Pre-Game Talk: CANES VS CU^TS IT IS

[CanesFanBudMan]

Size in toughness is a need in this series much more than the NJD series.

 

[SlavinAway]

I think those 2 regular season games show that we can still manage with their physicality and shenanigans. Whoever can stay healthier will win.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

View attachment 1027229

Yikes. No damage to the eye itself and he says he'll be good to for Round 2, but that's quite a shiner

Also, now knowing he's going to be OK, this picture is up there with Necas dodging Trouba in terms of funny action shots:

 

[chaz4hockey]

EDGE stats insights for Capitals-Hurricanes series | NHL.com

Ovechkin's prowess, Carolina's possession dominance highlight 2nd-round matchup

www.nhl.com

 

[MrazeksVengeance]

LEAFS IN THE RA** FOREST ARE RUSTLING.

 

[Discipline Daddy]

Exciting matchup. I don't buy the narrative I've seen said once or twice that either the Caps or Canes won't be ready for a more challenging opponent by playing the relatively weaker Habs/Devils. It's the playoffs. Both teams will be ready and well coached.

Goaltending is huge. If Andersen is back, things look much rosier.

Containing Ovi will be interesting. You would think that the Hurricanes should do much better than the Canadiens. The Canadiens' top 6 D was

Matheson - Carrier
Guhle - Hutson
Xhekaj - Savard

Nevertheless, the Caps are just opportunistic. If we don't get good goaltending, we could lose some frustrating games where we outchance and outshoot the Capitals significantly and lose.

I have no idea how this will go, though at the same time I'm not scared of our playoff opponent.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

The Rags, Panthers, Lightning have all been wayyyy worse matchups for us than this year's Caps team. I know our roster isn't quite as good as it has been in recent years but I do still think this is about as good of a 2nd round matchup as we can ask for. I feel good about it but also have no expectations really other than to not get swept. This season is already a success for a transitional year IMO.

 

[Nikishin al Gaib]

Another angle.....

View attachment 1027234

I will just say this.... With the crap that KK gets for his regular everyday play, the fact that he routinely puts his body on the line, routinely just puts his head down and does his job and does whatever the coaches ask of him. He's very much developing into a prototypical Brind'Amour player. That he was back out on the ice celebrating with the team with that injury happening only a couple minutes earlier?

The guy has heart, that's for damn sure.

 

[Stanky and Janky]

I will just say this.... With the crap that KK gets for his regular everyday play, the fact that he routinely puts his body on the line, routinely just puts his head down and does his job and does whatever the coaches ask of him. He's very much developing into a prototypical Brind'Amour player. That he was back out on the ice celebrating with the team with that injury happening only a couple minutes earlier?

The guy has heart, that's for damn sure.

Sure, but I hope this next series his biggest contribution is something more than almost getting his eye carved out.

 

[Nikishin al Gaib]

The Chuckster has spoken

 

[Stanky and Janky]

The Chuckster has spoken

It's certainly possible. I think they let Montreal hang around at times and I think they get too caught up in their numbskullery at times. As long as the Canes don't feed into the latter, it's a not a bad matchup at all. Also, I think Thompson is very set up to have a Markstrom like series in that he's good but also might ultimately let in quite a few.

I also think that the Caps overachieved a bit and the Canes ended up underachieving a bit with the Rantanen saga and total shutdown after clinching. Caps were still the better regular season team but I don't think there should have been nearly as much separating the two.

 

[The Faulker 27]

Where are they hiding Andersen?

 

[Nikishin al Gaib]

Where are they hiding Andersen?

He practiced with the extras yesterday

 

[CandyCanes]

 

[AD Skinner]

EDGE stats insights for Capitals-Hurricanes series | NHL.com

Ovechkin's prowess, Carolina's possession dominance highlight 2nd-round matchup

www.nhl.com

Neat article. At the bottom there’s a link like “click here for more stats” so I did and the canes are favored in almost every category here

NHL EDGE Puck and Player Tracking Statistics - Comparisons

Compare National Hockey League players, goalies and teams with NHL EDGE Puck and Player Tracking statistics including skating speed, skating distance, shot speed, shot and save location, and zone time for National Hockey League players and teams.

edge.nhl.com

Sample size and quality of competition and all that but still neat