Series Discussion: Caps vs Hurricanes

[stanleycaps18]

I picked Canes in 6, but if the Caps can neutralize the Canes team speed, and impose some Wilson and Ovi hits and soften up, then I think they stand a much better chance. I have hated our games against them for the past several years, but I also feel like this is a Caps magical season.

 

[usiel]

For me these two clubs are pretty even. I picked caps in 6 since I always do every time though could easily see this a 7 gamer tossup. I really didn't watch more than a couple of minutes of the Canes first round series since I've never been a fan of the system they play. Need to be injury free on the D side as going to the Caps 8th in a recipe for a loss.

Protas a bit of a wild card in the sense he juices the lineup in a way that has been unique this year.

 

[Corby78]

Owning the front of the nets I think will be key. I expect a lot of dirty goals that decide the outcomes of these games

 

[Mr Nogatco]

Interesting chart from the Athletic. They give the Caps a 35% shot to advance and have them pegged as the biggest longshot to win the Cup except for the Blues… and that may change if STL advances.

Tbh I kind of like them playing the role of underdog.

*chart was created before tonight’s games and doesn’t reflect those outcomes

 

[usiel]

Interesting chart from the Athletic. They give the Caps a 35% shot to advance and have them pegged as the biggest longshot to win the Cup except for the Blues… and that may change if STL advances.

Tbh I kind of like them playing the role of underdog.


View attachment 1027960

*chart was created before tonight’s games and doesn’t reflect those outcomes

Having a career supporting a data product in various visualization from pure tabular to spatial data so really dislike seeing something like that with out methodology links.

 

[Mr Nogatco]

Having a career supporting a data product in various visualization from pure tabular to spatial data so really dislike seeing something like that with methodology links.

guessing you mean without methodology links? here's the original source I pulled it from, in case you or anyone else are interested in seeking those details out... if in fact their methodology is made public

 

[RandyHolt]

Flashing back to 2019 the turning point in that series was when Ovi destroyed Svech.Its like he broke some Russian code or something. Can anyone recall a Russian KO a fellow Russian like that in an NHL game? We were up 2-0 in the series game 3... and our team basically vanished after that KO... for 6 f***ing years. But were back Mortimer and you know me I am scouting puny defensemen and goons and... Svech leads their team in PIMs? They look worthless and weak in that PIM column and think there is room there for Willy to run wild.

How are goals scored at ES. Mistakes, flukes, and my fav for decades - forced turnovers. Keep up the hitting it was a difference maker in round 1 in case anyone missed Willy turning the series. I predict a bold 7 game win on blood sweat and tears... and as always solid tending, THE most important thing. Protect and support Logan... I'll be looking AA to crosscheck AHO in the chops in game 1 and Dmen to play with a snarl and clear the crease.

Bullseye on Aho.

 

[NoVaCapsFan]

Bullseye on Aho.

With nothing but clean, hard hits, of course.
Gotta play 5x5 to win this series.

 

[Midnight Judges]

Flashing back to 2019 the turning point in that series was when Ovi destroyed Svech.Its like he broke some Russian code or something. Can anyone recall a Russian KO a fellow Russian like that in an NHL game? We were up 2-0 in the series game 3... and our team basically vanished after that KO... for 6 f***ing years. But were back Mortimer and you know me I am scouting puny defensemen and goons and... Svech leads their team in PIMs? They look worthless and weak in that PIM column and think there is room there for Willy to run wild.

How are goals scored at ES. Mistakes, flukes, and my fav for decades - forced turnovers. Keep up the hitting it was a difference maker in round 1 in case anyone missed Willy turning the series. I predict a bold 7 game win on blood sweat and tears... and as always solid tending, THE most important thing. Protect and support Logan... I'll be looking AA to crosscheck AHO in the chops in game 1 and Dmen to play with a snarl and clear the crease.

Bullseye on Aho.

The Caps won the cup and let the head coach walk.

That was the turning point IMO.

Rierden got out-coached only to leave the Caps and suck at subsequent jobs. Meanwhile Trotz was taking a less talented Islanders squad deeper into the playoffs.

 

[tenken00]

All I have to say is that it's a really sad thing @txpd passed away before this series.

He would have really relished getting into it with Canes fans much like he did in 2019. I think he lived in North Carolina as well.

 

[RandyHolt]

The Caps won the cup and let the head coach walk.

That was the turning point IMO.

Rierden got out-coached only to leave the Caps and suck at subsequent jobs. Meanwhile Trotz was taking a less talented Islanders squad deeper into the playoffs.

What a bizarre turn of events it was. Trotz dead man walking... and we win the cup? During the Celly he leaves? Then not win a single series for 6 years. Everyone seemed to defend BMac to the end but I wanted him axed years ago. I assume Reirden was his guy. It surprises me NONE to see how much better we are with Patrick at the helm.

 

[Midnight Judges]

What a bizarre turn of events it was. Trotz dead man walking... and we win the cup? During the Celly he leaves? Then not win a single series for 6 years. Everyone seemed to defend BMac to the end but I wanted him axed years ago. I assume Reirden was his guy. It surprises me NONE to see how much better we are with Patrick at the helm.

Nobody gets every decision correct. I think the Caps are generally a well-run organization, but holy cow letting Trotz walk is an all-time blunder in the history of hockey IMO.

 

[tycoonheart]

Nobody gets every decision correct. I think the Caps are generally a well-run organization, but holy cow letting Trotz walk is an all-time blunder in the history of hockey IMO.

It's as bad as the Erat trade. I don't think I have ever seen anything like that in any sport.

 

[895]

Habs are an annoying fan base because there are so many of them, so of course there are a lot of idiots.

Conversely, because there are so few Carolina fans they are all super defensive. Probably the most annoying per capita fan base.

 

[Midnight Judges]

It's as bad as the Erat trade.

It's worse than that! At the time, Forsberg was still a prospect so there was at least some uncertainty.

With Trotz there was no uncertainty. Everyone knew he was great, and they just let him go for nothing.

JMO, but when you win a cup, job #1 is keeping the team chemistry together as much as can be done.

 

[Midnight Judges]

Habs are an annoying fan base because there are so many of them, so of course there are a lot of idiots.

lol they won 1 playoff game and there are 100 YouTube videos about how special and bright their future is. The group think rabbit hole is quite deep up there.

While I appreciate the optimism, no, it doesn't work that way.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Nobody gets every decision correct. I think the Caps are generally a well-run organization, but holy cow letting Trotz walk is an all-time blunder in the history of hockey IMO.

Disagree….

Dude wanted out and Ted didn’t want to extend him only to have to fire him 2 years later. His shelf life here was already done when they won the cup.


…but either way, way past time to get over it and move on.

 

[RandyHolt]

With nothing but clean, hard hits, of course.
Gotta play 5x5 to win this series.

Absolutely. Don't take a penalty but let him know early there is a bullseye on his back. Dictate how the series is going to go to Aho. When a teams top skill player is targeted, it can get others running around losing focus or even taking minors to defend them. There are angles to exploit - exploit them all. The game within the game.

 

[John Price]

Sounds like game 1 is Sunday by virtue of Toronto winning last night

 

[Lindemann]

Habs are an annoying fan base because there are so many of them, so of course there are a lot of idiots.

Conversely, because there are so few Carolina fans they are all super defensive. Probably the most annoying per capita fan base.

Give them a break, most of them started watching hockey 5 years ago at most and are still learning

 

[tenken00]

What a bizarre turn of events it was. Trotz dead man walking... and we win the cup? During the Celly he leaves? Then not win a single series for 6 years. Everyone seemed to defend BMac to the end but I wanted him axed years ago. I assume Reirden was his guy. It surprises me NONE to see how much better we are with Patrick at the helm.

Ted Leonsis does have a penchant for letting his GMs stick around for a very long time. I like BMac and he did bring about the moves that won us the Cup in 2018. But I do think GMs have an expiration date on a certain team at some point.

It was the same with George McPhee and most of all...

letting STINKIN Ernie Grunfeld stick around for 16 FREAKIN' years helming the Wizards. How does that even happen?!?

I get letting the GM do all the sports stuff and getting the hell out of the way as an owner. I definitely appreciate that as a fan of the Redskins/Commanders.

But 16 freakin' years for Ernie Grunfeld? Mannnn... That's so much of my life lol.

Edit: my apologies. I realize this post is just a rant that I must have boiling inside me about Ernie Grunfeld after all these years lol.

Ahhh. The Curse of the Les Boulez.

 

[Neil Racki]

Toss up

Its going to be like playing ourselves

We are gonna walk into this series but we going to be limping on the way out

 

[qcal1427]

Nobody gets every decision correct. I think the Caps are generally a well-run organization, but holy cow letting Trotz walk is an all-time blunder in the history of hockey IMO.

They didn't let him walk, Trotz wanted to leave. Rierden obviously didn't work out but he had been the hottest assistant coaching name out there for a couple of years at that point. It absolutely was the right decision at the time and even in hindsight it isn't that bad.

Not even close to being an all-time blunder

 

[Dr John Carlson]

Trotz wanted out, and he was inches away from being fired mid-season that year anyway. Lot of revisionist history surrounding him.

Plus, the Trotz -> Reirden transition had probably a 95% approval rating around these parts.

 

[g00n]

Sounds like game 1 is Sunday by virtue of Toronto winning last night

Fanduel is showing Monday though nothing on NHL.com yet and probably just a placeholder to allow betting