The Ducks are the 29th ranked team in the league. They're 1-8 in their last 9, and had been outscored 40-9 in those games. Please don't tell me that the refs gave the Ducks momentum and gave them the win. Fact is, we are in the position that we are in because WE sucked. This is NOT a ref issue. Saying that the refs had anything to do with this is hiding the fact that we are garbage.
(OH....I missed the last page of posts before I posted this so....take it with a grain of salt (like you should anyway)...)
Yeah I hear you, but momentum is big in hockey AND....
So what they are 29th ranked team? Ranked by their record? By their talent? The fact that the ducks have lost 8 out of their last 9 and not been able to score in that stretch is just fuel that they are DUE a decent game. Yes the Caps played like crap, but the Ducks got some lucky bounces and ARE a NHL team. Even the worst of these have good games and beat better opponents now and then. (ahem....see Caps SC run of 2018)
NO, the Caps did not deserve to win this game, but it takes little to swing the momentum and outcome of a game in the NHL. Oshie goes out hurt, with NO CALL for a headshot, lucky goal bounces for Ducks, shitty call on Wilson, etc, etc.
You think the CAPS are really 5-1 better than the San Jose team they beat in the previous game? No, but sometimes you have up games and sometimes you have down games and sometimes it's a swing in momentum that starts the avalanche. Occasionally the whole team does. Unfortunately, the Caps seem to not be able to fire on all cylinders on a regular basis and that's on the coach. Maybe not his fault, but his responsibility.
I don't know why I am always surprised at how negative these boards are after a shitty loss. I should be used to it. Yes we want better, but NO team wins every game. No team plays at their best 100% of the time.
Being a Cap fan for four decades will teach you the Caps are especially true of this.I don't even think the Caps were the best team in hockey last year, but they managed to out perform all 15 of the other teams when it mattered.. in the playoffs. They pulled it together better than any other team at the right time. Overcame ups and downs, scored timely goals, played team D, got great goal tending, got game winning help from their bottom tier guys, and let's face it...got some very long overdue lucky bounces from those cursed hockey gods that made a difference in more than one series win. I don't think Vegas was the best team in the west either, but sometimes magic happens.
I think what we are seeing now is realistic. Caps are tired, they don't have the drive, they are very weak on D, they are weak on coaching, and their stars are getting older. They have talent, but not enough D. That USUALLY spells disaster in the NHL - (especially for those teams that actually make the playoffs). I do NOT expect another LEGIT SC run out of THIS team. I would love it, but frankly they are too weak on D.
Other than Ovi and Wilson, and Vranna, WHO on this team is playing at or above expectation this year? How many are playing below (REASONABLE) expectation? Nisky is so-so, Orlov is beyond suspect, Carlson is....Carlson. Nicky is just so-so. Kuzy is inconsistent, Oshie is up and down (and injured) and on and on. With half of your team UNDER performing, you should expect some shitty losses and a mediocre record.
No I am not okay with those who are under performing on this team, but even IF they all were playing at REASONABLE expectations, this Caps team is simply NOT one of the best teams in hockey so we should not be all that surprised or disappointed when they get beat.
I do NOT believe Rierdon was a good choice, but a LOYAL and safe one, which is what this ownership appears to be comfortable with. Trotz was not an option from about mid-season on and NOBODY (on these boards) would have re-signed him mid-season last year. (so please quit telling me how great he is/was....we should've, could've, etc) Plus Trotz is best at coaching younger teams, so I am not surprised NYI are over performing. Trotz typically has been better at getting more from the younger guys. Probably WHY he was no great Savior to this Caps team for the first 5 years.
Whew, rant over (again, and for now)
Shitty game, Caps deserve your ire, just try and be realistic (and this is not all directed at you Zero, yours is just the post I responded to)
Go Caps! SC playoffs, here we come!...(er...um...maybe, well...probably, well....hopefully, well.....we shall see....those of us who hang in there to find out.)
