A uniquely, very odd game to me, on many different levels, tonite!
Of course, the main thing was finding a way to win!
It was an unusual combo of Samsonov, being totally IMPENETRABLE, fortunately, during the same time that our defense appeared to be absolutely IMPOTENT, and clueless, in our own zone, especially all of the 1st period!
Samsonov personally prevented a 3-0, or at least 2-0 deficit heading into 1st intermission!
3rd and 4th line were ALL IN, ALL NIGHT, and THOSE SAME GUYS, Kicked total PK ass, all the while the completely obvious reveal, (that we have some REAL DISCIPLINE ISSUES), CONTINUES to rear its ugly head, unabashedly, and with no indications that its “being addressed”, by coaches/management!!!
Of course, I’m talkin’ PENALTIES! Not just an intolerable number of them, but some of the most STUPIDLY taken ones!! With the Capitals team where at least 3/4 of the team knows BETTER! And just doesn’t seem to care to prioritize it right now !!
Both fortunately, and unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, WE, with probably the most overall talented skill set team, on paper, can cover up, and overcome, The overwhelming majority of our “lack of team discipline” issues, simply our potent offensive production, which will lead to outscoring, and most of the time, backhandedly overcome the negative results that our discipline issues have dealt us, during the game, and we win!
Tonight, Samsonov, mainly, interrupted Carolinas ability to take advantage of our defensively IRRESPONSIBLE TEAM, for nearly 2 periods, and we then SO HAPPENED, to pepper in a few great goals, with great, but short lived bursts of cohesive play, ( which I feel we can almost turn on at will, when we want to!).
Then with a three-goal lead, in the last period, we sit back a little bit, some of the guys get mentally lazy, and we commit UNDISCIPLINED penalties!!
We are LUCKY, that one of Carolinas guys, was as stupid as we get sometimes, and essentially handed us the game in the final minutes with his penalty!!
Overall, props to the boys, in the end, for finding a way to win. It was good to see Samsonov, perform well, until he got hung out to dry in the third!
But, IMO, other than Samsonov, this game exposed more about potential future, short term issues, that need to be resolved, then the lone positive result of a win!
Rush
