Talk about Capitals hockey & more! > Washington Capitals & Other Hockey Discussion
GDT#80 Capitals @ Panthers 7:00pm Mon Apr 1, 2019 NBCSWA, TVAS, FS-F
alta:
The reality is, they all care. Because they all would like to see what they percieve as the easiest opponent first. For the Caps, that would be the Canes, physically anyway.
ArJunaZ:
--- Quote from: BlackIce on Thursday April 04, 2019, 05:21:44 PM Eastern ---
In reality though, who cares? If you are a team with some self-esteem, your attitude should be "I'll play who's in front of me, and I'm not going to worry about who it is."
I don't know how many people appreciate the enormity of what the Capitals achieved last year. They won the Stanley Cup after trailing at some point of every series, and they clinched every series on the road. No one had ever accomplished that in the history of the NHL. And along the way they conquered a few demons. I don't know how much self-esteem the Caps have after having done that, but they should have some.
--- End quote ---
I don't think the enormity of Caps Cup run last year was lost on anyone, at least not in here. Just look at the parade. I even had to go as bad a shape as I was in then. I was up very close to the stage and I stood up on a chair and looked back; I could not see an end to the sea of red behind me. It was truly one of the best sports stories I can remember from my life. Even beats the Redskins 1982 Championship run by a light year. I was at that Conference final in RFK against Dallas BTW.
PUCKNRUSH:
--- Quote from: BlackIce on Thursday April 04, 2019, 05:21:44 PM Eastern ---
In reality though, who cares? If you are a team with some self-esteem, your attitude should be "I'll play who's in front of me, and I'm not going to worry about who it is."
I don't know how many people appreciate the enormity of what the Capitals achieved last year. They won the Stanley Cup after trailing at some point of every series, and they clinched every series on the road. No one had ever accomplished that in the history of the NHL. And along the way they conquered a few demons. I don't know how much self-esteem the Caps have after having done that, but they should have some.
--- End quote ---
I’m with you Black! Didn’t realize the historical tidbit either! Thanks!
Obviously, there is somewhat of a pecking order for the playoffs, and preferences on who the Caps should play first, is always in the conversation.
I just don’t give the “who we will play first”, much emphasis.
Not knocking anybody’s interest in that kind of thing, just sayin, for me, it just doesn’t matter.
For me, the GOAL is the CUP, period! The other 15 teams ALL, didn’t get it done.
To advance to the future 3rd round, because we had easier teams in the first two rounds, if anything, slightly cheapens getting that far in the first place, to me.
And on the other hand, if we face tougher teams in the first two rounds, then that reperesents a stronger, ballsier, arrival into the Conf. finals, AND, a high likelihood of increased confidence in the locker room, as the players KNOW who they beat to get there!!
Our Stanley, IMHO, felt even better, (if it’s even possible to feel happier about it), because we beat the HENS, and TAMPA, to get there. We constantly heard that “it wasn’t just winning the CUP, but THE WAY we won the cup”, coming from all directions in this town!!
So, again, to me, it makes NO difference who we face first!! We will either find the “juice”, we need to be champs again, or we WONT, and be duly removed from contention!!
Like last year, so will 15 other NHL playoff teams!!
LETS GO CAPS!!
Rush
DC_1908:
--- Quote from: BlackIce on Thursday April 04, 2019, 05:21:44 PM Eastern ---
In reality though, who cares? If you are a team with some self-esteem, your attitude should be "I'll play who's in front of me, and I'm not going to worry about who it is."
I don't know how many people appreciate the enormity of what the Capitals achieved last year. They won the Stanley Cup after trailing at some point of every series, and they clinched every series on the road. No one had ever accomplished that in the history of the NHL. And along the way they conquered a few demons. I don't know how much self-esteem the Caps have after having done that, but they should have some. But
--- End quote ---
There’s a big difference between self-esteem and over-confidence or arrogance. Just as there’s a difference between cynicism pragmatism and objectively.
Yes, the Caps won their first Cup last year doing something that was never done. This was also the first time they made it past the secqond round since 1998. They also lost 8 games in that run, not getting done in at least 5 until the last round.
Demons? I say they worked to our advantage. Three teams and coaches that have owned our team in the playoffs for over 10yrs. Hell even Ian Cole called out the PP nor changing in 10yrs. As proved by the lack of the opposing coaches adjustments, and notable lack of “higher gear” intensity, it’s a safe bet to say we benefited from there overconfidence and arrogance. (IOW, I strongly doubt The Hens or Bolts thought they would or could loose their series against us.
What really won that Cup for us was not on the ice, but on the bench. Not only did Trotz motivate the players, he not only threw monkey wrenches in, but beat the other four coaches schemes with it. Each adjustment he made was effective. He ran traps to neutralize speed, kept the puck to the outside, kept it out of the way of the “stick play”, and shuffled lines to cause confusion, amoung other adjustments, and the other coach’s couldnt or wouldn’t match him. Maybe more impressive, he got the players to execute these adjustments with high efficiency and maximum intensity, another things the opponents wherent expecting from us.
This year, sure we have most of the same team, and their experience last year assuredly changed the spoken conversation from one of all but assuming the year will be done in the second or even first round, However this is not the same team.
Bottom line is we have the worst PK for playoff teams in our division, a slumping PP, and down a starting D. The special teams alone can cost us several games or a series, Thus leaves us being heavily reliant on the officials not screwing us, particularly from about mid 3rd to OT, and we have all watched enough to know that isn’t a good thing to count on.
Most importantly, it’s what we lost behind the bench. Sure it’s his first year, and first time as a head coach, but that isn’t his excuse. He’s going to need to out scheme and out adjust potentially two hall of fame coaches, and madman who will get HOF consideration, and a coach who won 2 Cups in his first two years.
Let’s also not mention one of those HOF coaches not only groomed him, but knows the players, system and Reidon better than Reidon. This same coach, was also was the main factor in us winning the Cup last year, which gives him a complete advantage in the system design and and in game and in series adjustments. Not a match up that favors us.
This playoff is simply going to be FAR more difficult than last year, and probably the hardest in the Ovie Era. I’m not saying they are doomed, but it’s gonna take a hell of a lot more than most are expecting. Particularly A LOT of any type of “luck”.
Kaz:
Good to give Trotz some credit for last year, but don't go overboard. He had to be forced -- almost fired twice -- to do things he hadn't done in most of his tenure here. He's less responsible for our win last year than he was for the losses of the two years prior, where he got staggeringly outcoached.
His unwillingness to play young players, to develop prospects, to properly develop roster players (Wilson, Burakovsky, Schmidt, Vrana, Connolly)... Make no mistake, he excelled last year by finally correcting glaringly huge things he failed to do in years prior. He had us playing chickenshit hockey in the playoffs with our two best teams ever. No net-front presence, not contesting the center of the ice, no chance for deflections/rebounds, everything to the outside, emphasizing low-chance shots, shortening our benches unnecessarily, not taking chances or making necessary adjustments. Trotz was a huge part of our failures prior to last year, and last year he was browbeaten into making changes, throwing everything at the wall in what he knew was his last year.
Kudos to him for taking his head out of his ass, but little more.
I agree with you on Reirden though. He hasn't been great this year, falling prey to a lot of the typical stuff coaches promoted from within typically do.
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