At this point...we ALL need an all star break. Too bad the Caps team started theirs two weeks ago
I honestly thought the Caps put forth a little more effort yesterday, but absolutely nothing went their way. Well they DID get two goals they didn't deserve, but they had some other great chances that didn't go in. It was no way a complete game, and their team D is still totally absent, but there were some glimpses of sustained EFFORT on their part (followed by total lapses on D). Sustained is probably not the right adjective, but it was the effort that gave me a bit of hope. Maybe that (appearance of effort) was partly due to the bottom feeder team they were playing, but they didn't play like a bottom feeder. The Hawks got great goaltending (well...stellar at times, good most of the time, and out to lunch a couple times), and definitely had their O going. Yes, the Caps total lack of D made it easy
I hated the third line even before the game. Fucking Kuzy and Bura together is just a recipe for opponent's scoring. Yesterday should have been Bura's absolutely last game in a Caps sweater. I know the coaching knows and sees more than I do, and you don't want to just throw away a skilled player, but we are way past the point of hope for Bura. At some point you have to cut him loose. So what if he blossoms elsewhere? It obviously is NOT happening here. We are upside down on him....cut him loose.
ORLOV - WTF dude? None of thought he was ever worth the contract he received, but Jeez...I thought he was at least an NHL caliber D man. WTF is he smoking this year? (probably very expensive cigars packed with Dylan's weed, laced with Dylan's ludes, wrapped in $1000 bills) I'm not that bent over him swatting one into our net - just instinctive swat and a bad miss there. The whole freaking game went that way. The rest of his D game.....(I leave this blank since there was no D game there).
Bowey looked lost....like he had never played a pro game at any level before. What the hell happened to him.
Nisky - honestly looks hurt. He is SLOW, and he was never fast, but He looks to be laboring in his skating. I hope for our sake, he is nursing something and not just in a career ending downward spiral
Orpik - SLOW SLOW SLOW. I am not too upset because we've known this for years. Looking like maybe he is NOT playing next year. Too bad. I like what him and what he brings to the team, but he might just be getting to the point of more harm than good. He and Bowey absolutely did NOT look good together. They feed each other's weaknesses instead of helping cover them yesterday.
Carlson...couple nice goals, but we should just move him to third line winger in place of Bura.
Someone posted yesterday he was our only good D man (I want you to define D, and ....we need to stop letting Maaco hijack other's profiles and posting in their name)
Who the hell was the other D? Kempny (I don't recall wanting to throw anything at the TV directly because of him, so maybe he had on okay day)....for Kempny - or maybe he didn't play at all? And an okay day for a Caps D-man these days is one where you do not DIRECTLY assist the other team in scoring
Ovi - looked like he was trying. Brought the physical game, showed some heart.
Wilson - always hustles, was definitely hitting yesterday. Made a terrible read and let him man go in the O zone (who went to the net and scored).
Goaltending - I am not blaming them, but ....well, you can only do so much, but after Goal three, Holtby looked like he quit on his team about as much as his D was helping him. I know it's not all on the goaltender, but we do need one/both of you to stop a break away now and then. How about....the FIRST one of the game so we don't immediately go down a goal and start the spiral?
NBC....well no need to rehash their unbridled love for everything that is not Washington Capitals. I really wonder where this comes from. Oh, they did give some love to Carlson, since he's our Norris candidate worthy D man
Officiating was absolutely terrible. I never put the game on the refs (this one included) but they certainly shift the momentum at critical times that DOES have an impact on the game. THe officiating has definitely been worse this year. There are always missed calls, and I can deal with that. But the calls are just inconsistent and that leads to confusion and frustration by everyone - players, coaches, fans. You have to have SOME consistency in the calls. Their were calls they let go (boarding, hooking, holding) on the Hawks. The call on Backy that resulted in goal was atrocious. I know we all mad at Backy for lack of effort, but go back and watch it. There was NOTHING there to call. Cost us a goal. I think that goal broke the Caps. They were already fragile, but that one hurt. I was shocked the Caps came back after that...well, "came back"
The total mystery of the combination of penalties that ended up in NO Caps power play is beyond me. They HAD a delayed penalty already called. Then Wilson gets involved with TWO guys and somehow their THREE penalties and our one guy turns up being even? WTF was that? Reirdon should have went berzerk and tossed the entire bench of sticks on the ice. They would not even give him an explanation. That is just wrong. Rierdon should have got himself tossed at that point instead of standing there looking puzzled (which I'm sure he was). GO berzerk - show some heat, heart, passion.....maybe it will trickle down to your team. (Maybe is probably too strong a word there)
Okay, so after browsing some of my points...maybe the Caps did NOT show more effort yesterday. But while watching the game, I thought they did. It certainly did not go their way, but They were certainly hitting more and they did crash the net and screen the goalie. It did appear they were trying (well some of them)
Yaskin should get a sweater every fucking game. I'll take his play over just about any of the "bottom six" we have going right now.
Way beyond Time to send a message, but if I were Rierdon and wanted to keep my job through this year... I would be going absolutely ape shit in the locker room and would be sitting guys.
Send a message...If you don't want to play, then you are NOT going to play...
move Boyd to line one with Ovi & Wilson. All three guys seem to care.
L1: Ovi / Boyd / Wilson
L2: Vranna / Eller / Oshie
L3: Jaskin / Dowd / Connolly
L4: scratch all the fuckers who've shown they don't put forth the effort and PLAY 3 fucking lines! Send a fucking message already that THIS IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH
Dress 7 D. The FIRST one that does something stupid - bench him the entire rest of the game. Scratch him the next game. Repeat the process until you find 6 guys that want to play.
Kuzy #1 SCRATCH (Burka doesn't even deserve the scratch, but okay he is #1 scratch until we offload him)
Backy #2 SCRATCH
Smith- Pelly - SCRATCH
Stephenson - SCRATCH
Now THAT will send a message. Dress 9 guys on offense and scratch the rest. Scratch the "stars" that are not playing worthy of themselves. I know we don't want to wear guys down at this point, but playing like total dog shit wears the whole team down. Love to see how this looks on the bench - four guys missing. Lots of room on that bench
In another organization, I think one more loss would result in a New coach...or at least the firing of one. I certainly don't expect that from the Caps. Ted is too loyal (and patient). I don't dislike those qualities, but it's not helping this team.
Geez Louise. Nothing is working for this team right now.
Go Caps. Much needed break coming up. (caps are good at breaks - it's the coming back from the break they struggle with)
So glad Ovi is skipping the all star game. Holtby should too. How the F is he an all star this year? Carlson....meh. He is the type of D the NHL loves. GO fucking play - the all star game is perfect for Carly - No D is played, No hitting. Lots of skating and shooting and passing.
