Series Discussion: Caps vs Canadiens de Montréal (Caps win series 4-1)

[CapitalsCupReality]

I do think people need to cut MSL a bit of slack on the referees. While he has been coaching a few years, this is his first playoff series. He will learn (or at least he had better). That's where Carberry has the benefit of experience, despite being very young. He's gone through a lot of playoff series as an ECHL, AHL, and now NHL head coach and understands that the coach needs to project calmness and confidence to his team.

I'm reminded of the video of Craig Berube telling Marc Savard to chill on the bench. There's a time and a place for showing emotions on the bench. If you're always losing your head a la Boudreau, that has a negative impact on your team's composure.

Why does a longtime NHL vet and HOFer need slack? He knows how the league works. It’s a bad look for him.


Oh and yelling doesn’t equate to “losing your head”. I can’t recall Bruce losing his shit very often behind the bench.

 

[Kazer]

Why does a longtime NHL vet and HOFer need slack? He knows how the league works. It’s a bad look for him.

Regardless of his long playoff career, it's his first playoff series as a coach. Being a coach and being a player are very different roles.

We're very fortunate to have a young coach who already understands the difference.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Regardless of his long playoff career, it's his first playoff series as a coach. Being a coach and being a player are very different roles.

We're very fortunate to have a young coach who already understands the difference.

Excuse making when it’s not needed.

 

[Calicaps]

We don't know if he had to clear concussion protocol to be able to play on Sunday, but if he was in protocol he obviously cleared it. I'm not worried about his noggin. I thought it was his knee. Apparently they're both fine!

My thoughts as well. If he really was concussed, doubt he'd have played. The point I think was that after the concussion during the RS, they erred on the side of caution in game 3.

 

[tenken00]

Just win at home tomorrow. Shut them up and we won't have to hear from them again until at least the next year.

 

[TRASHCAT]

Halak is gone he can't hurt us no more. I will say at least halak halaked the pens right after

 

[RedRocking]

I’m so tired of the whining about officiating. You’d think some fanbases care more about the refs than actual hockey.

It’s like a couple generations of Canadian fanbases were raised with this idea that they haven’t won a Cup in 30+ yrs because Bettman hates Canada. They really believe these loony conspiracies and use them as an excuse for every loss. It’s exhausting.

 

[DWGie26]

My thoughts as well. If he really was concussed, doubt he'd have played. The point I think was that after the concussion during the RS, they erred on the side of caution in game 3.

Yep. No doubt he was under close watch on his protocol. And totally on in-ice abundance of caution. Head nothing to mess with. I’m satisfied.

 

[CapsJunkie]

Florida looks tough, it'll be a fun series, after we beat up the canes

 

[CactusCap]

Florida looks tough, it'll be a fun series, after we beat up the canes

I think PLD’s length really bother Barkov. We’ve had success against Florida even before the Tkachuk injury. Hopefully we get to see how it goes.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Dang Ovie. That’s not a good list to be on.

 

[bacchist]

Dang Ovie. That’s not a good list to be on.

To be fair, he's not on the list for slowest top speed, just fewest bursts per 60 minutes. To me it's a combination of a lot of power play time where he's not expected to cover a lot of ground, and he's being smart about conserving his energy.

 

[TheSmokingMan]

Florida looks tough, it'll be a fun series, after we beat up the canes

Florida fooled everyone by playing dead leading up to the playoffs. Seems probable they take the Atlantic unless Tampa makes a miracle comeback.

 

[WcRoenick97]

Alright time to GO PRO. Let's close it out tonight boys!

 

[crab]

To be fair, he's not on the list for slowest top speed, just fewest bursts per 60 minutes. To me it's a combination of a lot of power play time where he's not expected to cover a lot of ground, and he's being smart about conserving his energy.

He’s also one of the oldest players in the league.

 

[RandyHolt]

Florida fooled everyone by playing dead leading up to the playoffs. Seems probable they take the Atlantic unless Tampa makes a miracle comeback.

Tkachuk back from injury is a factor IMO... he seems like the Wanna Be Willy of that team.

 

[Random schmoe]

Interestingly, Roy is 17th in top sustained speed, 23.2 mph, among defenceman (sic). Never really think of him as a burner. Fehervary is 13th at 23.3. Neither guy shows up in the 'most bursts of at least x mph' lists.

Pleasantly surprised to see Duhaime 25th in most 22+ mph bursts per 60. I suspect the quantity is loosely tied to his role on the PK and defensive zone starts, breaking out of their end with speed.

The data in that IG post seems to all be sourced from https://www.advancedhockeystats.com/stats/nhl/skatingspeed which includes 4 years worth of data, highly sortable and filterable. WIlson's top speed of 23.22 mph in 2024-25 was ranked 59th among all NHL players. Pro was just behind, ranked 67th at 23.18 mph.

 

[tenken00]

He’s also one of the oldest players in the league.

Yeah. Ovie is the 4th oldest active player in the league right now. Only behind MAF, Suter, and Burns. He's right above Corey Perry to round out the top 5.

But dang. Look at that point production of his compared to all the other 40 to late 30 year olds on that list around him. Ovie and Crosby still mucking it up at their ages.

Oldest Active NHL Players 2025 | StatMuse

Ryan Suter was the oldest active player this season. He was 40 years old.

www.statmuse.com

 

[illicit]

I’m so tired of the whining about officiating. You’d think some fanbases care more about the refs than actual hockey.

It’s like a couple generations of Canadian fanbases were raised with this idea that they haven’t won a Cup in 30+ yrs because Bettman hates Canada. They really believe these loony conspiracies and use them as an excuse for every loss. It’s exhausting.

I think it's just certain fan bases. I've never really heard people in Vancouver say things like that and my friends are all Canucks fans.

 

[g00n]

 

[Habs13]

Congrats guys! Love the physicality of your team - wish we had more of that. Go get the Canes and smash those jerks!

 

[CapsSkins]

An over-achieving young Habs team was the perfect tune-up series for us to ramp up our game after the bumpy end to the regular season.

Safe to say, the switch has been flipped and the boys are rolling. Protas getting a game in before Carolina is huge. Bring on the Canes!

 

[Ridley Simon]

Congrats guys! Love the physicality of your team - wish we had more of that. Go get the Canes and smash those jerks!

You all have a team to be excited about. Great young talent all over the place. Some good add via trade and UFA and the Habs are gonna be regulars in the playoffs.

 

[g00n]

Ayyyyyy...team Caps in 5 how you doin?

 

[g00n]

LOL