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

[Andy]

Sounds like a bust to me.

We should trade him for another 5ft11 dman to play with Carrier and Struble.

Or he's still a young Dman and we just need to have reasonable expectations that a undrafted dman needs time to gain consistency?

 

[River Meadow]

Or he's still a young Dman and we just need to have reasonable expectations that a undrafted dman needs time to gain consistency?

I put a sarcastic smiley after my sentence man, damn.

 

[Saundies]

I'm certain that a bunch of these poor calls are related. The refs make that Guhle call probably in some sort of attempt to make some sort of example or something. It is the kind of call that they probably realize how stupid it is before reaching center ice to announce the penalty. Then on the PK Anderson sticks his leg out and trips the Caps Dman but they don't call it because they know the initial penalty is bunk and they don't have the balls to make it a 5v3. Then later, when Leonard leg drags Demidov the ref doesn't have the nuts to call what he let go earlier (on Andyhorse). It is game management of the worst kind - it is reactionary and generally devolves into uncertainty. I get that they miss calls, but when they lack the balls or sense (or both) to just call the plain penalties in front of their eyes, there is a big problem.
They fret and deliberate more about "puck over glass" penalties, but standard trips are not cut and dried enough for them.

Yeah I have no doubt you're right and it makes sense. Mistakes beget more mistakes.

 

[BozoTheClown]

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.

Yep!
I don’t get people wanting to give away the farm team and multiple 1st round picks for a #2 center.
We already gave 3x1st, 2x2nd and 3rd and still couldn’t fill that spot.

Patience is a must.

 

[TeacherMan]

I'm not against rolling 3 Cs and throwing Newhook in as a winger through the lineup, that being said that would be very taxing on the C's especially Suzuki who's already up there in TOI

I kind of like the idea, but who sits?

 

[TeacherMan]

Sadly if they don't play Xhekaj in this series that tells me Xhekaj is done in Montreal.

And it will bite us in the ass.

 

[ahmedou]

 

[Tyson]

And it will bite us in the ass.

Stand by for a rinse and repeat game. Capitals will continue punishing this team.

 

[Karma Police]

And it will bite us in the ass.

He's a 6th D in a trash defense that we have. It'll sting if he gets moved but he hasn't showed anything.

Below average first pass, questionable decision making with the puck, gets a shit ton of penalties that costed us.
The only thing going for him is his physicality, which greatly went down.

I just don't understand the people claiming he will change anything in this series. He doesn't make us better in any way. You guy are making him out to be our physical saviour but he won't play against their top line which is the most physical, so the point doesn't stand.

 

[larek]

Nah. We pushed right back. Team showed a lot of guts. It’s almost like people aren’t watching these games.

Ain't go in ng to be able to keep taking that -with out dishing some heavy s hit back

You had some wimpy guys on Caps acting all big and tough!!
That's got to be addressed properly

 

[larek]

It's almost like the officials weren't watching the game! The crosscheck unpunished to Gallagher's face was shameful and then they have to review a follow through,aren't they suppose to be following the play?

It was bad no doubt - ovechnkin pretty well raping Suzuki - no call!!
Hutson getting punched in face - no call!!
And several other glaring offenses like charging slashing interference roughing on and on and on

 

[TeacherMan]

He's a 6th D in a trash defense that we have. It'll sting if he gets moved but he hasn't showed anything.

Below average first pass, questionable decision making with the puck, gets a shit ton of penalties that costed us.
The only thing going for him is his physicality, which greatly went down.

I just don't understand the people claiming he will change anything in this series. He doesn't make us better in any way. You guy are making him out to be our physical saviour but he won't play against their top line which is the most physical, so the point doesn't stand.

He's shown physicality and compete, both of which are contagious.

People forget how playoff series are often a battle of attrition.

St. Louis undervalues Wifi's style of play which (along with gaffs by Wifi) has contributed to less playing time to work on weaknesses.

The interest other teams will show in him will reflect his potential.

 

[salbutera]

As part of this interview Hutson went on to say “we’re learning, this was the first playoff game for many of us…”

Hutson had a tough time periods 1 & 2, and seemed to “learn from it” to adjust for period 3.

Fandom would be well advised to maintain perspective…

 

[TopTenPlayz]

Have to juggle line 2-4. That "second line" is an Achilles heel and needs to be broken up.

 

[Habs Icing]

Gallagher got cross checked in the face and nothing happened. Who knows what the refs would have done.

And who cares, it’s a 7 game series. You should show the team you’re not willing to back down physically. The team got manhandled. It would have been nice to give out our own punishment.

Guhle did next to nothing and got a penalty in a skirmish. Alexeyev (Spelling) cross checks Gallagher in the mouth and got nothing. Mangiapane punched Hutson in the face and the refs looked the other way. Leonard ran Demidov when he didn't have the puck and that was right in front of the trailing ref. Nothing. In OT Laine on the red line is cross-checked and doesn't touch the puck. No penalty and an icing. In a previous post I said the Habs demarcation for a penalty is different from the Caps. It was obvious in last night's game. I'm not saying the league wants the Caps to win. I'm saying the way those refs last night saw the game was slanted. In their view the Caps are the best or second best team in the league. The Habs squeaked in. One is a talented team and the other is not.

It's what three years MSL is here coaching? I've never seen him so irate with the refs. Now we're gonna put Xhekaj in that pot. It's risky.

 

[Heffyhoof]

I was more talking about the physical aspect of the game

One dude has 80 hits max regular season other dude has 193. Guess which is which? One dude has 56 points as his best after 5 seasons, the other is 51 after 3 seasons. Guess which is which?

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Walking around the city today and talking to people around the office and work and everybody is pretty proud of the boys first game.


If you just read HFboards you'd think we would have lost 7-1 and half the roster was put in the hospital by the caps

 

[Mats NAslund]

Yep!
I don’t get people wanting to give away the farm team and multiple 1st round picks for a #2 center.
We already gave 3x1st, 2x2nd and 3rd and still couldn’t fill that spot.

Patience is a must.

I agree, however that being said…..

Believe it or not Montreal has a greater need on D as they don’t really have that number 1A.

Right now Montreal has on D

Ghule
Hutson
Carrier
Struble
Matheson
Savard
Xhekaj
Trudeau
Reinbacher
Engstrom
Mailloux

From this list by all accounts Mailloux and Xhekaj will get traded. Savard is going to retire. Also potential trade bait
Is Struble given the depth at D if they can acquire that 1st overall.

Why not use Xhekaj Struble Mailloux along with the 2 first round picks Montreal has and one of kapanen or Beck or both as trade bait to try and grab that 1st overall and get Shaffer? He’s 17 and won’t be 18 til September is 6”2 and close
To 190lbs. He’s Hutson with size!

Not sure how many here have had the chance to watch him play but he’s going to be right up there for rookie of the year next year.

You can address the 2C spot in free agency with Sam Bennett. All it cost you is cap space which Montreal has.

Shaefer Hutson
Ghule Reinbacher
Carrier Matheson
Engstrom

Yes as much as I get frustrated with Matheson you’re going to need a vet in there and playing in the 5/6 hole he’ll be effective and not playing tired.
He only has one more year on his contract at a decent cap hit.

Caufield Suzuki Slaf
Laine Bennett Demidov
Dach Evans Heineman
Anderson F. Xhekaj Gallagher

Fire away - lol

 

[Mats NAslund]

He's a 6th D in a trash defense that we have. It'll sting if he gets moved but he hasn't showed anything.

Below average first pass, questionable decision making with the puck, gets a shit ton of penalties that costed us.
The only thing going for him is his physicality, which greatly went down.

I just don't understand the people claiming he will change anything in this series. He doesn't make us better in any way. You guy are making him out to be our physical saviour but he won't play against their top line which is the most physical, so the point doesn't stand.

He was playing well for a stretch but MSL never showed any confidence in him and had him on a short leash. MSL had and has no interest in working with Xhekaj for some reason. He's been on his case since he did that commercial where people started calling him Sheriff. MSL hated it you could tell by how he answered question regarding it and Xhekaj in general.

He will fit well somewhere like Philly Boston or on a western team where they play heavier hockey.

 

[Mats NAslund]

One dude has 80 hits max regular season other dude has 193. Guess which is which? One dude has 56 points as his best after 5 seasons, the other is 51 after 3 seasons. Guess which is which?

Well its not Xhekaj or Strubble because neither put up that many points in their career. so I give up what the answer?

 

[austin316]

MSL is very stubborn. Xhekaj makes a bad pinch that causes us a goal vs Carolina 3 weeks ago and he’s been stapled to the press box since.

Meanwhile Matheson can directly cause 1-2 goals against per game and turn the puck over relentlessly yet no one talks about it.

 

[FLHabs]

One dude has 80 hits max regular season other dude has 193. Guess which is which? One dude has 56 points as his best after 5 seasons, the other is 51 after 3 seasons. Guess which is which?

Cool stats, but what I said wasn't meant as a slight to Slaf, just that we have to be patient while he gains more physical maturity and can play a more effective and impactful physical game.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

He was playing well for a stretch but MSL never showed any confidence in him and had him on a short leash. MSL had and has no interest in working with Xhekaj for some reason. He's been on his case since he did that commercial where people started calling him Sheriff. MSL hated it you could tell by how he answered question regarding it and Xhekaj in general.

He will fit well somewhere like Philly Boston or on a western team where they play heavier hockey.

That’s not even remotely true. You’re just trying to push a narrative that doesn’t reflect reality.

Xhekaj was inconsistent early in the season, which is why he was being rotated with Barron and Struble. He missed 3 of the first 11 games because of that.

Once he returned to the lineup, he played solid, consistent hockey, so Marty kept him in. At that point, only Barron and Struble were rotating. That stayed the case until Carrier was acquired, and then it was Struble who became the odd man out. Struble returned to the lineup as a regular when Guhle got injured.

Xhekaj played 61 consecutive games. So the idea that Marty doesn’t like him or keeps him on a short leash is completely made up.

At the time Guhle was ready to come back from injury, Xhekaj’s play dipped, while Struble was thriving next to Hutson. Marty made the call to stick with Struble. Since then, Struble has held his spot because he's been doing the job well enough, not because Marty has something against Xhekaj.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

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

And they got the game to overtime. Soft doesn't matter if they win.

 

[Mats NAslund]

That’s not even remotely true. You’re just trying to push a narrative that doesn’t reflect reality.

Xhekaj was inconsistent early in the season, which is why he was being rotated with Barron and Struble. He missed 3 of the first 11 games because of that.

Once he returned to the lineup, he played solid, consistent hockey, so Marty kept him in. At that point, only Barron and Struble were rotating. That stayed the case until Carrier was acquired, and then it was Struble who became the odd man out. Struble returned to the lineup as a regular when Guhle got injured.

Xhekaj played 61 consecutive games. So the idea that Marty doesn’t like him or keeps him on a short leash is completely made up.

At the time Guhle was ready to come back from injury, Xhekaj’s play dipped, while Struble was thriving next to Hutson. Marty made the call to stick with Struble. Since then, Struble has held his spot because he's been doing the job well enough, not because Marty has something against Xhekaj.

Not made up at all, he was only in the lineup due to injuries to Savard and Ghule, the second they had 7 healthy D St-Louis discarded him like a dirty old rag. Further more name one other D that go benched for shifts and full periods at a time after taking a penalty or bad pinch like he was

God knows Matheson was Mr turnover this year leading to many pucks in the back of the Montreal net yet he would be rewarded with 25 minutes a game and Savard basically was a Pylon by mid season. Yet only missed games due to injury cause he's this magically unicorn that can block shots and play on the PK.