GDT #55 Caps vs Utah SOL 5-4

[Surreylily]

   




This is getting monotonous.  Behind by 2 in the 3rd, pull even.  Now probably lose in OT.

Hah!   They decided to change it up and lose in the SO instead.   

[Surreylily]

That was pretty awfull.   At least I didn't have to lose any sleep for it.   

[Mickstix]

Somehow got a point out of it. Our shootouts are  . Carbs should do shootout practice and tell everyone to get creative, try some fancy shit, even if that's not "their game". See if he can't find someone who can at least scare a goalie in the SO.


Oh well, 2 weeks off for a stupid tournament, right in the midst of a season..  See ya'll after that!


Gonna go    at whoever wins the SuperBowl.

[Surreylily]

Toodle pip peeps.

[BlackIce]

Somehow got a point out of it. Our shootouts are  . Carbs should do shootout practice and tell everyone to get creative, try some fancy shit, even if that's not "their game". See if he can't find someone who can at least scare a goalie in the SO.


Oh well, 2 weeks off for a stupid tournament, right in the midst of a season..  See ya'll after that!




Gonna go    at whoever wins the SuperBowl.

   




The good news is that 3 on 3 play and shootouts do not exist in the playoffs.

[alta]

   
The good news is that 3 on 3 play and shootouts do not exist in the playoffs.

Penalty shots exist, though rare.

[richkrt99]

I really don't have a problem with the 3 guys we put out there in the SO.  Strome is a bit too laid back in his approach IMO, but compared to what we have available....
Glad we didn't see Ovi or Dylan
I'd have McMike out there for sure - he's got great hands.  Hell I'd give Ethan Frank a shot.  WTH - put someone out there with something. 

[waynerivers]

We continue to insist on the slowest guys for OT and the guys with the fewest moves for the SO.  Strome has moved into Ovi territory in the SO.  He just can't do it.  He's a score on the rebound guy, not a break away guy.  It's time to shake things up.  For goodness sake, get Carlson off of OT.  We're losing most of the time anyway so let's try some speed.  How about Frank?  Mangiapane?  Sandin?  Wilson?  We've got nothing to lose.  Same for the SO.  As mentuioned, maybe McMichael.  Hell, give Dowd a shot.  Anybody.  Maybe we need to be dressing Vrana again.  Just try something.

[waynerivers]

   




The good news is that 3 on 3 play and shootouts do not exist in the playoffs.

The bad news is that we still need to play in our own end against fast and skilled teams.  We've looked like do-do at it the last bunch of games.  The coaches need to be on this aggressively and have us come out looking different after the break.

[Mickstix]

Definitely need to do something different on D. Our goalies are getting way over worked on high danger chances lately. Hopefully Carbs sees something on tape they can fix.

[waynerivers]

Definitely need to do something different on D. Our goalies are getting way over worked on high danger chances lately. Hopefully Carbs sees something on tape they can fix.

It won't happen but I'd try to trade for a bruising d-man if the right guy became available.  I'd give up Sandin if necessary.  We already have a good skating offensive d-man in Chychrun.  We need more physicality on the backline.  Guys are being allowed to skate around way too freely in our end without paying a price.  You can only do so much stick checking before it ends up in your net.

[richkrt99]

I'd like to see McIlrath get some games, and Alexeyev.  See if they can provide some more grit.  Give Carlson and TVR some rest.  Carlson looks tired.  They way overutilize him.  I agree...sit him from PP and OT.  We have better skaters and puck handlers than Dylan at this point
McIlrath was steady in playoffs last year.  He's not the greatest skater, but he is a force in front of the net.  I hate hate hate that we let Siegenthaler go for nothing years ago. Same for Dillan (although we got draft picks for him), but he's getting long in the tooth now.
But I agree...we have no defensive presence in our own end.  Fever is about the only D that hits people and plays physical.  Well...Chicklets is pretty tough and Matt Roy is solid enough, but Carlson, TVR, Sandin look like they playing D in the no check league...its all positioning and stick checks. Sandin is undersized so he does what he has to, but Dylan needs to at least hit someone with his purse now and again.

[Beaglefan2]

Wayne and Rich - you guys are right.  Our D has been really struggling and I couldn't figure out what was wrong because individually they seem to be playing well. We definitely need more physicality!!


I just don't get why they don't rotate in Alexyev or McIlrath - if nothing else, just to give some guys some rest.  I think what they are doing to Alexyev is just a crime.  They are wasting a prime year of development.  Maybe they just have him eating a lot and getting in the weight room and at some point we will see a beast emerge, but I doubt it.


I say let TVR sit and bring in somebody.

[richkrt99]

Some guys develop quicker than others, but Alexeyev isnt' a baby anymore.  He and Fever are the same age, yet Fever has 3 solid NHL years behind him, this being his 4th year
Both guys were drafted in 2018....Alexeyev was actually picked higher (31st pick,1st round) than Fever (15th pick, 2nd round)
Fever has shown from early on he is ready, but yes, this year especially, they are ruining Alexeyev...he played 32 NHL games in 2022, 39 in 2023, and 5 this year.
He is 6'4", 213 lbs.  He's bulky enough to play for sure - and we NEED some bulk on our D.
Caps absolutely need to get him some more games.  He is an RFA after this season.  With our record especially, there is no reason not to rest Carlson or TVR or ANY of the D when we have Alexeyev and McIlrath just riding the pine.

I'm curious if McIlrath is happy - making the NHL squad (which is great for him), but now just riding the pine - dude never sees game action.

[waynerivers]

I think we should get both Alexeyev and McIlrath in there.   I agree, rest Carlson and either TVR or Sandin a bit.  McIlrath has shown he's physical and Alexeyev has the size to be a physical force as well.  We just don't put any fear into opposing forwards at this point.  The place to disrupt a team entering your zone is between the blueline and the tops of the circles.  That's where you need some guys to stop backpedalling and put their skates in the ice and lay a few hits on people.  If we do that enough, the other team will be happy to just dump and chase.  Right now, they dispsy do all over while we try to keep up.

[Beaglefan2]

Rich - spot on!! I am going to cut and paste your text and send it to Carbs - my close personal friend.  I am sure he will make the adjustments!


The problem we have is that Carbs will look at the next 10 games as his chance to get his system fixed with the existing players, so I bet it is status quo.  After those 10 games, they will say that they don't want to mix things up since the playoffs are coming.


Somebody will probably get injured for a few games though so we are likely to see either Alexyev or McIlrath for a bit.

[waynerivers]

Terrible game by Adam Fox in the 4 Nations final.  He was out of position on the tying goal and wandering off into the corner leaving the whole slot open for McDavid on the winner.