Are the Caps this year's biggest frauds?

[SheldonJPlankton]

The biggest fraud in the NHL is still Toronto.

 

[Midnight Judges]

Got outplayed by quite a bit by the Flyers today.

They were sloppy tonight, no doubt.

Mangiapane is actually underperforming.

Right, but it's not like he's been bad or anything. He's hounding the puck and he's made a couple nice net drives.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

2 more points….where are the felony fraud charges?

 

[stephenball]

It’s weird, they’ve been playing their worst hockey for a bit, but they’re 12-1-5 in their last 18. It’s usually not flashy but they just keep finding ways to win. When the skaters falter the goalies step up, when the goalies aren’t at their best they score the goals they need. Whether that’s a recipe for success in the playoffs we’ll have to see.

The strange thing is they’re so far ahead at the top of the conference, yet it feels like there’s not much pressure on them in the playoffs. It’s just such a question mark.

 

[GrkFlyersFan]

Played my Flyers tonight, I still don't know how they're doing it.

 

[Zuluss]

Outperforming or developing?

Protas and McMichael are kids and guys like Dubois and Chycrun are playing to their potential.

Protas is shooting at 23.2% this season despite never hitting 10% before. That's how he paces for 35 goals after season totals in single-digits in the previous three years.
Part of that is developing, because he shoots more and places better shots - and, in all fairness, shooting at 5% (which is what he did in the previous two seasons) is p!ss-poor for a winger.
But an even bigger part is puck luck - with a normal shooting % of 10-12% he would have had at least 10 goals less.

 

[CatOTails]

2 more points….where are the felony fraud charges?

Charges dismissed!

 

[Kuz]

You take away everyone’s OT losses and they are still 2nd in the league behind Winnipeg? Are you just salty?

2nd in the league in Goals For and 4th in Goals Against… what even is this thread?

Also, in your scenario are you only counting Washington’s OT losses and ignoring the other teams?

Its the team winning in OT that gets the most benefit of OT getting and extra point.

 

[McMoMoney29]

I don’t see them going too far In playoffs, mostly because of lacking star power

 

[um]

Got outplayed by quite a bit by the Flyers today. Flyers have crap PDO all season, and WSH the best. This years Vancouver.

I guess that’s a great game, for the Flyers.

Didn’t Vancouver lose to Edmonton in 7 despite being heavily injured?

 

[Block]

Got outplayed by quite a bit by the Flyers today.

In the First period, yeah. Second was even, third was a complete ass kicking by the Caps.

 

[thedjpd]

In the First period, yeah. Second was even, third was a complete ass kicking by the Caps.

I guess. Advanced metrics point to the Flyers generally outplaying them with multiple AHLers in their lineup due to injuries and VISA issues.

Plus, the Flyers stink. The caps won this game because they have had better luck this season; like most of the year.

It’s not a knock; Flyers are a very good team 5v5 and have sank with league worst goaltending (until somewhat recently.) it’s a really forcing the accidental tank, which they need.

 

[TRASHCAT]

Overachieving a bit in a league where there too many teams and too little talent

 

[Devonator]

It is rather interesting that the top 2 teams, Jets and Capitals, could both be frauds....the playoffs will of course be the litmus test for both these teams....of course with such parity, we may see a final with the Jets and Capitals as well....

 

[Midnight Judges]

I love how the 82 game season is regarded as the fraudulent metric, but a 7 game series is regarded as the true measure.

 

[max21]

I love how the 82 game season is regarded as the fraudulent metric, but a 7 game series is regarded as the true measure.

Well people don't really remember regular season team success I feel like, Bruins 2 years ago is a good example. Nobody even talks about their season anymore

 

[FinlandPanther]

I don’t think they’re a contender but they’re a good team. They play the system well and they're gritty. I think their defense is really good and that makes the goalies look a lot better than they really are. They deserve to be where they are.

Well people don't really remember regular season team success I feel like, Bruins 2 years ago is a good example. Nobody even talks about their season anymore

Florida remembers

 

[Midnight Judges]

Well people don't really remember regular season team success I feel like, Bruins 2 years ago is a good example. Nobody even talks about their season anymore

Right, but that doesn't make them frauds, it just reflects the randomness of how the playoffs played out.

The Bruins won the most games since 2005. How fraudulent could they possibly be?

 

[FerrisRox]

Having watch them some and idk how they have 77 points.

How are they doing it?

I see they have 7 OT losses which has given them a but of an artificial lead over some of rest of the leaders in the east,

I see teams in the east getting past them easily.

Carolina, Florida, Toronto, maybe NJ.

I think they are a nightmare match up for the Maple Leafs.

 

[OilersFanatics505]

Its the team winning in OT that gets the most benefit of OT getting and extra point.

They are still second in the league in Regulation wins. That doesn’t change anything.

 

[43sfriends]

Protas is shooting at 23.2% this season despite never hitting 10% before. That's how he paces for 35 goals after season totals in single-digits in the previous three years.
Part of that is developing, because he shoots more and places better shots - and, in all fairness, shooting at 5% (which is what he did in the previous two seasons) is p!ss-poor for a winger.
But an even bigger part is puck luck - with a normal shooting % of 10-12% he would have had at least 10 goals less.

If you watch him play you'd see how f---ing hard he works to get to the slot before ripping his wicked wristers. Goalies have no chance.

There's nothing lucky about his game, or the Caps season in general. "Luck" is simply what YOU don't understand.

 

[SpinningEdge]

The Caps have outshot their opponents in 21 straight games in the 3rd period. That’s pretty good.

 

[johnnyonthspot]

They haven't lost more than 2 games in a row all season and their record when allowing the 1st goal is better than most teams records when they score the 1st goal. That has playoffs written all over it. They had a winning record without Ovechkin for 16 games, the team just get's it done.

I am not a Caps fan and do not follow them but was making the point there are good regular season teams and good playoff teams. Sometimes a team is both but other times like in the Jet's case last couple of seasons they were only regular season ready.

 

[Silky mitts]

Good thing is next year’s team is projected to have an even better roster. Caps have 3 of the best prospects in the world: Ryan Leonard, Cole Hutson and Andrew Cristall.

Pretty good shot Leonard will be there this year

 

[Mez]

They are on a pretty tasty PDO stretch. I don't expect them to make it out of the 2nd round.