the non family friendly boredom thread for Rich

[richkrt99]

and the North is holding up the playoffs for everyone else...specifically Vancouver who has 7 games left to play.  Kind of silly as they are 14 points out with 7 to play.  If Montreal (4th plays with 2 games to play) gets any points then Vancouver is eliminated.  Or if Vancouver loses any of it's 7 remaining they are out.


Most teams in the North have 2 or 3 games remaining.  Winnipeg plays Vancouver tonight and when Winnipeg wins, they both lock up 3rd in the North and Eliminate Vancouver.  It seems a little odd to drag out the season another week so 5 teams can play ultimately meaningless games against Vancouver who can neither get in or change position of anyone else (if Winnipeg wins tonight or Tuesday vs Vancouver)



Seems kind of pointless to play 5-6 last games when they can't possibly have an impact on any playoff position or outcome.

[Mickstix]

and the North is holding up the playoffs for everyone else...

Hush it Nancy, we need the rest to get some bodies back! 


Per Tarik:
Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and John Carlson are all on the ice for Capitals practice. All missed Saturday’s game with lower-body injuries. T.J. Oshie is not on the ice. Was hurt late in the second period of Saturday’s game. No Kuznetsov/Samsonov (covid protocols)

[alta]

https://novacapsfans.com/2021/05/10/alex-ovechkin-nicklas-backstrom-and-john-carlson-practice-on-monday/

Capitals lines at Monday practice:
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Mantha
Sheary-Eller-Raffl
Sprong-Maillet-Wilson
Hagelin-Dowd-Hathaway
Carr

Orlov-Schultz
Dillon-TvR
Chara-Jensen
Fehervary-Carlson

Vanecek
Anderson
Fucale

[alta]

Chara is the Caps nominee for the Masterson..


https://novacapsfans.com/2021/05/10/capitals-nominate-zdeno-chara-for-bill-masterton-trophy/


I think Fleury might be his only competition

[alta]

Tonight's Islanders vs Bruins at 7pm is on nbcs, if the Isls win final seeding will depend on Tuesdays Caps vs Bruins game

[Mickstix]

Who's Maillet?? (Playing 3C at practice)   

[alta]

Who's Maillet?? (Playing 3C at practice)   

Philippe Maillet, 28 and has spent his professional career in the AHL

[alta]

Bruins up 1-0 after 1

[richkrt99]

Tied after 3 which means Boston locks up 3rd place.


Tomorrow's Caps/Bruins game is ultimately unimportant.  Has no impact on anyone or anything other than beating the guy you are about to face in the playoffs.

[alta]

oh well, I think the Caps would've been better off with the Isls in the first round. Either way they better step up their game

[Mickstix]

Yea, Pittsburgh gonna bat around the NYI like a tom cat with a mouse.. Who knows how we'll fare with Boston. I'd sit every available player I could, if I was Lavi. Game means absolutely nothing.. Winning gives false hope, losing probably mind fucks em'.. Yay! 

[alta]

game 1 round 1 will be Saturday night..


https://novacapsfans.com/2021/05/10/capitals-will-face-bruins-in-first-round-of-2021-stanley-cup-playoffs-series-will-open-saturday-night/

[Surreylily]

Grim.

[alta]

it's a meaningless game anyway...

https://novacapsfans.com/2021/05/11/nicklas-backstrom-will-play-tonight-alex-ovechkin-will-be-a-game-time-decision-john-carlson-and-t-j-oshie-will-not-play/

even the Bruins recognize this and are resting damn near all the starters,
Kuzy and Sammy still on the wuhan list...


at this point I would not be surprised to see a headline that says Kuzy was traded for draft picks

[justwincaps]

it's a meaningless game anyway...

https://novacapsfans.com/2021/05/11/nicklas-backstrom-will-play-tonight-alex-ovechkin-will-be-a-game-time-decision-john-carlson-and-t-j-oshie-will-not-play/

even the Bruins recognize this and are resting damn near all the starters,
Kuzy and Sammy still on the wuhan list...


at this point I would not be surprised to see a headline that says Kuzy was traded for draft picks

at this point I would not be surprised to see a headline that says Kuzy was traded WITH draft picks to get rid of him

[richkrt99]

Yeah, I'm not feeling all that warm and fuzzy about this year's playoffs.  So many questions and holes right now and so many guys kind of disjointed.  Not like we spent the last 5-10 games getting into playoff run and getting lines set and getting goaltender on his A game and everyone firing on all cylinders and such.


I won't be surprised if the Caps actually beat the Bruins but I don't think we have the goaltending to survive the Hens.  And beyond that, I think just about anybody in the Central wipes the floor with anyone in the east right now in a 7 games series.


Who knows.  Maybe there will be a spark and we'll catch fire, but I think the goaltending situation is a glaring problem.  I like Vitek, but man even I could score on him right now - just shoot over his left shoulder and its probably going in.  (If he happens to actually be in position in front of his net, that is)


I'm not putting all this on the GT, but I don't think we win a cup with the current play of our goalies. (or forwards, or defensemen for that matter)
I think that's prolly why the Isles would be our best match right now - the least scoring threat.


Oh well.  Go Caps.

[alta]

nobody had the warm and fuzzies in 2018 until the Caps beat the Hens


just sayin

[richkrt99]

Vancouver has 6 games left.  Four of them vs Calgary.  Both teams our out of the hunt for anything except last place in the division.


Will they play the last 4 meaningless games?  and Why?  I guess it won't delay/affect the playoff schedule as neither team will be part of it.  Be kind of weird for other teams to start playoffs and two cellar scrubs still playing worthless regular season games.

[alta]

Vancouver has 6 games left.  Four of them vs Calgary.  Both teams our out of the hunt for anything except last place in the division.


Will they play the last 4 meaningless games?  and Why?  I guess it won't delay/affect the playoff schedule as neither team will be part of it.  Be kind of weird for other teams to start playoffs and two cellar scrubs still playing worthless regular season games.

around 2008/9 ish, the Nats had a makeup game at the end of the season from a rain out. The Nats were well out of the playoffs and their opponent wasn't going to be effected by the outcome. All involved decided to not play the game. Nats only played 161 games that season. I don't remember the MLBs reason for not playing

[richkrt99]

nobody had the warm and fuzzies in 2018 until the Caps beat the Hens


just sayin

Well....not warm fuzzies but definitely higher hopes in 2018 than this year.  I'm not saying it can't be done, but a whole lot of lights need to be lit to get this baby in SC form. We had a lot more going for us in 2018.  Ultimately I just don't think we have it this year.  I hope I am wrong.


And...I DO believe that AJ was a believer early on in 2018.  Way earlier than he had a right to be.  The caps just looked better in 2018.  They were faster, crisper, hit harder, gelled better.  Got key goals from non key guys - or rather there were a lot of guys stepping in to make key plays/goals, etc.  Honestly I think if Lavi had got a real training camp and a full season to hone and distribute his wrath, we would have a much better squad right now.  Kuzy not being on board hurts a lot.  We need Kuzy to be all he can be for this team to succeed and I think most of us feel he just isn't going to get there. 


We do have a solid group and actually quite a bit of SC veteran players so...fuck it.  Let's Do it!