Recap: Lightning 3, Capitals 2 (OT)
by Kareem E. on May 1, 2011 11:03 PM EDT
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[GameCenter - Game Summary - Event Summary - Faceoff Summary - Corsi/Fenwick - Shift Charts - Head-to-Head - Zone Starts]
The last thing the Washington Capitals wanted was to fall behind two games to none in the best of seven series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. They did, courtesy of an overtime goal by Vincent Lecavalier, who took advantage of a bad Capitals line change to patiently roof the overtime winner over Michal Neuvirth's glove hand. Lest fans solely blame a poor line change for the loss, there were certainly other culprits, namely an inept power play, solid goaltending from Lightning goaltender Dwayne Roloson and another fluky goal, this one initiated by notorious Caps-killer Martin St. Louis.
The Caps wasted a valiant come-back on a night when the Lightning were missing two regulars, Pavel Kubina and Simon Gagne. Alex Ovechkin tied the game at two with 1:08 left in the third period, sending the Verizon Center faithful into a frenzy. It wasn't enough though, and the Caps now have to find a way to win four of the next five games to extend their season.
Ten more notes on the game:
- The St.Louis-Lecavalier-Steven Stamkos trio had a hand in all three goals for the Lightning. Yet, they were collectively -16 on the night in CORSI. Even when they're bad, they're good. They may become more dominant in the next two games when Guy Boucher gets the last line change and can match these guys up against whomever he wants.
- Some will no doubt call Martin St. Louis's goal that put the the Bolts up 2-1 "lucky". I wouldn't. In that flurry, the Caps were lost in their own zone, allowing St. Louis to zip a pass in front of the net. The fact that it hit Mike Green and went in could be considered lucky. The fact that the Caps were scrambling around was due to hard work by Tampa players. And if Mike Green doesn't touch the puck on that sequence, Lightning forward Vincent Lecavalier puts it in anyway.
- If the Caps are going to win this series and expect to make noise in the next rounds, they have to start winning the special teams battle. Going 0-for-6 on the PP is simply unacceptable. This game has a different complexion if the Caps convert on just one of them.
- Bruce Boudreau mixed lines today, separating Nick Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin for most of the game. On one hand, the Caps put up plenty of shots. On the other hand, the first two lines occassionally looked out-of-sync, although a lot of credit for that has to go to Tampa. Perhaps the team should go back to the lines that brought them to the dance: Backstrom/Ovechkin/Knuble + Semin/Arnott/Laich?
- How did Alex Ovechkin respond after a poor Game 1? Mixed results. He scored a clutch goal, dished out five hits and put five shots on net, but he also forced unnecessary shots and took a bad stick penalty early in the game. It certainly wasn't a bad performance, but it wasn't superstar caliber either.
- One of the keys to the Caps success this series was getting traffic in front of Lightning goalie Dwayne Roloson. Both Caps goals were the direct result of throwing the puck on goal and crashing for loose rebounds. Otherwise, Roloson was superb, and not just in stopping shots on goal. He was very active stopping the hard-around dump-in, leading to easy beak-outs up the middle for the Lightning defense.
- Credit Tampa's defense for limiting second-chance opportunities for the Caps. They blocked shots (24) and they collapsed around the net anytime Caps forwards tried to crash the paint for rebounds. Unitl the Caps can routinely punish the Lightning - by getting the puck to the point and getting low, hard slapshots on net - Tampa will continue to play this way.
- Another concern facing the Caps as they play two games in the next three nights is that Tampa is not exerting much energy this series. A benefit of Tampa's trap is that their players don't skate "hard" minutes. Expect a fresh and ready Lightning squad Tuesday night.
- Anyone notice Lecavalier's "Verizon Center leap" after scoring his game-winner? Maybe it will help get the Caps attention. Tampa players didn't appreciate Ovechkin's hot stick celebration two years ago, let's see how the Caps respond to Vinny's little taunt.
- Although Michael Neuvirth has played very well, the question is bubbling up: is it Varly time? Goaltending hasn't been the problem for the Caps, but this team is teetering on the edge of disaster. With back-to-back games on Tuesday and Wednesday, it will be interesting to see if Bruce considers putting in a rested-but-rusty Semyon Varlamov for a game, or stick with Neuvirth.
The Caps are not being out-worked here. They are controlling the play and out-shooting the Lightning. They are, however, being out-smarted by a patient Tampa team that is sticking to their system, killing penalties, conserving energy and being opportunistic with their limited chances. It's a classic rope-a-dope. In other words, the Caps are being out-schemed, with Tampa's 1-3-1 and defensive zone shell continuously frustrating the Caps ability to get high quality shots and rebound opportunities, all while wearing the team down mentally and physically. The Caps need to adjust, quickly.
Then there's the deficient power play, the onus of which falls upon the shoulders of the Young Guns, a core set of players whom the success of the franchise rests upon. Up to this point the Lightning stars have played better than the Caps stars, and that's why the series is 2-0. If the Caps are going to claw their way back in to this series, it's going to require this group to elevate their play, primarily with a man-advantage. Otherwise, this season will result in another premature playoff exit.
And there are no excuses this time.
Game highlights:
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Really difficult one to watch for long stretches… Tampa did way more with the their chances.
Tough game for Mike Green. That counter-hit penalty looked a whole lot like the one he took against Montreal in game 7, only in the D-zone.
by Berube Doobie Doo on May 1, 2011 11:06 PM EDT reply actions
bin laden is dead. that blunts the depression.
by capsfansteve on May 1, 2011 11:07 PM EDT reply actions 9 recs
And should be discussed elsewhere.
"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg
by Bald Pollack on May 1, 2011 11:09 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
i would hope that the moderators could forgive my exuberance at such a momentous occasion. especially after the caps broke our collective hearts.
by capsfansteve on May 1, 2011 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Of course it’s momentus. But unless he’s the key to a sucky power play, it should really be in the OT thread for reference.
"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg
by Bald Pollack on May 1, 2011 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions
But unless he’s the key to a sucky power play/blockquote>
ot but funny I just wrote on someones FB that he was a Caps fan and his disgust with the PP did him in
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wtf is up with the BQ on my mac
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Stop the bad penalties, no mental mistakes on line changes, PP needs to be better, chances need to get buried. And guys have to start jumping on these rebounds because for all the credit Roloson is getting there are loose pucks everywhere to be had. They have to remember they can’t tie the series up in one game on Tuesday night, but a big win would be a start to tipping the momentum back our way. Coming back to DC tied 2-2 in the series is not far-fetched at all, but they have to put in the work.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
PP needs to be better
We should just play the whole game 6 on 5 instead.
by Berube Doobie Doo on May 1, 2011 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions
it looks like ovie had some energy tonight, he just made a lot of really decisions and looked awful handling the puck. It looked like a lot of passes made weren’t clicking and so many opportunities were lost because people didn’t follow the play.
Suspend Colin Campbell!
This....
You just gotta put the damn puck in the net. The Caps had a lot of shots, a lot of opportunities, but they miss connecting on too many key passes, or scoring opportunities. Johannson had a golden opportunity off a pass from Ovie, seemed to ease up, didn’t put his stick down—and Caps don’t score. Should have won this game—and maybe the last one too.
it wasn’t just that, nobody was supporting ovie on his rushes… there were a couple of shots where there were great rebound chances for…no one because noone was driving the net behind ovie. can’t blame ovie for that because he had a great opportunity. Gotta blame his fellow forwards who expected him to fail and held back.
Suspend Colin Campbell!
I thought they handled the trap well tonight. They were steadfast for most of the game in dumping the puck with pace and then getting after it. They were outchancing them and will continue to do so if they stay the course. They have to convert.
The PP HAS to be better (duh). No excuses.
I’m the most pessimistic MFer I know, and I’m still feeling OK. Not great, but I refuse to believe this is how it goes down.
Re: pessimism, I think we all remember dropping the 1st two games to NYR a couple of years ago. Plenty of hockey left to be played.
by Berube Doobie Doo on May 1, 2011 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions 6 recs
True, but this Lightning team is a lot better than those Rangers. (Although these Capitals are better than the ’09 team.)
philly came back from 3 down…pens came back against us from the same margin.
Suspend Colin Campbell!
not buying “a lot” better than those rangers teams. especially with gagne and kubina out, they look to me like three stars (one of which has completely disappeared), a goalie, and a bunch of nobodies.
by Natty Bumppo on May 2, 2011 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions
Purcell and Bergenheim have been playing their asses off.
Lightning doesn't strike, uh, thrice.
by Rainbow, Kitty, Beer on May 2, 2011 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions
And if memory serves me correct, Tampa had a negative goal differential for the year (or did they finally get it in the positive column by the end of the year.)
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
The Caps aren’t buying it either, and it shows.
"And as it’s my personal opinion, I’d appreciate not being told it’s stupid, thanks." - BeccaH
by hotdog88gt on May 2, 2011 2:13 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
The 08-09 Rangers were a ~52.6% Fenwick team in a time of slightly less parity…I think they’re roughly as good.
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If I reference a lot of stats, just assume I haven't seen anything to contradict or invalidate them.
by red army line on May 2, 2011 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions
Those bad line changes were happening even back in the Rangers series. Always during periods with the long change. Why all of a sudden has this become a problem?
Is there something to Montreal knocking off the Caps and Penguins last year and Tampa having similar results with the same two teams? Its inexcusable to lose to a system.
finally, Ovechkin’s goal from right in front of the net – imagine if the caps had a big guy with hands like that to play there on the powerplay. Oh wait, they do.
Was Lecavalier’s celebration that bad? For a guy who just won a playoff game in OT, it seemed par for the course.
And the second period seemed to be the killer. They completely outplayed the Lightning but were able to score only one goal.
Was Lecavalier’s celebration that bad? /blockquote>
a little over the top in someone elses house for a game 2 when you were offsides on the play to begin with
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shit, format fail, second line not in BQ
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Was there a view of the play other than the one shown on Versus? By the time we see Purcell with the puck, he’s already 20 feet into the zone and Lecavalier hadn’t yet caught up to him.
A buddy in VC swears by it…
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It looked onsides to me on the replay they showed.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on May 1, 2011 11:31 PM EDT up reply actions
i trust the guy who told me…sits in the 400s, plays the game….
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I trust my own eyes. And the fact that when I went to game 1 in the 400’s 80% of the fans up there couldn’t figure out offsides to save their lives. I’ll watch some more replays on it but looked pretty clearly onsides to me.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on May 1, 2011 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions
ok..friday sucked in the 400s..but he is a STH and knows the game…TV had shit angles no way you can be convinced by what I saw
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Was he the one who threw a beer after that call?
"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg
by Bald Pollack on May 1, 2011 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions
haha…no he is not an angry drunk, nor would he waste a beer
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seemed pretty much onsides to me at home
"By far the worst performers on the (Redskins) are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
me too but TV angles sucked… we would have been called off for that
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I don’t think there’s any way a claim can be made that we would have been called offsides on the same play.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on May 1, 2011 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Really, you cant mind read….damn, step your game up
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Tinfoil + Snark
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like peas and carrots
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look at the replay above…no one would have been called offside on that… it was pretty click-click. clean play, Tell your friend he’s wrong.
Suspend Colin Campbell!
One skate at least behind the line when pucks crosses. easy non-call.
Varly, Varly...errrrrr.....NEU-VY, NEU-VY! Pp
by alisterio on May 1, 2011 11:50 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Plain as day. Good goal.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on May 1, 2011 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Purcell or Vinny
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I just thought it was his reaction. Never did it cross my mind he did that to taunt the Caps or Ovie.
Same here. Jumping into the glass wasn’t invented by AO, as much as the haters wanted to portray it as over the top celebration.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on May 2, 2011 12:40 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Neuvy has been Rock Solid…in no way should he sit. On the Vinny taunt…at least one fan in VC thought he was “#1” Im sure digamus has a gif coming.
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On the Vinny taunt, if you don’t like it, then don’t give him the opportunity
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on May 2, 2011 1:09 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Ovechkin looked really bad live until the last 5 minutes of regulation. He looked slow and disinterested.
Backstrom, OTOH, looked pretty solid, which is good, because we need him playing well to win this series.
I am so sick of people thinking Backstrom is solid…He was AWFUL…weak on the puck all night. The first goal was his fault, got outworked along the boards
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Ovechkin played a much better game than Backstrom did. Nicky was losing puck battles all over the ice. Ovechkin didn’t have a great game by any measure, but it was definitely better than Game 1.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on May 1, 2011 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions
the team was losing battles on the wall all game.
Overtime actually felt like period two…it got me worried how good we looked :/
Suspend Colin Campbell!
If Johannson keeps skating on that pass Ovechkin made, this could be a very different recap. But same could be said for actually converting on a PP or not having a bad line change or not having an own goal. We had chances tonight that we didn’t bury when controlling long stretches of the game. If you don’t execute though and are only putting 2 in a game, you’re allowing plenty of things that can go against you to decide a game and eventually a series.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on May 1, 2011 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions
I may be wrong about Nicky, but I stand by what I said about Alex. He definitely had his moments, but looked somewhat lethargic until his energy picked up with about five minutes remaining.
A couple more rushes. But yeah, not a lot better (the goal really helps color it).
Lightning doesn't strike, uh, thrice.
by Rainbow, Kitty, Beer on May 2, 2011 12:04 AM EDT up reply actions
I thought AO had a pretty terrible game, aside from the goal. Still tried to get too cute skating through the trap which led to some bad turnovers or drawing his teammates offside. When he wasn’t doing that he was largely invisible.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on May 2, 2011 12:24 AM EDT up reply actions
Home ice advantage never seems to work out for the Caps.Now that they’ve squandered that maybe they’ll dig deeper and come back. Or perhaps I’m just dreaming.
"Some days I just sits and thinks. Some days I just sits and watches the Caps-I'm retired."
not dreaming, hallucinating
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Of course we beat the Rags last round. But this game was so depressing it got me to thinking about Montreal last year.
"Some days I just sits and thinks. Some days I just sits and watches the Caps-I'm retired."
I never really understood the history aspect in these types of situations…I use them but its all in the fans heads…it has shit to do with reality and the present
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On a PP, one can either deliver the puck to the crease, hoping to get it in, or using skilled passers deliver the puck side to side to opening lanes and then shoot. Right now the Caps are doing the former although they had more success working the latter (look at the first games vs TB this season). Put 19-52-28 together on PP, don’t split Backs and Semin.
Cup, please.
I was out tonight. Would watching this game have made my blood pressure go up? From the recap, sounds like it.
I agree with a comment Spidey made in one of the threads. They have to win Tuesday. I think they can win the series if they can get a win in TB. If they lose tuesday though, I’ll start (more seriously) prepping myself to see that damned golf jpeg that JP always busts out
Yvan Eht Nioj!
Caps at 6.5% on PP now in playoffs last two years. Not sure that will change, and don’t see any reason that it will. As much as I want to be optimistic, if it doesn’t, this series/simon is over.
Varly, Varly...errrrrr.....NEU-VY, NEU-VY! Pp
What are the options? Change the coaching philosophy and lineup on the PP? Or make big player changes next year? Seems like deja vu all over again, to quote Yogi.
"Some days I just sits and thinks. Some days I just sits and watches the Caps-I'm retired."
I meant to say personnel changes, which includes behind the bench. But I’m not at that point yet, unless we don’t get past round 2.
"Some days I just sits and thinks. Some days I just sits and watches the Caps-I'm retired."
I must confess that it will be difficult to get past Round 2 at this point. So who should the Caps hire as coach? We’d like a proven winner since we don’t want to replace Bruce with someone who’s worse.
Is there a good assistant available who’s associated with a consistently winning team, as in a team who can get to Round 3 and beyond on a consistent basis? Is there a good minor league coach available? Except that the minor league team who’s been the most consistent winner has been Hershey, even if this year wasn’t great.
Do the Red Wings have any good assistants worth hiring? Or the Pens? Or even Vancouver or Philly?
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
I’d say, there needs to be some MAJOR changes for the power play. It’s probably time for a new coach with a new plan.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Ovechkin seems pretty terrible at playing the point or bringing the puck into the zone on the PP
"By far the worst performers on the (Redskins) are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
I don’t understand why they keep putting Ovi on the point. He’s a very good player but wasted at the point and ineffective there.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Because Bruce Boudreau is an awful coach.
12 wins.
King of Nothingham
by Steck It Out on May 1, 2011 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
see I begin to question this sentiment…in all my years as a sports fan every year a team I follow seems to have a blatantly obvious issue that all the fanbase recognizes but the coaches never adjust. I would have to think there is something deeper…or he is just a fucking moron
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Boudreau probably isn’t a total moron. Or the team wouldn’t even win in the regular season. He probably is better at long term strategy than short term tactics in the playoffs.
I’m sure he’d get a job tomorrow, probably with either Carolina who has a coaching vacancy. Or the Florida Panthers would fire their current coach and hire him. Maybe Boudreau would do better coaching a no-name team like one of those than a team with stars.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
He probably is better at long term strategy than short term tactics in the playoffs.
What I see on special teams is Boucher making the first adjustment—remember, the first PP of the series the Caps hit the post and had nearly 2 mins of zone time, and their first PK made the Lightning PP look thoroughly mediocre. Boucher made adjustments, and BB doesn’t seem to make the countermove until his team gets scored on, or even later.
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by red army line on May 2, 2011 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions
BB made plenty of adjustments... but probably would have been better without making them
After the first couple of powerplays did alright but didn’t score, BB started throwing out all sorts of different combinations. One powerplay it was 5 forwards, another it was 5 defensemen. Ovi was in front of the net for one, on the halfwall for another. Classic BB panic move IMHO.
by cainoo7x on May 2, 2011 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Bruce Schottenheimer, I say.
"I'd have to say Russian girls over American girls. They have much better fashion sense, I think." -Semyon Varlamov
we heard you the first time
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I am extremely unhappy with the way this series has gone thus far. Digging one self into a 2-0 hole by losing the first two AT HOME is a VERY poor habit to get into. Granted, Boston came back from such a deficit this year. And the Caps did two years ago. But it’s a bad habit to get into.
Coming back in the series will be extremely difficult, given the fact that it’s back to backs on the road, a situation the Caps have never done well in.
It’s so frustrating that the Caps could beat the Bolts during the regular season. Not easily, mind you, but were 4-2 and did win the last two.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
By my count the Caps have played about 60 mins of good hockey over 2 games.
That’s not good enough.
The PP has been miserable.
And if we made half as many smart decisions with the puck as the Lightning do, the Caps might be up 2-0.
So much of the Caps frustration comes from not being very smart as a team. Sometimes I wonder if some of this young talent needs to be swapped out for less-skilled but much wiser veteran talent.
This team seems to beat its own offense.
"By far the worst performers on the (Redskins) are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
4 goals is fine if you dominate the game. But they haven’t done that either time.
"By far the worst performers on the (Redskins) are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
They did for stretches of each…but didn’t do enough during those stretches and sloppy play during the inevitable pushback from Tampa in each game puts you in the 2-0 hole. The special teams are obviously a factor as well.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on May 1, 2011 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions
60 mins of good hockey and 60 mins of bad hockey easily puts you down 2-0 in two reasonably close games.
Based on how they’ve played, Caps can’t be shocked at the series right now
"By far the worst performers on the (Redskins) are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
It’s not all black and white like that though. Sometimes the other team is playing well, doesn’t mean you are playing badly. Other times it’s pretty even back and forth. I’d say we’ve played about 65-70 minutes of good hockey in the first 2 games. Maybe a little more if you count the overtime before the last 2 shifts or so.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on May 1, 2011 11:50 PM EDT up reply actions
And about 60 bad, IMO
"By far the worst performers on the (Redskins) are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
We’ll agree to disagree on the exact number. But either way if Tampa has played 60 bad minutes in this series you could say the same about them, but they’re up 2-0. It isn’t getting outplayed that’s killing us, we’re beating ourselves.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on May 1, 2011 11:54 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Have to put on a brave face for my 15 yr old son, who just got a Ovechkin jersey from me this past week, but I really think this series is over. No sign that anything significant has changed from last year. Hard not to think that coaching and game plan just aren’t up to the task – again.
You had me at Ovechkin
Time will tell, eh?
You had me at Ovechkin
by norcalcapsfan on May 1, 2011 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Wouldn’t be the first time this team rattled off a couple wins in a row if we are able to come back. It’s not over by a long shot.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on May 1, 2011 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions
It is most certainly over if we can’t score on PP.
Varly, Varly...errrrrr.....NEU-VY, NEU-VY! Pp
by alisterio on May 1, 2011 11:42 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
It would help. We had chances outside of the PP that we could have buried tonight as well. Not helping the puck into our own net would probably assist in changing results in the series as well. Not that it’s something either guy could have changed, but maybe it just won’t happen on Tuesday night for once.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on May 1, 2011 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Will happily come back to eat my words.
You had me at Ovechkin
by norcalcapsfan on May 1, 2011 11:56 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
that’s the easy part of being a pessimist. You can either say you were right or happy that you were wrong. I hope you get to be happy that you were wrong.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on May 1, 2011 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions
If a general (thought post heartbreak) consensus is a coaching change, who do you go with?
"I'd have to say Russian girls over American girls. They have much better fashion sense, I think." -Semyon Varlamov
I can’t think of a good name off the top of my head. But I would possibly try an assistant coach of a team that’s a proven winner for a team that can actually make it past Round 2 on a reasonably consistent basis. Or someone from a team that consistently overachieves.
Are there any good, winning coaches reaching the end of their deals?
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Certainly not over yet, but I’d feel a lot more optimistic if the Caps could score on the PP. Second year in a row they are in a PP funk in the playoffs. Coaching…anyone?
Choking since 1985.
Why is their PP so bad, I’d like to know? The difference all series. We score on no PP’s. They score on 1 PP. Even strength — nearly identical, except for the empty netter.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
1) Trying to do too much 2) Overcomplicating things 3) Not putting the puck on net from the point in a manner that creates good rebounds or the chance for that crazy deflection 4) Allowing Roloson unobstructed views of shots from the point 5) Mike Green is on the PP 6) OV is on the point 7) Holding on to the puck too long 8) lazy and/or cute passes that don’t keep the Bolts’ PK unit honest 9) Can’t win offensive draws regularly 10) Looking for the home run shot 11) Not willing to pay the price by going hard to the net
Brought to you by your 2011 Washington Capitals
IIII
I think that’s over the top. How is that different from the PP that climbed from bottom 5 to #10 in 07-08? The PP that finished 2nd in 08-09, first in 09-10?
1) I think that’s a product of trailing, not being on the PP 2) See 1 3) Agree, kind of, but that’s what Green and Ovechkin shoot for, their shots just get blocked 4) Sometimes, but there are always bodies in front of the net, even if not in perfect position 5) I wouldn’t take Green off the PP, though might put him on PP2 6) AO can be good on the point, just need to stop running the PP through him 7) Disagree, that can work fine, quick puck movement just means more botched passes and bobbled pucks 8) I don’t think those are lazy or cute with that intent, but just to be a skill play that doesn’t fool the PKers 9) I see ~50%, which is normal. 10) What? 11) If everyone goes to the net, the PP is even easier to defend…the trick
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by red army line on May 2, 2011 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions
I think that’s over the top. How is that different from the PP that climbed from bottom 5 to #10 in 07-08? The PP that finished 2nd in 08-09, first in 09-10?
It’s not different, and that’s the problem. Teams have adjusted to the once dominant PP, and BB has not been able to adjust to the adjustments.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on May 2, 2011 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions
I really have a hard time believing it took nearly 3 years for a “book” to be written.
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by red army line on May 2, 2011 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Guess it’s just bad luck then. Stay the course!
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on May 2, 2011 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Memo to Coach BB: See where Lecavalier was on the PP goal he scored? Cool, huh? It would be neat if you would empower Ovi to employ his shot in the same manner.
IIII
Opposite sides of the ice of course Ovie being a righty shot, but yes please.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on May 1, 2011 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Tampa is running a different PK scheme. They keep one guy on Ovechkin, one on Green, one on Semin/Backstrom (the one on the strong side).
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by red army line on May 2, 2011 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions
Positive note:
Gotta figure a huge lesson will be learned by this team after we move on to the next round.
Suspend Colin Campbell!
I like your optimism.
I’m not counting the Caps out either. But this team isn’t mentally tough enough to come back from a 3-0 deficit. Although it’s a cliche, Tuesday’s game, to me, is a must-win.
Agreed 100%
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Caps have to win 4 of 5, which sounds daunting till you realize they did exactly that in beating the Rangers just last week.
by Stormblue on May 1, 2011 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I guess hitting the green can be considered a round of sorts.
I have planned my grand attacks; I will stand behind their backs. With my brand new battle-axe, they will taste my wrath. They will hear me say as the pavement whirls, "I hate California girls."
by Steckel Me Elmo on May 2, 2011 1:14 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Just got back…
I told my sister we’d lose after the fourth failed PP, and the night just spiraled down from there. Sorry to anyone in 206 I may have offended. Very, very frustrating to watch.
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by turnituptoeleven on May 1, 2011 11:41 PM EDT reply actions
That’s what’s making this hard to watch. The Caps aren’t getting owned by a clearly better team.
They’re losing close games to a talented team who’s playing smarter and more consistently.
Caps start doing those things and they can easily be winning
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I was feeling so good after the rangers series too. I thought they had finally gotten it. Now I’m not so sure.
"I'd have to say Russian girls over American girls. They have much better fashion sense, I think." -Semyon Varlamov
It was good to see I thought the same as Kareem on the MSL goal..if it hadn’t hit green, Vinny would have had a layup anyways.
"I'd have to say Russian girls over American girls. They have much better fashion sense, I think." -Semyon Varlamov
that’s like saying every attempted pass that gets stopped by a D man with an offensive player in position to receive it behind the interception should be a goal though. I’ll agree it was sloppy play to get hemmed in our zone, but Green was in position to deny that pass, it could have bounced off of him any number of other ways and not have ended up in the net.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on May 1, 2011 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Goals > Scoring Chances > Shots
4 goals over 120+ minutes, 3 goals over 118 minutes. That needs to improve if we want to win one or preferably both down in Tampa.
"A picture is worth a thousand words. For moving pictures we manage to shorten it to one or two."
looking at the '03 series
Although I admit I’m probably grasping at straws to retain my sanity, the similarity to the Tamp-Wash series in ‘03 is kinda weird. Not only did the home team lose the first two games, but games 3 and 4 in that series were also back-to-back on successive nights due to scheduling issues at the MCI Center (something that benefited the younger team in that case – Tampa). Here’s hoping history repeats itself :)
Goals from last night
Laich’s goal from Backstrom rebound
Ovechkin’s game tying goal
Not much else to show except more of the same from game 1. Missed/Questionable penalties both ways, and plenty of missed chances by the Caps.
"A picture is worth a thousand words. For moving pictures we manage to shorten it to one or two."
by Dimagus on May 2, 2011 12:06 AM EDT reply actions 4 recs
On the bright side, we can’t choke a way a big series lead this year.
/doesntthinkitsovereither
Lightning doesn't strike, uh, thrice.
by Rainbow, Kitty, Beer on May 2, 2011 12:09 AM EDT reply actions
No, but losing to Tampa in a short series would still make us a laughing stock among NHL fans anyhow.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Depends on what Tampa does after. Watching MON snuff out the Pens last year really helped mitigate the derision.
Lightning doesn't strike, uh, thrice.
by Rainbow, Kitty, Beer on May 2, 2011 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions
I was glad to see that. Along with Boston’s choking a 3 game to nothing deficit.
Assuming Tampa wins the series, they’d play either Philly or Boston. Philly would probably have trouble with them given their issues in goal. I could imagine Tampa’s offense really lighting up Philly.
As for Boston, they’d have a better chance of stopping Tampa.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Tampa is a pretty solid team. They have guys who have won a Cup there, then were around for the stench, now they’re on the cusp of another SC semi-final.
Not to understate another early exit as the1 seed, if that is to be the case.
Choking since 1985.
I was wondering what people think about our strategy to continue attacking when it was tied, especially in OT. I understand we were trying to ride the momentum, however solid D has been the primary reason we played good down the stretch of the season and last series. Why not let them come to us, let them try to be creative and open up a little. I think that way we can take advantage of their mistakes and their slow D and make them uncomfortable? Just a thought
The Caps are not being out-worked here. They are controlling the play and out-shooting the Lightning. They are, however, being out-smarted by a patient Tampa team that is sticking to their system, killing penalties, conserving energy and being opportunistic with their limited chances. It’s a classic rope-a-dope. In other words, the Caps are being out-schemed, with Tampa’s 1-3-1 and defensive zone shell continuously frustrating the Caps ability to get high quality shots and rebound opportunities, all while wearing the team down mentally and physically. The Caps need to adjust, quickly.
This sound familiar to anyone else? Stay angry, my friends.
Release the Mackan!
Not as much. Halak was truly making some great stops last year. I honestly haven’t seen Roloson do as much as he’s getting credit for. He’s leaving a lot of rebounds, we just aren’t pouncing on them or they aren’t bouncing in the right spots. A lot of that is on us. We had far more traffic against the Rags. The PP, opportunistic scoring by the opposition, and us squeezing our sticks too hard on some scoring chances are VERY familiar though.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on May 2, 2011 12:37 AM EDT up reply actions
#Notpushingpanicyet
Well, that just happened… I mean… well… the other big news. Time to pop open the good Cragganmore finally.
Back to the topic at hand…. I’m not worried, as we have all been here before (see 2009 Rangers series). But, ah my goodness, this one really sticks.
Sat in a different section than usual… had a higher up view of things. Can’t say we played badly, not at all. They hustled their ass off – esp the fourth line. Nothing was going our way, no traffic in crease, blah blah blah, we’ve heard this all before.
*Know who’s working his ass off, fighting for pucks, tying up bodies and wreaking havoc with the Bolts? M’fin’ Sasha Semin, that’s who. I can’t believe I just typed that. Sasha. Semin. Working his ass off. In the playoffs. Holy hell, more please.
*So, um, remember that Arnott guy. Semin’s ice daddy? Anyone seen him lately? Methinks his injury is aggravated yet again. He had some good shifts on the ice with his line tonight. But be damned if I knew what line he was on, as Bruce was playing drunken line matching roulette yet again. This would have nothing to do with the large number of offsides we saw unfold tonight, also. Nothing to see here. Carry on.
*The bounces aren’t going Backis’ way. It’s true. But be damned if he is not one hell of a defensive player, and by god he did some great penalty killing tonight. The move where he tied up Tampa Bay all the way back in their end – then passed it back down the ice was just brilliant. Kudos Backs. Let the haters hate. Your points, they will come. Keep up the hard work.
*So, Schultz goes an NHL playoff record without a goal against while on ice and is now on ice for every single tally TB has put in net. #4, he being the person Ersk haters were chomping at the bit to sit for the series whilst extoling the defensive prowess of Sarge and his gangly arms, ended the night a plus one and an assist. Good. Got it.
*Speaking of 55, how about his partner in mediocrity for the evening. Green, Green, Green…. just… no. Terrible game for Mr. Puck Mover. And now he’s a member of the ‘Score and Own Goal on Neuvy Club’. Previous members, as you’ll recall, include such luminaries as JC74’s skate and Hannan’s stick. Frankly, if I was The Truth, I’d be pissed.
*As much derision as I want to heap on MG52, his night of ignominy is only overshadowed by The Captain’s disappearing act for pretty much the entire game save for the last 10 minutes. All of a sudden he decides to finish his checks, and all is forgiven when he pots the tying marker. But make no mistake, that was not OV’s best night… not even his fifth best. Warner, Sabourin et al were yapping about what a solid game he had on the way home. Please. After Friday’s closing minutes, you needed to bring it a bit smarter, capn’, and you didn’t do it.
I’ve given BB a lot of credit for what he’s done this past year. He’s moved a lot of pieces around and dug this team out of the depths of a mid season slump which seemed as though it would never end. For that, he deserves credit.
That said, if tonight proves to be the tone-setter for things to come, and months from now when he’s got his papers packed up, his pink slip in hand, and wondering what happened, he has one big fat goat to blame: his utter intransigence on the PP. Warner was yapping away at callers trying to fault Bruce for his PP management, but that’s just silly. Time and time again, when ALL evidence indicates the current setup is not working, he goes back to the same form… Green and OV on the point, everyone standing around, waiting for a pass… repeat… repeat… repeat. The very definition of insanity, and it is what is going to cost him his job if he doesn’t snap the hell out of it.
Five forwards? Arnott in wait for a juicy rebound? No? No, he’d rather just put MG52 and Ovi back there, again and again, expecting something to change. It’s not working Bruce, for cripes sake. Get over your man crush favoritism for Greener, and get your superstar down in front where he can do some damage. Do it before it’s too late.
The MP-85: Prone to occasional jams, but compact, durable and travels well.
by TheMattyHatty on May 2, 2011 12:50 AM EDT reply actions 4 recs
great points
- Agreed on #44… maybe we can put a hold on the next 1,500-word feature raving about his leadership and effect on the Young Guns… if he’s not delivering on the ice, he might as well put on a suit and join Bob and Dean behind the bench
- Also agreed on #19… offensive game off, but defensively he’s been sound
- #55… not great today, awful penalty
- Green’s penalty on Stamkos today was essentially what Stepan did to concuss Green earlier this year—anticipate body contact, pull up short, and throw a shoulder/elbow back. Green actually does that often. This time he caught a little too much chin, but most of the time that goes uncalled. It was too obvious what he was trying to do, and he was too far from the puck. He’s still so gunshy
by DonnieKnutts on May 2, 2011 12:58 AM EDT up reply actions
Also agreed on #19… offensive game off, but defensively he’s been sound
With the exception of the egregious turnover leading to TB’s 2nd goal. He had the puck on his stick, he has to get that out of the zone.
But I do love the work of the Swedish Love Bugs on the PK this series.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on May 2, 2011 1:09 AM EDT up reply actions
The power play is just driving me ballistic. Small little changes could do a world of difference, yet BB continues to slam his head against the wall and wonder why he’s got a headache in the morning.
The MP-85: Prone to occasional jams, but compact, durable and travels well.
by TheMattyHatty on May 2, 2011 1:20 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m willing to accept that changing things around like taking AO off the point won’t solve the problems, especially if it doesn’t come with greater movement. But for BB to not even try to make any changes when it is absurdly obvious what he is doing is not working is just ridiculous. He put AO down low for one PP. But then they didn’t score, so it’s right back to the point for AO. It’s just mind numbing to think about how inept this PP has been for over a year with the kind of talent it has.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on May 2, 2011 1:26 AM EDT up reply actions
Biggest mystery to me: since when did OV retain the job of leading the power play breakout? He has always been TERRIBLE at it. And he was terrible at it for four straight power plays today. Yet there he was on the 5th, back at it, making horrible decisions, getting offsides, causing turnovers.
The in-zone set-up is a whole other can of worms that’s equally baffling. But why. Why. WHY is OV trying to lead the power play breakout!?!?!?
The keyboard is mightier.
Yes, that is a job for #19.
But he is nowhere to be found offensively, at the moment. So some of the burden falls on #90, and I’m not sure he’s ready for that role.
Endavant, a triomfar, a guanyar Villarreal!
by siempre_riquelme on May 2, 2011 6:18 AM EDT up reply actions
And AO had to go into the corners on that PP, and won every board battle, and had sufficient skill to make an accurate pass after getting the puck.
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If I reference a lot of stats, just assume I haven't seen anything to contradict or invalidate them.
by red army line on May 2, 2011 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions
Maybe our next head coach should be -- Jason Arnott. (Okay, I’m being snarky here.)
I’m sure that Arnott will make a great NHL coach some day. But he would probably need some assistant coaching experience in the NHL of some sort or some minor league head coaching experience first.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Excellent point about the correlation between offsides and line swapping.
Semin’s working okay. I didn’t think this was one of his better games, but he’s been mucking pretty consistently.
Lightning doesn't strike, uh, thrice.
by Rainbow, Kitty, Beer on May 2, 2011 1:31 AM EDT up reply actions
I would like someone to put a screen before Bruce and play Tampa bay’s pp on one side, and ours on the other. We do not move our feet. At all. We do not skate. We stand, wait for chances, and pass the puck. How is this possible OR acceptable? Making the defense move opens up space. This point seems so elementary that it makes me wonder whether I’m just crazy for thinking that it could make a difference. Because if it could make a difference, Bruce would tell them to do it…right? And if they don’t do it..then whose fault is it?
And ov on the point. He’s an amazing hockey player, but that doesn’t mean he can do everything. Play to his strengths. Being on the point on the pp is not one of them. I got so annoyed during the post game when Bruce stated that he has tried everything, bullish*t.
Themattyhatty refrained, but I won’t: mike green was abysmal. It pains me to say it, but game 2 was terrible for him. His decision-making was incredibly frustrating.
God bless nicky’s back check. Now if Boudreau would only remember that he can pass, and might be good in situations where good passes are key – maybe on the pp? Have we tried it? If we have, would it hurt to try it again just once more since what HAS been tried time and again has ended in failure time and again?
Mackan, I love you but for the love of god, slow down and stay onsides. :P
Pierre/NBC crew was going on and on about how great BB was today
… and all I could think about is.. if we switched head coaches, would the series result be the same?
I’m a fan of BB, don’t get me wrong, but Boucher just has that eye of the tiger and a no-nonsense aura about him that I can see their players gravitating to. And he seems to have a very deliberate, thought-out plan, always.
Boudreau is certainly a better coach than most of the coaches out there in the NHL. But somehow we always seem to get out-coached in the playoffs. Certainly by Bylsma, Martin, and now Boucher. I don’t think Torts out-coached him in the series.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Boudreau is certainly a better coach than most of the coaches out there in the NHL. But somehow we always seem to get out-coached in the playoffs.
The latter negates the former. Even in good times Boudreau seems largely mediocre.
"By far the worst performers on the (Redskins) are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
Thank God for the Rangers, otherwise who would we ever beat?
Choking since 1985.
by macvechkin on May 2, 2011 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Kareem — a big rec for your efforts. Tough to follow that game by writing a recap, and this was a good one.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
Yeah, excellent recap. I rec’d as well.
Lightning doesn't strike, uh, thrice.
by Rainbow, Kitty, Beer on May 2, 2011 1:25 AM EDT up reply actions
I just looked at the TOI for the guys and noticed that Erskine didn’t even have 10 minutes of ice time. Both Carlson and Green had uber minutes — 26 apiece. Alzner had 21. Schultz had 18 and Hannan had 19.
I know Oisk is the 6th defenseman but that’s awfully low ice time even for him. He usually doesn’t have that low of ice time, especially in an OT game.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Some people are saying Neuvy should be benched? I really can’t believe that. Goaltending isn’t the problem right now. The offense not finishing chances and the PP are bigger worries than the goaltending is. Confused. Unless people just want to try to get a spark with Varlamov?
That’s probably it. A spark with a new goaltender, maybe. I was personally figuring that they’d use Varly for one of the games and Neuvy for the other just to keep from burning out Neuvy.
But agree that goaltending is now our main problem. The Power Play, or rather the Powerless Play, is the biggest worry. Along with the fact that our guys are the guys who can’t shoot straight and can’t finish chances.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
He’s been reliable and being neither a forward nor a defenseman, he can’t put the pucks in the net or stop bad turnovers in the neutral zone. He can only stop the pucks when they get to him, and in that regard, he’s done very well.
Changing to Varly won’t solve the problem of the atrocious PP because that solution has to come from the skaters, but I think Neuvy’s tough and he knows he can keep the Caps in the game regardless of what they do (or don’t do, like score on the power play). I think he does even better under pressure, and I don’t think changing to Varly would immediately solve the problem.
This is not Montreal
Here’s how I see things:
1. Tampa has scored a fluky goal in each game. +1.
2. Tampa has won the special teams battle in each game. +1.
3. Tampa has scored on a bad line change in each game. +1.
The fluky goal was on a bad line change in game 1, so those aren’t all independent. But if we cut out the mistakes and don’t lose the PP/PK battle, we could easily run off a bunch of wins in a row against these guys. Don’t forget that they’ve won 5 straight; a loss on Tuesday, and we’ll see how they recover the following night.
And I think Roloson has been shaky in both games. He is a wonderful puck-handler, though, making their breakouts easy. But we have to get more traffic in front of him, especially on the PP. Rebounds galore tonight, but we just weren’t there to take advantage.
Endavant, a triomfar, a guanyar Villarreal!
by siempre_riquelme on May 2, 2011 6:16 AM EDT reply actions
I disagree about the puck handler. We’re just not getting enough pressure on him to show his mistakes. Most of the time when he had to handle the puck there was one or fewer forecheckers. with one he’ll change direction, need them sealing both sides.
still not playing as a team.
Suspend Colin Campbell!
this is correct
Roloson is a fairly poor puck-handler
by Incipient_Senescence on May 2, 2011 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions
The Caps ARE sealing the sides. And that’s the problem. Roloson is just handing the puck to his d-man (“sweeper”) who is movng the puck up the middle for a very clean breakout, while Caps forwards are stuck on the half-wall waiting for a puck that isn’t coming.
It’s that pesky d-man that’s killing the Caps. He just hangs back knowing that the Caps cannot break through the top of the 1-3-1 and have to resort to dumping the puck. The Caps have to punish the Bolts for the sweeper cheating so much, but they haven’t figured out how yet.
A more aggressive forecheck would help create turnovers galore (like in the 1st/2nd of Game 1) but would also lead to more chances against.
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by red army line on May 2, 2011 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Out-smarted + out-schemed = out-coached
Time to start calling this what it is. BB was what the team needed in the regular season of ‘07-’08, but he has no answers in the playoffs.
Agreed, I’m seeing the same problems every game. Bad line changes during the long change periods. PP with the same difficiency, lack of shots from the points. Tampa is pressuring the points boudreau, get Ovie down low. Ovie is trying to be a one man show, reign him in. Unable to get the team to play unless their backs are against the wall. Get Boudreau out of here. Out coached every playoffs. We are the better team, I’m sick of having to watch other teams every year move on and we have excuses. Put the General if front of old ass rolo to screen him, and pump shots at the net. Get Gabby out of here!!!!!
What say you, hockey gods???
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