Washington Capitals Fan Forum
Talk about Capitals hockey & more! => Washington Capitals & Other Hockey Discussion => Topic started by: ArJunaZ on Friday January 19, 2018, 04:24:14 PM Eastern
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Fri. Jan. 19 Montreal Canadiens @ Washington Capitals
Place: Capital One Arena
Time: 7:30 p.m.
TV: NBC Sports Washington, TSN-2, RDS
Radio: 106.7 The Fan, Capitals Radio 24/7
Montreal Canadiens 42-18-21-6 Last Game: Jan 17, Lost 4-1 against Bruins
Washington Capitals 60-28-14-4 Last Game: Jan 18, OT Loss 4-3 against Devils
8-Ovechkin 19-Bäckström 43-Wilson
13-Vrana 92-Kuznetsov 77-Oshie
65-Burakovsky 20-Eller 10-Connolly
18-Stephenson 83-Beagle 39-Chiasson
29-Djoos 74-Carlson
9-Orlov 2-Niskanen
44-Orpik 22-Bowey
70-Holtby
31-Grubauer (starter)
-- SCRATCH --
25-Smith-Pelly
4-Chorney
-- INJURED --
-- 1st Powerplay Unit --
77-Oshie 19-Bäckström 92-Kuznetsov
8-Ovechkin 74-Carlson
-- 2nd Powerplay Unit --
39-Chiasson 20-Eller 13-Vrana
2-Niskanen 9-Orlov
Referees: Garrett Rank (#7) Francois St. Laurent (#38)
Linesmen: Ryan Gibbons (#58), Jonny Murray (#95)
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1st Period
None
2nd Period
07:08 Habs GOAL Pacioretty 1-0 MTL
13:24 PP GOAL 74-Carlson, assists 8-Ovechkin & 92-Kuznetsov 1-1 TIE
3rd Period
10:41 Habs GOAL Byron 2-1 MTL
18:42 Habs GOAL Pacioretty 3-1 MTL
19:06 GOAL 20-Eller, assists 2-Niskanen & 9-Orlov 3-2 MTL
FINAL: 3-2 MTL
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By Jesse Dougherty January 19 at 8:30 AM
Capitals need to tighten up the power play with the Canadiens up next
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Nicklas Backstrom and the Capitals’ power play has a chance to get back on track against Montreal on Friday. (Nick Wass/Associated Press)
NEWARK — For one fleeting moment, as the puck slid off John Carlson’s stick and toward a wide open Alex Ovechkin in the left faceoff circle, the humdrum atmosphere inside Prudential Center was replaced by a second’s worth of quiet anticipation.
It was exactly what the Capitals’ power play needed, with Ovechkin winding up at the spot from which he has so often scored throughout his career. Devils fans seemed to know it, as they all appeared to hold their breath before Ovechkin’s shot flew off his stick and toward the goal. But it instead found goaltender Keith Kinkaid’s left pad, leaving the Capitals’ power play the same as it was across five opportunities in an eventual 4-3 overtime loss (http://stats.washingtonpost.com/nhl/boxscore.asp?final=true&gamecode=2018011811&home=11&vis=23) to the Devils on Thursday: empty-handed.“
I think we just have to simplify it a little bit,” Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom said after the loss. “Maybe get some more shots from the top, from [Carlson’s] standpoint, too. Just simplify it a little bit.”
[Capitals make their point, but fall to Devils in overtime (https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/capitals/capitals-make-their-point-but-fall-to-devils-in-overtime/2018/01/18/e729140e-fc87-11e7-a46b-a3614530bd87_story.html?utm_term=.7e5f6d36c3ca)]
Backstrom is on the Capitals’ first power-play unit with Ovechkin, Carlson, Evgeny Kuznetsov and T.J. Oshie. As a whole, the power play has struggled since scoring two goals on four opportunities in an overtime win over the St. Louis Blues (https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nicklas-backstrom-nets-overtime-winner-as-capitals-beat-blues-after-long-layoff/2018/01/07/987cb0ee-f3dc-11e7-beb6-c8d48830c54d_story.html?utm_term=.4d5d980cf758) on Jan. 7. In the past four games, the Capitals have one power-play goal in 14 opportunities, and they struggled to create five-on-four chances Thursday. Of the five failed power plays against the Devils, two came and went without the Capitals putting a shot on net.
That could partly be attributed to team-wide rust: The Capitals were coming off a five-day break with the bye week and a canceled practice Wednesday amid travel delays. But the power play was discouraging nonetheless and has a chance to right itself against the Montreal Canadiens (and a penalty kill that ranks 26th in the league) at Capital One Arena on Friday night.
“We just weren’t sharp,” Coach Barry Trotz said Thursday night. “When you have that many days off, I thought they stalled us out through the neutral zone. A couple of our decisions at the blue line weren’t great. We’ll get a chance in the next few days to work on it again, but timing was a little bit off. They did a good job. We didn’t execute, and our power play has to get going.
” [Capitals rookie Madison Bowey honors NHL pioneer Willie O’Ree by wearing No. 22 (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capitals-insider/wp/2018/01/18/capitals-rookie-madison-bowey-honors-nhl-pioneer-willie-oree-by-wearing-no-22/?utm_term=.147025c8095d)]
The Capitals’ power play ultimately looks to work the puck to Ovechkin in the left faceoff spot, with Carlson feeding him from the right wing or Backstrom dishing to him from behind the net. But it’s not the only way the first unit scores: Oshie typically crowds the space in front of the net, Carlson can rip slap shots from the point, and Backstrom and Kuznetsov are offered space by the opposition often cheating in Ovechkin’s direction. After the loss to the Devils, members of the first and second power-play units said the Capitals could be more opportunistic, and shot-happy, when given the man advantage.
Brett Connolly, who is on the second power-play unit with a mix of players including Dmitry Orlov, Lars Eller and Matt Niskanen, noted that the Devils’ penalty kill did a good job of crowding whichever Capitals player was handling the puck. That made it hard for the power play to get set up, and it spent most of the game trying to gain a foothold in the offensive zone rather than working toward scoring.
The importance of power-play production can be illustrated by the Capitals’ three results against the Devils this season. The Capitals’ power play scored three times in a 5-2 win in October and once in another 5-2 win (https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/capitals/caps-close-the-year-in-first-place-after-handling-upstart-devils/2017/12/30/4c89df76-ecda-11e7-b698-91d4e35920a3_story.html?utm_term=.525cadd93dcc) in at the end of December. It was then blanked in five chances Thursday, and the missed opportunities were stretched across the scoreboard at night’s end.
“I expect our power play to be in the top third of the league,” Trotz said Thursday morning, indicating his team has a bit of improving to do in that area. Heading into the game against the Canadiens, the Capitals’ power play ranks 14th in the league with a 19.1 percent conversion rate.
“We got a lot of good players that can move the puck around,” Connolly said. “They’ll got hot here soon.”
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last night wasn't quite as bad as I expected coming off the bye week, so maybe they can actually improve upon that
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I dont really like Stephenson being scratched. I guess someone has to sit. Was hoping for Chiasson or DSP
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I dont really like Stephenson being scratched. I guess someone has to sit. Was hoping for Chiasson or DSP
Have you heard a lineup? I am still not sure who is scratched. I am guessing either Vrana or Stephenson
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No I was reading your post. Last I heard I heard Trotz hadn't made up his mind.. Stephenson is playing.
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No I was reading your post. Last I heard I heard Trotz hadn't made up his mind.. Stephenson is playing.
I had four different lineups for forwards ready to go. My last one was on the money.
I hate when they don't post lines until you see them on the ice at game time. I end up missing the first few minutes correcting the GDT.
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Looks like DSP is out
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I still fail to understand if one player gets called for diving how it’s becomes offsetting
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I still fail to understand if one player gets called for diving how it’s becomes offsetting
What in the NHL ISN'T baffling? We've had this discussion. It's hard to imagine it can be both.
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I still fail to understand if one player gets called for diving how it’s becomes offsetting
It’s called article 1, section c of The Crosby Rules.[size=78%] [/size]
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:31:
How did he stop that last one? Wow!
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It’s called article 1, section c of The Crosby Rules.
which is any player that hasn’t felated Betmann is always guilty
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Considering the great scoring opportunity there Montreal didnt really get off a good shot. Pacioretty missed a layup. We got lucky.
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Caps have missed two layups as well
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Definitely not shooting enough and when we do we miss the net. Get the puck on net and get some traffic in front. Maybe get a goal off a rebound or deflection. Grrrrrrr
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What did you guys think of the 2 on 0 Orlov and Niskanen gave up. Even worse the Canadians didnt get a shot on net.
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$5 says Montreal’s goalie gets his first win tonight
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Get Bowey off the damn ice. He fucking sucks. Bring up ANYONE. He is garbage. Stevenson is pretty worthless also.
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Habs goal. Good! Maybe our guys might think about waking up now.
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Is this a coaching situation? The team just can't get up. This is ridiculous. We suck
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This team plays with no heart way too often.
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Getting beat up by a bad Habs team. Painful to watch.
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:74z:
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Hey, someone got a plus!!
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:74z:
Must be difficult for you to make that post.
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Hey, someone got a plus!!
No one got a plus. What are you talking about?
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This team plays with no heart way too often.
I put equal blame on captain and coach
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:74z:
Must be difficult for you to make that post.
Huh? I've always been happy making that post for years. Why would it be difficult now?
For someone who is a bit sensitive over discussion about Carlson it seems you enjoy making a fuss yourself. ;)
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Always expecting a Carlson jab. Alta gave him a bit of a jab by saying someone gets a plus. I guess Alta doesn't realize you dont get a plus for a pp goal.
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That "Icing washed out" was maybe the worse judgment call on that rule I've ever seen.
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Is this a coaching situation? The team just can't get up. This is ridiculous. We suck
How much is on Trotz and his staff is not certain.
Bottom line, GMBetaMale. DP and Monumental Entertainment, decides to put us is a cap hole with 3 Eurokids. With that much cap space, ownership does not want it on the bench, and further decreases their trade value Trotzs flexibility to bench/scratch/discpine them is limited. Additionaly, he’s limited on options to run the system to replace them.
Case in point, I wonder how many times Ovie (or others) have been late since Ovie was scratched for doing it. It turned into a PR stunt
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Always expecting a Carlson jab. Alta gave him a bit of a jab by saying someone gets a plus. I guess Alta doesn't realize you dont get a plus for a pp goal.
So attack Alta. Here's an emoji for you to send him. :poop:
:P
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I'm just having fun with you. 8)
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Is this a coaching situation? The team just can't get up. This is ridiculous. We suck
I'm going to cut them some slack these past 2 games since they are coming off the bye and haven't really practiced in over a week. Wtf kind of schedule is that? A bye week in which you are not allowed to practice at all and you return with back to backs. And we had to travel for both games. I've never seen anything so stupid.
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I'm just having fun with you. 8)
Ditto!
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Damn instigator penalty
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I don't get the penalty. Both guys dropped the gloves before any punch was thrown. No instigator there.
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that was a shity call
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I don't get the penalty. Both guys dropped the gloves before any punch was thrown. No instigator there.
Wilson did drop the gloves first. Maybe thats why they called it.
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Gotta say Grubauer has been beaten quite often in this game but the Canadians can't beat the post.
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This team is shit. Ovy is invisible AGAIN. OSHIE.... Nowhere. Vrana.. Garbage
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Just overly sloppy tonight.
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The D zone coverage has really sucked tonight.
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The D zone coverage has really sucked tonight.
What coverage?
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Terrible d zone coverage. We should be getting blown out
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oops, people posted this in the wrong thread
(after Willies fight)
Bleed you frog.
Close fight, but better shots and blood
Heh, hope they go again
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8 minutes to go and slapshot makes his first appearance of the game,
just one of those nights
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and sometimes a furry won’t help
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and sometimes a furry won’t help
https://youtu.be/njH79mdQdko (https://youtu.be/njH79mdQdko)
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Wilson did drop the gloves first. Maybe thats why they called it.
Naw! He waited to see the other gloves drop. Dropping gloves first does not mean instigator, Technically, someone will always be "first" at dropping the gloves. As long as it's a mutually agreed fight it should have no instigator. It seemed pretty clear Wilson waited for that.
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Fuck me. The fn station I was watching the game switched to the Ducks Kings game. And Ten has the game blacked out
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What a horrible fucking effort. These guys are too much.
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TSN has the game blacked out. I hate that fn auto correct.
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:20z:
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Trotz should make the team kneel in the corner of the locker room for an hour as punishment for such a pathetic effort. >:(
Except for Grubs.
BTW, I'll pay for a photo of this! :lol:
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You know, with all of the “skill” & “talent” that’s on this roster and payroll. . ,
Getting a goal 6-5 against a back up goalie, is a reasonable expectation.
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Fuck me. The fn station I was watching the game switched to the Ducks Kings game. And Ten has the game blacked out
Turned right to it, this game is already chippy.
I wish to hell the Caps would play as intense, and tight as either of these teams.
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Grubs didnt play as good as you think. He got beat a lot but the Canadians couldn't hit the net. Still our best player.
I can handle a loss but this was a fucking embarrassing. The score flattered us, it should have been a blow out. And wtf is going on with Orlov and Niskanen. They have been on the ice for every 5 on 5 goal the past 2 games. In Montreal was a real team it would have been even worse for that pairing. Niskanen keeps getting beat like a rented mule.
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That was :poop:
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At least we know they're still the Caps! :clown: lol
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The reason we alwaus play crappy after layoffs is the same reason we always lose early in the playoffs - we don’t have guys that will do anything to win. We have guys that will like their paychecks and like to win, but don’t have to win at all costs.
Our guys party on the beach for 4 days then come back and give away 2 games.
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$5 says Montreal’s goalie gets his first win tonight
you people owe me $5, each
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Turned to Kings and Ducks . . . it’s like night and day to the game we just watched.
Hell it’s like a different league.
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Turned to Kings and Ducks . . . it’s like night and day to the game we just watched.
Hell it’s like a different league.
Kings/Ducks games are always intense. It's kind of like Caps/Hens rivalry.
It's shameful that anyone actually paid to be at that Caps game tonight. Typical "Lack of Intensity".
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These types of games have to stop for The Caps to move on
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The window for excuses, dismissals, optimism that becomes fiction, is done. and has needed to be.
If these continue, we need to start thinking about a new GM and a fire sale at the deadline. I don’t care about names or “talent”, the talent that isn’t there is the talent of playing hard, playing the system, and not making multiple mistakes.
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The reason we alwaus play crappy after layoffs is the same reason we always lose early in the playoffs - we don’t have guys that will do anything to win. We have guys that will like their paychecks and like to win, but don’t have to win at all costs.
Our guys party on the beach for 4 days then come back and give away 2 games.
And you know this for a fact?
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The reason we alwaus play crappy after layoffs is the same reason we always lose early in the playoffs - we don’t have guys that will do anything to win. We have guys that will like their paychecks and like to win, but don’t have to win at all costs.
Our guys party on the beach for 4 days then come back and give away 2 games.
The bi-week week agreement in the CBA appears to have some very soft/player friendly restrictions that include no formal team practice.
But with this teams unique situation of staying competitive despite mental mistakes and questionable errort and intensity, I would say the last thing they needed was to go the beach or vacation, nor have they earned it.
I would think they would be studding film/video of themselves/teammates and other teams/players, studing the playbook system, working out, doing drills at some rink (particularly faceoffs), or something of the ilk that goes under the radar or walks the line of the CBA agreement.
And no we can’t prove they didnt or how much they did do things like that, but on the surface these past two games haven’t supported that.
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The reason we alwaus play crappy after layoffs is the same reason we always lose early in the playoffs - we don’t have guys that will do anything to win. We have guys that will like their paychecks and like to win, but don’t have to win at all costs.
Our guys party on the beach for 4 days then come back and give away 2 games.
(Part 2)
the bi-week gives a unique opportunity to establish paradoy. Teams who’s players take advantage it to workout, film study, review will certainly have an advantage over the teams that don’t for several games, which can have an immediate effect on the standings and perhaps how the season it self pans out.
I would hope, and damn near expect teams and players to realize and take advantage of this, because someone else will.
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And you know this for a fact?
Well, the facts are that we have played terrible after breaks and we have had nothing but a series of embarrassing failures in the playoffs. It’s also a fact that a lot of our players vacationed in the Bahamas, Mexico and Florida.
Hey, if you are young, a professional athlete and making a bunch of money, I don’t blame you.
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Not sure if they were partying but Im sure hockey was the last thing on their minds. I know when I'm on vacation the last thing I think about is work and when I get back to work my head is still on vacation for a few days.