Series Discussion: Caps vs Hurricanes

[Langway]

The Caps have the same questions. I like Strome and I like Dubois even more but they are not exactly what you'd call "dynamic" centers. Dubois' real strengths are not particularly noticeable unless you're an experienced viewer and Strome, while got some hands and a shot, is not really a quick player and is not really proven away from Ovechkin. And we know Ovechkin is old and the series could go south for him rather quick considering the pace the Canes play with. In that case, Strome would need to carry that line. Can he? That's a question. Thompson is also a big question mark. He's been good for half a season, then average, then looked dogshit for like couple dozens of games and had a rather respectable Habs series. Anyone would bet their money he keeps it over 0.91 SV% this series? And I think that's where his stats need to be for them to take the series. It's possible but are you confident in that?

Strome is coming in hot at least. I've had similar doubts but we'll see. It would help if the bottom six pitches in, blueliners are also able to help (without getting caught) and team defense is on point. Thompson looked just fine against Montreal. Surprisingly good after the time off. I think the question is more can the skaters in front of him not severely get broken down? Because there were definitely prime chances for the taking had MTL executed. And that's with a pretty thin roster unable to turn the screws all that consistently. On paper those are two modest advantages that give them a path. How likely they're able to be decisive definitely depends on some other underlying areas...

I think the main question coming into this series in less those two than team defense, the pace of 8/74 for sure goes with that, but they've got to be more buttoned up. They've got to have more second effort and composure recovering during those havoc moments in their end and not necessarily need Thompson to be out of his mind left and right. Defend firm enough and they can find ways to win. But if they're getting bogged down, hardly possessing and getting shelled it's going to be tough to find traction uphill. Being opportunistic could gain them a foothold but they're going to need to be just as hard-working (if not more). Structurally Carolina has the advantage against most. They're a top-end possession team so analytic predictions should favor them. But within that the Caps need to at least manage it with their own structure. Do they have not just the intensity but the IQ, composure and patience? Either way on paper those are the main limiting factors for Carolina I think. It's more whether in Washington's case other underlying areas are there sufficiently enough to exploit it.

 

[Dr John Carlson]

Still don't really like Protas with Eller and Leonard, it's just not enough ice time for the Professional. I actually did like the look of Duhaime - Dowd - Protas last night, and that's a line Carbery would throw out against pretty much any competition and feel good about it.

That said... eventually, you gotta get him back into the top six at some point.

 

[Lou Sassole]

the staff needs to find a way for AA to play more than 1.5 shifts a period

I don't get it, he hasn't looked horrible and they've given him less minutes as the series progressed.

 

[Melkor]

I don't get it, he hasn't looked horrible and they've given him less minutes as the series progressed.

They haven't let him see much of ice all season and now they reap what they sow - they just don't trust him.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I don't get it, he hasn't looked horrible and they've given him less minutes as the series progressed.

There’s a wide gulf between horrible and good. Curious what his fancy stats look like. Doesn’t seem to be trusted that’s for sure.

 

[Lou Sassole]

They haven't let him see much of ice all season and now they reap what they sow - they just don't trust him.

Understood, some of the guys they do trust have been turning the puck over like they are in a Bouchard defensive impersonation contest. At least he's keeping his game simple.

 

[Melkor]

To me it kinda reminds me the Djoos situation. Started the playoffs as the 7th guy, then that czech guy f***ed up a couple of times and Trotz turned to him. The difference is although Trotz didn't give him that much of a role, he still had a regular spot on that 3rd pairing with Orpik. They need to trust Alexeyev the same way if they want to survive the marathon of the playoffs.

 

[EroCaps]

Is it just me or were there way fewer mistakes from AA than from Carlson, Chychrun and Sandin in Round 1?

I thought TVR was also real solid.

 

[CapsSkins]

To me it kinda reminds me the Djoos situation. Started the playoffs as the 7th guy, then that czech guy f***ed up a couple of times and Trotz turned to him. The difference is although Trotz didn't give him that much of a role, he still had a regular spot on that 3rd pairing with Orpik. They need to trust Alexeyev the same way if they want to survive the marathon of the playoffs.

Man I totally forgot about Jakub Jerabek. There's a pull

 

[CapsSkins]

Is it just me or were there way fewer mistakes from AA than from Carlson, Chychrun and Sandin in Round 1?

I thought TVR was also real solid.

Fewer "mistakes" but I thought he got pushed off pucks, lost some battles, and had some difficulty in making outlet passes.

Not picking on the guy but I get why they're sheltering him. They need to, and Carolina will be a much tougher opponent for him

 

[zappa4ever]

Is it just me or were there way fewer mistakes from AA than from Carlson, Chychrun and Sandin in Round 1?

I thought TVR was also real solid.

AA's TOI:
g1 14:02
g2 14:12
g3 10:27
g4 8:58
g5 7:33

IMO he's been fine but you can see Carbs doesn't hesitate shortening the bench/sheltering
If we don't have long OT games we can get away with some of that, but it gets increasingly perilous going forward

 

[crazy8888]

It would be nice if he could get some dental work done and get out from the bubble.

Lol sure but whats the point. They gonna get knocked out again anyway.

 

[Kazer]

AA's TOI:
g1 14:02
g2 14:12
g3 10:27
g4 8:58
g5 7:33

IMO he's been fine but you can see Carbs doesn't hesitate shortening the bench/sheltering
If we don't have long OT games we can get away with some of that, but it gets increasingly perilous going forward

If the trend continues, I wonder if we will see McIlrath draw in. He played the final two regular season games against Carolina (both the 5-4 SOW and the 5-1 loss).

Having said that, it's not like the guys up top are playing crazy high minutes. Chychy played 25:51 in game 5, but he's 27 and a beast physically. Sandin (21:50 in game 5), Roy (23:56 in game 5), and Carlson (23:42 in game 5) can all go 20+ easily. Plus, TvR's versatility is a huge advantage as he played 16:36 despite AA playing only 7:33. Note that Chychy averaged 23:27 for the series so game 5 was definitely an outlier for him.

Fewer "mistakes" but I thought he got pushed off pucks, lost some battles, and had some difficulty in making outlet passes.

Not picking on the guy but I get why they're sheltering him. They need to, and Carolina will be a much tougher opponent for him

This is very accurate. Sandin/Chychy/Carlson made some high profile mistakes, but they also did a lot of good things. The high profile turnover is way more obvious, but the harder to see error costs you against an aggressive team like Carolina.

 

[qcal1427]

I think AA is fine but he is also clearly worse than our other 5 defenseman and I have no problem with Carbery shortening the bench and getting our best players on the ice more often

 

[kicksavedave]

I think AA is fine but he is also clearly worse than our other 5 defenseman and I have no problem with Carbery shortening the bench and getting our best players on the ice more often

At some point, In Carbs We Trust has to be accepted.

 

[Calicaps]

Lol sure but whats the point. They gonna get knocked out again anyway.

Just clean it up so he's not at risk of related injury and can take off the fishbowl.

 

[StrikingDistance]

At some point, In Carbs We Trust has to be accepted.

But what about people who are trying to avoid spikes in blood-sugar and following a Keto diet?

 

[kicksavedave]

But what about people who are trying to avoid spikes in blood-sugar and following a Keto diet?

You'll be here all week, don't forget to tip your bartenders and waitresses.

 

[Roshi]

Most concerning feat to get in this series is the special teams. Especially Canes PK is aggressive and looking to hit back, having Ovie and Carlson doing their little thing in the blueline and drop-pass worries me.

Other than that, why not. We can take it. I dont see us at a bad spot here. They play quite a different style than the Habs, expecting to get a lot more odd-man rushes and breakouts and expecting Dubois-line to match up even better against Aho than they did with the hot Suzukis.

Thompson needs to be at his best though. Solid to perfection is required, they will also generate a lot more deeper offence than Habs did.

Toughing it up should be fun. Theres some bad blood already going from before. Neither of the teams are build to back it down at this point. But we should still take the role of the bully and punch first, make them be the ones to punch back and retaliate. Retaliating gets you out of your game, which is less likely to happen if you already plan to bully from the get go

Really not sure what to expect. Canes are the kind of a team that can score in bunches, in a tie or a one-goal-game just have a 2-3 quick ones out of nothing and take the breath out of their opponent the same way the Pens was on their glory days. But Canes also have the ability to breakdown both ways, offensively and defensively. Most of the times they dont do it simultaneously but at this stage one is enough. Just need to keep it there, be ready and take it when that happens.

As we finally made it back to the second round, im just going to enjoy the games one at a time. Long wait until the 1st one!

 

[TheSmokingMan]

Special teams will be really important. It could be very close at 5 on 5, and the team with the better PK and PP wins the series.

 

[ovikovy817]

When they eliminated us in 2019 I was not that disappointed because 10 months earlier the Caps won the Cup. But when you think more and more about 2019 playoffs in general and how we lost I think we could've won the back-to-back title.

 

[HTFN]

Time to avenge that dirty-ass 2019 series.

There's an interesting thing happening here where the Caps are lining up "revenge tour" options they missed in 2018

 

[Portable Mink]

Carolina are very good and quick to jump on a defensive zone turnover then fly the zone with 2-3 guys and create space between our defenders and back checking forwards.

This gives lanes to pull up and find seams east to west and back again and throws teams off quickly.

We need to stay connected and our Centres need to react fast.

Think we can physically dominate them though.

 

[pman25]

When they eliminated us in 2019 I was not that disappointed because 10 months earlier the Caps won the Cup. But when you think more and more about 2019 playoffs in general and how we lost I think we could've won the back-to-back title.

That was a frustrating loss, we should have had that series. Even game 7 in OT, Ovechkin had a great chance in the slot from Backstrom. Didn’t go, and then it was just waiting to lose after that

 

[Calicaps]

When they eliminated us in 2019 I was not that disappointed because 10 months earlier the Caps won the Cup. But when you think more and more about 2019 playoffs in general and how we lost I think we could've won the back-to-back title.

I was heartbroken for this reason. Had Kempny and Oshie not bee lost to serious injury and had Holtby been even half the tender he was the year prior, they were primed for a long run.