Post-Game Talk: Capitals win game 1, lead series 1-0

[Habs]

We aren’t winning a a thing with this soft of a lineup, why is this so hard to see? Our captain, young stars, being punched in the faces and hit from behind, we can’t do anything. I’m sure I saw Newhook say ‘nice hit’ when he was getting drilled in front of our net. Total wussies

 

[Mats NAslund]

And the answer isn't Heineman who has 1 point in the last 22 games and also tried on the 2nd line where he failed.

You still don't get it, Heineman isn't there to score. He creates space wins puck battles gets to the net. Something no one on that line does else especially Laine !

its a simple switch


Armia Evans combo stays together and you add Demidov for a scoring threat

Insert Heineman on the Newhook line with Laine to do all the heavy lifting and Laine is your shooter

Laine Newhook Demidov will never work - The C has no vison, Laine is a lazy big body and Demidov is still raw (but the most talented) and there is no one to get Demidov or Laine the puck and who's going to the net?

 

[Captain97]

-Marty should have challenged the high stick because it cost us a goal.

-We are too small and the only guys to answer the bell physically are Anderson and Guhle which isn't nearly enough.

-Montembeault is a very good goalie and deserved a better result.

-They made a game of it and on to game 2 where I hope to see some brutality added to the lineup.

The well are too small talk is crazy. The Habs are on average 6'1 200lbs. We aren't a small team, it's a young nervous team that is ahead of schedule. They'll be fine once they get another year or 2 under their belts

 

[Redux91]

and they were all -2
AND newhook 2-6 on face offs loses the critical one that leads to the GWG against, with them all on the ice

story of the game really

that line CANNOT continue to stand, and the 2C we bring in better be SOME kind of tough center with some size (this is where wright and cooley as 2nd line C would sink us in the long run and why they DIDNT go there)

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

-Marty should have challenged the high stick because it cost us a goal.

-We are too small and the only guys to answer the bell physically are Anderson and Guhle which isn't nearly enough.

-Montembeault is a very good goalie and deserved a better result.

-They made a game of it and on to game 2 where I hope to see some brutality added to the lineup.

He'd probably have lost and given the Caps a powerplay. They have guys in the boot looking at this stuff. If you're not sure then it's not worth the risk, certainly not that early in the game. If it was a late goal putting them ahead then I think you'd have seen a challenge.

 

[Dagistitsyn]

Slafkovsky is never going to be that guy; it's a matter of disposition that cannot be taught. He is what he is - a finesse player with size, somewhat like Laine in that one respect.

Minus the shot, and Laine without his shot is simply not a good top 6 player. Lol.
Slafkovsky mostly gets carried by Suzuki and has an occasional game that gives fans hope that he can be a driving force on a line. Super frustrating player.

Torn between the idea of demoting him to the second line to see if it motivates him to play his best… but also worried he becomes a 25 point player without Suzuki and Caufield.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

and they were all -2
AND newhook 2-6 on face offs loses the critical one that leads to the GWG against, with them all on the ice

story of the game really

that line CANNOT continue to stand, and the 2C we bring in better be SOME kind of tough center with some size (this is where wright and cooley as 2nd line C would sink us in the long run and why they DIDNT go there)

It's tragic that Dach can't stay healthy. He was a great option there.

 

[OldCraig71]

The well are too small talk is crazy. The Habs are on average 6'1 200lbs. We aren't a small team, it's a young nervous team that is ahead of schedule. They'll be fine once they get another year or 2 under their belts

Hutson, Caufield and Suzuki are not very big players and they happen to be 3 of our best and were targeted last night. We didn't have an answer for the physical play of the Caps and like it or not, it is a big factor in playoff hockey.

 

[OldCraig71]

He'd probably have lost and given the Caps a powerplay. They have guys in the boot looking at this stuff. If you're not sure then it's not worth the risk, certainly not that early in the game. If it was a late goal putting them ahead then I think you'd have seen a challenge.

I benefited from a replay, but the stick was way above the crossbar.

 

[donghabs98]

Do you think that everyone will grow 2 inches and 30lbs overnight? This isn’t a crash and bang team. Most aren’t. They adapted well to Washington running around

This team certainly isn't built to win in the playoffs and that's okay as that wasn't the expectation this season. Unlike the 2021 team that although flawed as built to handle the grind of the playoffs, this team was built to be competitive and fight for a playoff spot. A lot of the issues we saw last night makes sense (lack of a 2nd line C, being out hit), the caps are built for a playoff run and we aren't. For me the big thing is for us to grow from this series and be competitive, winning it would just be a cherry on top.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I benefited from a replay, but the stick was way above the crossbar.

But the angle of that shot was really low. The Hot Stove guys commented on it too... really hard to tell from that angle. I'm sure the guys in the booth have better angles than us to look at.

 

[The Great Weal]

You still don't get it, Heineman isn't there to score. He creates space wins puck battles gets to the net. Something no one on that line does else especially Laine !

its a simple switch

So why did he do such a bad job at this invaluable trait which caused Marty to remove him from that line just recently? Does Marty also not get it and you do?

 

[Sorinth]

For 2 periods it was Caps domination and Montreal gripping the holly shit bars!
O-Zone time of possession, the caps owned that zone and if not for the stellar play of Montambeault the game would have been out of hand very early

We really weren't dominated, yes there was a significant gap in o-zone possession but shots were pretty much even, and Thompson made a number of strong saves, and we also bobbled the puck a couple times ruining our scoring chances. We had our chances even without having the sustained zone time the Caps managed.

It's also worth noting that zone time advantage that the Caps had was less about them being dominating and more about our own nerves/turnovers/fumbles.

 

[OldCraig71]

But the angle of that shot was really low. The Hot Stove guys commented on it too... really hard to tell from that angle. I'm sure the guys in the booth have better angles than us to look at.

Okay, fair enough.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Okay, fair enough.

If it was later in the game, you'd have seen a challenge for sure. But imagine giving up the goal, losing the challenge and then going straight to the PK... that'd be killer.

 

[vayrynen]

Yeah it wasn’t that horrendous coverage on the winner or anything. Never mind that

Quite typical for Laine this season. Reach once with the stick and then skate away. Never mind battling for the puck or trying to pin the opponent with some physicality.

 

[Toene]

You need to learn how to read

1. I said 5 on 5 Heineman is a better option than Laine (on simple effort level alone and the amount of puck battles Laine loses) Heineman has the ability to win puck battles along the boards, don't need Laine and Demidov on the same line, no one on that line has the ability to win the physical battles. If I had top pick between Demidov and Laine I take Demidov.

2. I said he's replaceable on the PP by guys like Caufield and Demidov not Heinemann (PP wont suffer without Laine, it's 21st in the league at 20%)

3. They have been trying to get him going since they acquired him !


If you're so gung ho on Laine at the very least toss him off that line and use him like they use Savard. PP specialist and 8 to 10 minutes a game on a 4th line. He is absolutely useless 5 on 5

Like another poster posted

Slafkovsky - Suzuki - Caufield
Anderson - Dvorak - Gallagher
Heinemen - Evans - Demidov
Laine - Newhook - Armia

Just For shits and giggles

Heineman - 62 games played 10 goals , 3 on the PP a -4 - Avg of just over 10 minutes per game on a 4th line

Laine - 52 games 20 goals, 14 on the PP a -14 and Avg of just over 14 minutes a game on a top 2 line - Laine is 6'4 200lbs plus and plays like he's 5'6 160 with zero heart!

I wonder if given a chance Heineman to play in a offensive role his stats might not be better....He's 6'2 200lbs and plays big! Let's not forget how well he was playing prior to getting injured.


I'm NOT suggesting Heineman replace Laine on the PP, I'm suggesting he's a better option as a top 6 than Laine is, Laine has had is chances at securing and meriting that role this year and has disappointed.

Double-shift Heineman on both lines, give an occasional shift to Laine.

Heineman is young and in shape he can take it.

 

[dinodebino]

Perfectly sums up my thoughts on the game as well, and this team in general. This team right now + a second line C and a decent top 4 RD (which would keep Hutson from playing his off side, and Newhook on the 4th line wing where he belongs) and we’re already a contender. Look at how this team played against some of the top teams this season despite being essentially a one line team and with inconsistent goaltending..

Sucks we couldn’t make the moves for those things this year, as Gally is getting older and it would have been nice to give him an actual shot this year too even if it was a long shot. Banking on Dach / Newhook was a costly, idiotic mistake. Dach I guess deserved the chance given how he looked prior to missing a full season, but Newhook never had any business in the top six or at C.
This team is going nowhere with him. Even if they do pull off an incredible upset against the Capitals, they’re getting smoked by Carolina in round 2. You simply can’t get far in the playoffs with a useless plug like him centering your second line.

I understand this was just the opening of our window this year and isn’t the final product of the rebuild.. but it’s so close now that we can see it. They NEED to make a move for a second line center no matter what this off season.

Disagree. We’re not close at all. And so no move was required this year. This window is artificial; it was to start next year. This is bonus money. Their sole expectation was to play meaningful games…in March! So no trade was to be expected.

Don’t get blinded by this year’s results. They are still rebuilding this puzzle. They are missing important pieces.

 

[OldCraig71]

If it was later in the game, you'd have seen a challenge for sure. But imagine giving up the goal, losing the challenge and then going straight to the PK... that'd be killer.

I can’t argue cause I don’t want another warning.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

and they were all -2
AND newhook 2-6 on face offs loses the critical one that leads to the GWG against, with them all on the ice

story of the game really

that line CANNOT continue to stand, and the 2C we bring in better be SOME kind of tough center with some size (this is where wright and cooley as 2nd line C would sink us in the long run and why they DIDNT go there)

We can turn the 2nd line into the 4th line and ride with 3 4th lines, or we can try and make some changes to the lineup

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I can’t argue cause I don’t want another warning.

Come on now...

 

[Milhouse40]

Disagree. We’re not close at all. And so no move was required this year. This window is artificial; it was to start next year. This is bonus money. Their sole expectation was to play meaningful games…in March! So no trade was to be expected.

Don’t get blinded by this year’s results. They are still rebuilding this puzzle. They are missing important pieces.

Agreed, These games will serve in establshing the holes to fill and those who are good enough to continue with and those we could let go.

That's needed in order to make this rebuild a success.

 

[The Real Timo]

This team certainly isn't built to win in the playoffs and that's okay as that wasn't the expectation this season. Unlike the 2021 team that although flawed as built to handle the grind of the playoffs, this team was built to be competitive and fight for a playoff spot. A lot of the issues we saw last night makes sense (lack of a 2nd line C, being out hit), the caps are built for a playoff run and we aren't. For me the big thing is for us to grow from this series and be competitive, winning it would just be a cherry on top.

Caps will get demolished by whoever in the next round if they make it. They barely hung on to beat Habs last night who for two periods looked like deers in the headlights... Not looking promising for them. Carolina, Leafs and one of the floridas will easily beat the Caps.

 

[dinodebino]

Caps will get demolished by whoever the next round. They barely hung on to beat Habs last night... Not looking promising for them.

Agree 100%

 

[Victoire HuGo]

I can't believe that was the only angle they had. It's such a shit league for that stuff.

I think TVA Sports explained that it got canceled by Monty making the save thus other team touching the puck. If it had gone in directly, would have been challenged. Kind of dumb rule tbh.