everyone knew it was over before the 1st puck dropped, the Caps were just waiting for the clock to stop, the Preds never let up.



Copely sucked the whole game.  No, he didn't get any help from the Caps, but he also did not GIVE any help to the Caps.  Not your fault, but You do have to stop SOME of the breakaway chances and some of the shots from outside, and some of them from in tight, etc, etc.  He was just off his game entirely.  Some of it is puck luck, but damn.  I would have pulled him after the 4th goal (at the latest) -so I'm wondering if there is really another issue with Holtby.  It's not like they are saving him for tomorrow's game...they have two days off.  If he wasn't ready to be a backup, why dress him?  Or were they just letting Copely and the whole team suffer?  I mean isn't it like a normal courtesy to drag the bleeding goaltender's carcass off the ice at some point?

Jaskin looked good I thought.  Showed life and hustle which is exactly what the team is missing.  Not expecting 20 goals from the guy, but at least he working the whole time he's out there.
PP was moving better than it has lately (except for the stupid Backy entry try).  Speaking of the PP....at the very start the Caps LOST the face off, Preds sent it down ice, burning the first 20 seconds - then forcing the Caps to bring it up the ice (which they suck at). My point is...IF you could win an occasional face off the PP would have some more opportunity and probably look a lot better.


Go Caps




(whenever I hit the backspace or delete something it F's up the font and size and I can never get it right)  Bother's my sensitivity (like negative Caps spew) 

[Mickstix]

To recap: Hoochie helps!    Carry on.. 

[richkrt99]

WAY TO MAN UP CARLSON!!


Yell at the ref for not givin you a boarder line call when down 6-1 and you’ve played like shit!!  Why not go a beat the livin hell out of FFF and earn you misconduct like a man  instead of a crybaby pussy complaining that life ain’t fair?!!

So I was wondering when I saw this.....  Carlson was slightly interfered with and then fell down, hitting his face on the opponent's stick as he fell.  Can this even be a high sticking penalty?  I mean the guy was in control of his stick - he didn't swing it at Carly, Carly just fell onto it.


The call on Kuzy was completely lame - should have been a diving call on the other guy.  But, Ovie got away with one that is almost ALWAYS a call.

[waynerivers]

I have no idea why McLellan is talking about adding a forward.  Does he notice they have the 5th worst road GAA in the league?  They need defense help, not a forward.  And I don't care what Carlson's plus/minus is.  He's a liability on defense many times each game.  Nisky and Orlov get pushed around.  Orpik hits people but slow and getting old.  Kempny and Siegenthaler are our best defensemen at this point.  The current crew isn't going to cut it come playoff time.

[alta]

yea, about the only thing everyone agrees on is the Caps need a good defenseman. And not a rental either, whoever they get needs to be here a couple years minimum

[DC_1908]

I have no idea why McLellan is talking about adding a forward.  Does he notice they have the 5th worst road GAA in the league?  They need defense help, not a forward.  And I don't care what Carlson's plus/minus is.  He's a liability on defense many times each game.  Nisky and Orlov get pushed around.  Orpik hits people but slow and getting old.  Kempny and Siegenthaler are our best defensemen at this point.  The current crew isn't going to cut it come playoff time.

Forwards sell more jerseys.  Also, 9-4 losses are easier to market than 7-2 losses.


 But, it would be a good move if the forward was an elite faceoff, winner, top penalty killer, and can shut down other teams top lines. . . but we all know they won’t do that.
 

[alta]

nope, it wasn't a bad dream