I started watching late (about 11) watched the first, fell asleep at intermission. Woke up it was 3-3. Fell asleep before the final downfall. That loss is on Holtby. HAVE TO have that one with 24 seconds left. I mean the whole team played poorly and you can't put it all on one guy, but you have to have that one. No excuse there and I'm sure Holtby feels the same. Don't get me wrong, Holtby saves our bacon more often than not and we get wins we don't deserve because of him, but that was a gift. Cost us one point at least. Not sure we'd have had a good outcome in OT because we really didn't deserve the win, but with 3 on 3 you never know - it's such a crap shoot
Everyone is griping about the PP, and it has been bad last couple, but overall are not our PP stats pretty good? You can't judge it over a few game stretch (and we do have key guys missing).
Same goeas for two losses in a row. Two losses after what? Six wins in a row? I'll take that kind of streak anytime. You ain't going to win them all.
The loss of Willy is my biggest concern. He drives this team in more ways than one.
Now I know this is not going to be popular, but I don't think the Reaves hit deserves suspension. I love Willy, and I don't like Reaves. The hit was late, definitely late, but Reaves planted his shoulder in Willy's shoulder. I just watched the replay several times (thanks to.....whoever posted it). WTF did willy not have his helmet strapped? Reaves caught him good, but there was no head contact whatsoever. AS IN ALL replays, you watch is in slow mo and it seems really late, but watch it full speed and it's pretty quick from time Willy passes puck until the hit. If you are advocating suspension for this hit, then under the same parameters you would have wanted Willy suspended for the hit a few games ago. There is the difference that Reaves WAS trying to hit Willy, but use the same argument we use EVERY TIME Willy gets called.....the players need to protect themselves. Willy has his head turned facing the opposite direction of his progression. There are always uncontrollable factors and the game is so fast, you can't suspend someone every time they hit someone. Put it this way. Reverse the two players. Had Willy hit Reaves in this EXACT circumstance - would you be calling for a suspension? Look at the replay and be honest. The DOPS is warped and inconsistent, and gets it wrong alot (IMO), but if YOU are the DOPS (and Not the Caps fan that you are) what factor would lead you to the conclusion that this should result in suspension. Because the player is injured?
The real problem is Willy's head hit the ice. Is it Reaves fault Willy's helmet wasn't strapped? I think if his helmet is on, there is no injury.
I love Willy. He is one of my very favorite players. He gets a bad rap most of the time. But if the roles were exactly reversed, I would not want Willy suspended for this hit, despite his "record"
I'm sorry, but I agree with this.
I also find it somewhat comparable to Will's hit on whatsisface. Yes there are subtle differences, for sure, and Reeves hit was deliberate and late, BUT, he never would have guessed, or foreseen Willy's helmet flying off and Willy's head crashing the ice.
The two incidents are different, obviously, but they are quite similar in that there was no intet to injjure. At all.
I haven't explained this right at all, haave i? Meh.
How did Willy's helmet fly of so easily?
