The View from Eastern Pennsylvania
by J.P. on Apr 30, 2009 8:40 PM EDT
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Print[Who better than a neutral third party (i.e. someone with varying degrees of disklike for both the Caps and the Pens and recent playoff experience with both teams) to offer his thoughts on what the Caps need to do in order to win their second round series? Here's Travis from SB Nation's fantastic Flyers blog, Broadstreet Hockey, with his thoughts on the matter.]
It's not exactly something a fan is proud of. You know, the losing thing. But given that the Flyers have been eliminated from the playoffs by the Pittsburgh Penguins for two-straight seasons now, us Flyer fans are pretty much the authority when it comes to that team from the Steel City. We know how they win, their strengths, and yes -- believe it or not, their weaknesses. What, you're shocked they have weaknesses? Yeah, us too.
The good sign for the Capitals as they enter the second round is that they've already proven they can beat a hot goaltender. They did it in round one against the Rangers and Henrik Lundqvist, and they're going to have to do it again against Marc-Andre Fleury. Quite honestly, and I'm not making excuses and saying that the Flyers didn't lose the Battle of Pennsylvania 2009 on their own, but Fleury was the difference in the series this year. In Game 2, his toe was the difference between a 3-1 Flyer lead late in the third period and a 2-1 score that the Pens would tie up before winning in overtime. In Game 4, he stopped about a million shots, including about half a million in the third period en route to a 3-1 Pens win.
The Flyers deserved to win both of those games, in all honesty, and they didn't because of Fleury. That's the difference in the series right there and sure, it sucks for us. But the Capitals can use it as a lesson. When you get chances on Fleury, BURY THEM. Put the puck through the back of the net. Leave no doubt. Because if that guy even gets a glimpse of the puck, he's going to stop it. The Flyers six 25-goal scorers couldn't beat him on a consistent basis and there's no reason to believe the Caps potent offense can do it either, especially considering how they barely showed up in the Rangers series. But Ovechkin & Co. will get their chances, and if they can finish even a little bit better than the Flyers could, they should be in decent shape.
Washington was able to beat the Rangers despite Lundqvist because a) they had a solid goalie of their own in Simeon Varlamov (I'm jealous, won't lie), and b) the Rangers are just terrible at scoring. The Penguins are the opposite. Their best line against the Flyers was their third, led by Jordan Staal. He seemed to make noise every single time he touched the ice, and his linemates Tyler Kennedy and Matt Cooke are also extremely dangerous. That surely had a lot to do with the Flyers focusing their top defensive resources on Evgby Cralkin, leaving the third line open to do as they please.
The Caps are going to have to figure out how to spread their defense out to cover all three of the Pens top lines, because they are all equally frightening. Washington has a deeper blueline than the Flyers do and that will without a doubt help. In addition to that though, the Flyers were successful against the Pens' forwards when their own forwards played solid defensive hockey. Ask yourselves if the Capitals can count on that from their forward corps.
Cralkin didn't really take over a game until Game 6, but the Penguins able to win because they generated offense from their depth players. In fact, in the series as a whole, that's who scored the goals on both sides. When the Flyers depth players stepped up, they won. When the Pens depth players stepped up, they won. Those guys could play a large role in your series as well.
The Penguins are absolultely atrocious on the power play. I don't have the numbers or anything, because, well, it's the offseason now and I'm lazy. But just watching their power play over the course of the series, they couldn't even get quality shots on goal half the time. It's just a bad unit, and that was really good for the Flyers considering they love penalties so much. The Caps shouldn't have many problems containing their power play, and their PP being what it is puts the special teams as a whole largely in DC's favor. The Penguins PK was very good against the Flyers excellent power play in the first round, but the Flyers weren't as strong as they were in the regular season with the extra man and I think that had a lot to do with Pittsburgh's penalty killing success.
All in all, the Capitals and Penguins are pretty evenly matched -- just as the Flyers and Penguins were pretty evenly matched. Similar offensive depth on both sides, excellent goaltending, and solid defense. I think the series comes down to one aspect -- can Varlamov stop the Penguins like he did the Rangers? And can he match his counterpart at the other end of the ice? He's shown no reason for doubt up to this point, as I'm sure you all know quite well, and you guys are right to be quite confident in his abilities.
If he plays as well as he's shown up to this point, the Caps will do what the Flyers have been unable to do these past two years. Please, for the love of God, do it.
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Playoffs makes weird bedfellows.
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
by Whiter Mage on Apr 30, 2009 8:51 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
To be fair, Mike Richards was slightly dinged up and not up to full speed. That’s a series that could have gone to Monday night as well.
Nice to have you Travis. Well done.
We've got a goalie who's playing pretty good right now, while you've got one who can't get onto the ice without falling on his ass.
Both shoulders, actually.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Travis Hughes on Apr 30, 2009 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions
And he still put up points. I may not like Richards, ‘cause he’s a Flyer, but I damn sure respect that bastard.
He hit about six posts in the series too.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Travis Hughes on Apr 30, 2009 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend”
Isn’t that true in this case?
by RedskinFan4Life on Apr 30, 2009 9:07 PM EDT reply actions
It’s easy to pull against the Pens, because they have the Dick Cheney of hockey on there team…Crosby…
Crosby shot Colby Armstrong in the face with a shotgun on a hunting trip?
by Sombrero Guy on Apr 30, 2009 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions
hehe
googling “cheney” and “penguin” is actually sort of funny.
by Natty Bumppo on Apr 30, 2009 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions
I just googled "the penguin"
And that was one of the first images that came up. I suppose it shouldn’t surprise me. God Bless the Internet.
pretty sure this is an offshoot of jon stewart’s impression.
by Natty Bumppo on Apr 30, 2009 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions
what makes sidney crosby like dick cheney?
an aside, but when i think of “pulling against someone,” i think of ultimate:
by Natty Bumppo on Apr 30, 2009 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions
I know Richards was injured. . .
. . . but what the hell happened to Carter? I know Fleury stoned him a couple of times, but Good Lord he was awful.
The good thing for you guys is that your team is ridiculously young. I hope you give up on Knuble so the Caps can snag him.
I’m not totally sold on Fleury. (I’m also not totally sold on Varly, but I’m trying to be.) Maybe I’m in a minority of one, but I see a very talented goalie who’s a bit on the fragile side, both physically and mentally. His save % in 3/6 games was rather pedestrian, and in the two losses, he was downright bad. I know he put up impressive stats during the playoffs last year, but the Pens (via their shrewd last-minute tanking) managed to have a very, very easy playoff run until they ran into the Flyers, who had been worn out by then.
Thanks for the input/encouragement. Caps in 6.
I see a very talented goalie who’s a bit on the fragile side, both physically and mentally. His save % in 3/6 games was rather pedestrian, and in the two losses, he was downright bad
Fleury’s like any other top goalie, if you touch him up early that’s good….But if he’s gets in a zone and a rhythm then he’s tough to beat and excels with the more rubber he sees.
On the games that Fleury did poorly, his defense wasn’t that good in front of him either. A good defense can make a goalie look a lot better.
I know he put up impressive stats during the playoffs last year, but the Pens (via their shrewd last-minute tanking) managed to have a very, very easy playoff run until they ran into the Flyers, who had been worn out by then.
Fleury also stopped 205 of 222 shots from the Red Wings (92.3%) and was the Penguins best player in that series, how convenient of you to leave that out.
by Hooks Orpik on Apr 30, 2009 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions
FYI, I edited my earlier post breaking down the series to reflect some of your input. Thanks for correcting me.
However, you quibbled with my comments to the effect that the Pens’ defense was mediocre at the bottom-end, and not the equal of the Caps’ defensive corps. Now you’re saying that the defense in front of Fleury was shaky during the games when he got lit up. Seems mildly contradictory, but I’ll concede that even good players occasionally have weak games.
As for your last stat, while I take your point, you’re seeing the forest and missing the western pine beetle damage.
Fleury gave up seven goals over the first two games on 70 shots. If the Pens were going to win that series, they had to win a game in Detroit, and (typically) that’s easier in the first two games of a series. Fleury had his chance to steal one, or at least keep the Pens in it, and he failed. He might have put up a valiant effort in games 3,4 and 5, but it was too late.
How convenient of you to leave that out.
Yes the Penguins defense does have bad games, I never said they were all a bunch of Lidstroms out there.
If the Pens were going to win that series, they had to win a game in Detroit, and (typically) that’s easier in the first two games of a series. Fleury had his chance to steal one, or at least keep the Pens in it, and he failed.
You didn’t see the first two games did you?
The Penguins were totally over-matched the first two games in Detroit. They didn’t score a single goal in either game. How is Fleury supposed to steal a gam, as you said he had the chance to, when the Penguins didn’t even score a goal?
by Hooks Orpik on Apr 30, 2009 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions
I just watched the Rangers almost beat the Caps after being outscored in the series 19-11. It’s doable.
The Pens needed a performance akin to what Lundqvist pulled off here in Game 2 of the last series.
Yes, I did watch every game of the series, but I was probably wasted for much of it and trying to determine which team I hate more. :)
Carter apparently got hurt in Game 3, but that’s no excuse for how invisible he was in the series as a whole. He kind of had a habit of going missing for stretches over the course of the year, which considering his final goal total is pretty impressive. If he can work that out and play to his potential consistently, which I’m sure he will since he’s been getting better every year, he’s going to be an even scarier player.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Travis Hughes on Apr 30, 2009 11:06 PM EDT up reply actions
As I recall, you guys seemed streaky all year long. Was there any coincidence between Carter’s streaks and the team’s streaks?
Yes. I don’t have the numbers in front of me — again, offseason — but we were something like 25-1-3 when Carter scored a goal.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Travis Hughes on May 1, 2009 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions
sorry to have gone off topic above. travis, this is a very nice read, thanks.
i’ll be particularly mindful of the pens’ third line. since i don’t have center ice, the truth is i haven’t watched much of the 2008-2009 penguins. reports seem to be that staal has improved leaps and bounds during the second half of the season? i’ve read elsewhere that he was great during the flyers series, but i see now that he had the same amount of points as his brother marc in the first round (1 point) and was a -1. just bad luck?
and do they switch up their lines mid-game? will we be seeing staal sent to malkin’s wing when sykora or satan inevitably start cold? or will that third line stick no matter what?
Natty, if I may:
Staal’s been playing very well since his contract extension in January, but he really picked it up when Therrien (who he supposedly didn’t like) got canned. That he only had one point isn’t really representative of the series he played. He cycled like a mad-man and played very well, just couldn’t bury it.
and do they switch up their lines mid-game? will we be seeing staal sent to malkin’s wing when sykora or satan inevitably start cold? or will that third line stick no matter what?
Staal’s been a center exclusively. Wingers have to have good burst, a lot of starts and stops and that’s not really what fits Staal’s game. Plus Staal’s good at playing defense behind the net like a center, so why take that away from him?
Byslma might switch things around a little if the Pens need a goal, usually that means bumping Malkin to the first line with Crosby and then Staal up to 2nd line center.
If you see Talbot or Dupuis up on a top line, that’s the change they make. Staal doesn’t play wing.
by Hooks Orpik on Apr 30, 2009 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions
He had a shoulder problem in early March but then came back for a couple weeks….He sure hasn’t looked himself, that’s for sure, and of course the team isn’t saying.
Sykora’s had almost two weeks of rest now, so I’m hoping he’s getting close to game ready.
by Hooks Orpik on Apr 30, 2009 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions
thanks, hooks. generally, do you think bylsma over-uses or under-uses the malkin/crosby pairing? since they’re both exceptional playmakers, it makes sense they’d be able to play together with no trouble…or are they hurt by the lack of a sniper?
obviously the opinions are mixed here on the ovechkin-backstrom-semin line, but the general consensus is that when they fail, it’s because they’ve become too cute with the puck (hence the “care bear” line). do you see any of the same when sid and geno get together?
by Natty Bumppo on Apr 30, 2009 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions
I think the Pens (Crosby and Malkin included) are guilty of being too cute trying to make the perfect pass on the power-play.
But when they unite the “Mega Powers” it’s almost always because they’re losing, so there’s more desperation in the air to try to get goals so I haven’t noticed too much cuteness.
I think Bylsma does a good job of his shuffling. Malkin is a center and is better in the middle. Same with Crosby. Even if they have to play with a guy like Fedotenko, they’re better off working magic as centes. But when push comes to shove, you gotta get your talent together and hope they pull a rabbit out of the hat (which probably applies to AO-Backer-Semin too).
by Hooks Orpik on Apr 30, 2009 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions
I think the Pens (Crosby and Malkin included) are guilty of being too cute trying to make the perfect pass on the power-play.
But when they unite the "Mega Powers" it’s almost always because they’re losing, so there’s more desperation in the air to try to get goals so I haven’t noticed too much cuteness.
Those scenarios should sound awfully familiar to Caps fans. You could just replace Caps for Pens in the first one and Semin and Ovi for “Mega Powers” in the second one.
by Carl Putnam on Apr 30, 2009 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Staal's not a winger
and he never will be. I was just reminded how physical he can be just watching him bang bodies on the forecheck in game 1. He set the tone for the Penguin’s dominance for that entire series.
I didn’t think Mike Green protected himself well this series so I’d just as well like to see another pairing on the ice when Staal’s on.
Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey
I think the Pens’ bottom lines, and the 3rd in particular, are their “x-factor.” I think the Caps have a slight advantage on the top lines, and a slight advantage on defense and special teams. I think the Pens’ big advantage is the ability to throw someone with Staal’s skill out on a third line that can either be a shut-down line or a scoring line as needed. That’s a dangerous weapon in the playoffs, and it’s one that could turn this series the other way.
The Penguins power-play went a lackluster 6 for 32 (12.5%) during the Flyers series.
They do need to kick that up. Kris Letang played hurt a little (and missed a game) but he’s not the center-piece of the unit, so I’m not sure if I buy that excuse.
Also, I think they were very mindful of Philadelphia’s aptitude at scoring short-handed goals. And, lo, the Pens still managed to give up a shorty to Philly.
I just hope the Pens leave Satan scratched. If they put him and Jon Sim on a line the Caps are done.
The Penguins PP is the Sergei Gonchar show. IF you shut down Gonch you kill the PP. If you watch the Pens we don’t pass well, we lose time moving the puck on controlling passes. Most of our goals are from Gonchar’s creeping up move or on a rush. Put good pressure on the Blue line against the Pens and our PP stinks.
The PK has gotten a lot better, Bylsma helped, but the FO% has gone way up and I think that’s a big part.
That said the Flower gets better the longer the season goes, and Geno & Ovie get fired up playing each other so I expect this series to be great. But not long. I like your goalie, but I’ve seen hot rookies in Pittsburgh and eventually things go bad. I think (read hope) the Pens can accelerate the process.
I’m calling Pens in 5, was going 6 till I saw you guys were getting chummy with Flyers. You better hope Bettman doesn’t see this post, he’ll put your whole franchise in time out.
Best of luck.
Sure he can score goals, but can he cook?
Someone asked why I said Croby was like Cheney
- Dry and Boring
- Annoying
- Doesnt care what anyone thinks
- 2nd in line to Ovie or Malkin…take your pick
- 8% approval rating (pittsburgh only)
the “reply” button is next to each person’s screen name.
by Natty Bumppo on May 1, 2009 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions
The most interesting point to me was the comment that the Flyers were successful when their own forwards played solid defensive hockey. I had been thinking that something related to this was the Caps’ major weakness in the first round losses and in Game 7. It’s not that the top line forwards don’t play defense — they do, Ovie included. But they like to poach a little bit so that if the puck comes to them or makes its way out of the zone, they’re off to the races. If it doesn’t get out, however, they’re stuck up ice with the defense carrying too much of the load. I’m thinking of how many times in Game 7 one or two Rags would camp out below the net and then be all alone if the puck wasn’t cleared out of the zone. The Caps’ top forwards, rather than moving their legs and mucking it up, would, at least some of the time, just kind of wait to see what would happen — whether the puck would come to them. In the playoffs, that kind of standing around is no good. I think if the Caps can clamp down on this one aspect of their game, it will make a huge difference.
Great read, and I was enthralled until this line:
“He seemed to make noise every single time he touched the ice, and his linemates Tyler Kennedy and Matt Cooke are also extremely dangerous.”
Extremely? Cooke? Kennedy was great in that series, but c’mon. It’s Matt Cooke.
Cooke is extremely dangerous… to the physical well-being of opposing players due to the way he plays the game.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Cooke was pretty good for us last year.
by red army line on May 2, 2009 1:19 AM EDT up reply actions
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