Back from the game. Caps played ..... sort of mediocre. But the Islanders played a typical, totally defensive style road game. The real issue is that the Caps AREN'T much different than they were under Trotz, so he and the Islanders know exactly how to defend against what the Caps are doing. This loss was on the offense; the Caps didn't get more than 2 or 3 good looks all night. Nobody looked effective at all. The Isles simply took away time and space and the Caps had no answer.
Burakovsky is in a hopeless situation. On Eller's line, he has no one to get him the puck, and once again tonight he spent virtually his entire time in the offensive zone mucking along the boards, because Eller and Connolly weren't going to do it. He maybe handled the puck above the goal line twice during the game. But the top 2 lines did nothing tonight, so why rail about the 3rd line, I guess? They were simply in the same boat.
Hey Black.
Good game assessment in the 1st paragraph of your post! Both teams know each other well. Kind of a chess game, a little bit, IMO.
And you’re right, Caps had NO answer for it!
2nd paragraph on Bura’s hopeless situation, I do see your point, but dont think the Eller/Connolly line is the main culprit in Bura’s hopeless situation! Maybe somewhat, but I see a lot of chicken b4 egg stuff that, at least makes it a hard call. Here’s my thinking.
I’m known to be an Eller fan, generally, but I will be the first to admit that HIS game is solidly suffering right now, at least in production. He can’t seem to hit the broad side of a barn lately.
Connolly is cold as well, and although he will make the occasional AWESOME pass for an assist, or at least a good chance, he tends to favor using the element of surprise and take quick, unexpected SOG’s that sometimes work, sometimes don’t.
Saying they (Eller/Connelly), aren’t able to get Bura the puck often enough, may have some merit, but let’s reciprocal the thing as well! I don’t see Bura getting the puck to Eller or Connelly much either, at least not effectively. How many times could we say that Eller or Connolly were robbed of an opportunity to get the puck, when Bura brings it over the blue line, and loses possession before there is even a conversation about getting someone the puck! When trapped on the boards, he gives the puck up very frequently, also.
Yes, it happens to Connolly and Eller too sometimes, when entering the zone, but my eye test just thinks maybe a little less often than to Bura.
Bura has had SOG opportunities in both of our most recent losses. One, tonight, right at the doorstep, although it happened very quickly, he missed. Bura DOES possess the gifted talent to make that one! Hes had several decent chances over the last two games. Like the rest of our anemic offense, of late, he didn’t convert ANYTHING. Same with Eller and Connolly. Zippo! BUT... Bura is in a position with the team, where his need to convert is beyond critical mass!! 20 and 10 are not!
Eller remains because he brings other varied talent options, to the team, (PK, PP etc)!
All skaters, on that third line, in a perfect world, should share “getting the puck to each other”, responsibilities equally between themselves.
It never goes that way perfectly on any line, except in theory! But certainly the case can easily be made that Bura’s play has robbed HIS linemates of opportunities to get the puck, as well, to them! Furthermore, with Bura’s history and status, what could be sensibly said to justify an EMPHASIS to get the puck to Bura more often?? He will then SURELY score?? I wouldn’t take that bet, my friend, given the good number of 1st and 2nd line opportunities he’s been afforded both this season and prior!
To propose that Bura, deserves, or has earned, the right, for Rierden to commit practice time and resources, to find, or create, or switch him, to a line that will get him the puck more often, is IMO, to give an unjustifiable opportunity , to an unpredictable, at best, goal scorer, who adds only one dimension to this Caps team, ...IF....he even plays well!
Additionally, it undermines the performances of those few young forwards who HAVE mostly taken advantage of their opportunities! (Let’s still remember that no one has played that well, most recently), LOL!
Sorry if my opinion seemed to grow stronger as I was typing, Black! That happens to me sometimes as I post! 😊
I agree overwhelmingly with most of your opinions here, and the ones I don’t, still command my respect!
Rush
