Series Discussion: Caps vs Hurricanes

[g00n]

I am going to bang this drum until some lurking Caps employee listens:

You can't chip or fling the puck into space when the other team is skating and working to gain/keep possession, and you're not.

It's just a turnover.

Move the feet and make passes tape to tape or don't make them at all, except for clearing emergencies. Always be looking to provide the puckhandler with 2 passing options if possible. MOVE YOUR FEET TO DO IT. Don't just hang out on the boards.

We're going to have to open up the middle of the ice and beat some guys one on one.

If you get stripped then at least you have guys nearby who were looking for the pass and can support on defense instead of hanging out on the boards waiting for a chip, clear, or deflection. You can use your body on the guy challenging you. Worst case you backcheck or take a penalty.

What do you have to lose? Flipping the puck all over the place is just giving the games away. This feels like the Trotz et al turtle years when we were so slow and clunky we didn't dare leave the safety of the boards, and teams just pinched at the blue or center line EVERY TIME and we never adjusted.

And ffs start hitting and getting physical again. CAR are THANKFUL that's been toned down because it allows their holding and interference to dictate who's in position and who's not.

We aren't cheating therefore we aren't trying. Ask Dale.

 

[Blades of Steel]

I am going to bang this drum until some lurking Caps employee listens:

You can't chip or fling the puck into space when the other team is skating and working to gain/keep possession, and you're not.

It's just a turnover.

Move the feet and make passes tape to tape or don't make them at all, except for clearing emergencies. Always be looking to provide the puckhandler with 2 passing options if possible. MOVE YOUR FEET TO DO IT. Don't just hang out on the boards.

We're going to have to open up the middle of the ice and beat some guys one on one.

If you get stripped then at least you have guys nearby who were looking for the pass and can support on defense instead of hanging out on the boards waiting for a chip, clear, or deflection. You can use your body on the guy challenging you. Worst case you backcheck or take a penalty.

What do you have to lose? Flipping the puck all over the place is just giving the games away. This feels like the Trotz et al turtle years when we were so slow and clunky we didn't dare leave the safety of the boards, and teams just pinched at the blue or center line EVERY TIME and we never adjusted.

And ffs start hitting and getting physical again. CAR are THANKFUL that's been toned down because it allows their holding and interference to dictate who's in position and who's not.

We aren't cheating therefore we aren't trying. Ask Dale.

yeah, i'm not sure where or why we got away from the heavy game which was a huge part of this teams identity.

 

[crazy8888]

Not upgrading at the tdl has really come back to haunt them. Its upsetting because they had the means but decided to be frugal with their assets. What a waist of such a promising season.

 

[g00n]

yeah, i'm not sure where or why we got away from the heavy game which was a huge part of this teams identity.

And the series. TW took over G2 and turned the tide on everything. It started with a big hit, then a goal.

Then in G3 we stopped after a few minutes of it. Why? Carolina began targeting TW with interference and holding and cheap/late hits etc. Nobody else really responded, and the team tried to finesse their way to a result.

G4 was more of the same, other than a few early breakaways no doubt scripted beforehand as a way to get behind their D. CAR adjusted and our only offensive idea became useless.

We have seen this team play a cohesive, fast-paced, game with accurate passing and hitting and high danger chances, even against the current opponent. They CAN do it. It's not age or some roster thing, it's effort and will.

Which is what the playoffs are all about.

 

[g00n]

They've drawn our blood at least 3-4 times, iirc. Some called, some not.

How many guys of theirs have we bloodied?

Give your balls a tug.

 

[RandyHolt]

Yep Dale Hunter said it best. If you aren't cheating, you aren't trying your hardest.

It's wild watching how quickly and how many Canes are on our Dman.. at the other end we are seemingly always on a line change or maybe one guy pressuring. Our breakout is a hot mess... indeed wingers standing flat footed on the boards hoping for a chip to avoid icing, centers no where to be seen... that's our breakout plan. Everyone watching the Dman under pressure avoiding icings.

 

[Misery74]

Frank has to play. As far as I am concerned, he is the new 3C.

We have certain players, who, at the end of their careers, must dress and play every night.

Lars Eller ain’t one of those guys. He’s terrible, and unplayable.

Either bring Jimi back or get creative with the roster. Because we opt not to dress a 3c, and wonder why there is no depth scoring.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Will Carbs be reactive and make big changes or will he “not panic” and go down with the ship?

 

[RandyHolt]

There is a risk of trying to teach the old dogs new tricks... but I think he has to open it up to get goals and hope that Logan can stand on his head.

 

[Blades of Steel]

call up miro too, f*** it

let the young kids get some XP and add some speed/hunger

 

[RandyHolt]

Surprising no one, I would dress Dylan and let him have AA's 6 minutes a game and tell him to pummel all forwards at every chance and ice the puck when under pressure. I kinda feel the back end needs a steady hand or shake up? AA's dominant 1.1 game went off a cliff after eating that stick blade. Sure get Frankie say go faster in there too.

 

[Nice]

Some puck luck would go a long way right now. We haven't even had a first period goal

 

[max21]

I’m way too optimistic this morning, our confidence would be through the roof with a game 5 win. Anything can happen from there

 

[Blades of Steel]

Some puck luck would go a long way right now. We haven't even had a first period goal

This is true but we really aren't creating any opportunities to get some puck luck. I know we've had one or two unlucky breaks against us though.

 

[Neil Racki]

Id like to see the MCM-PLD-Wilson line back together

Like everyone is saying, we cant keep having shifts where we are stuck in our own zone entire time then dump the puck just to line change while they re-group and carry the puck back in w possession

Just ice it vs chipping it out of our zone allowing Canes to re-possess and re-attack

When in doubt, ice that puck ..

 

[Neil Racki]

I’m way too optimistic this morning, our confidence would be through the roof with a game 5 win. Anything can happen from there

Exactly .. we aint dead and it aint over

Boys did show some life in the 3rd

Flip the f***ing switch ladies

 

[Nice]

This is true but we really aren't creating any opportunities to get some puck luck. I know we've had one or two unlucky breaks against us though.

Yea I can't say puck luck is the difference in this series because it obviously isn't, but it's really not in our favor on top of being outplayed. Sandins stick getting wedged in the boards in a one goal game is deflating. That puck stays in the Canes zone if it doesn't happen

 

[um]

The Caps were a roll four lines and three pairings team all season long. That was our strength, we got it done by committee.

Now we're playing three lines and two pairings. Our guys look exhausted and have sucked in almost every third period this playoffs. Carlson, for example, has looked awful and is playing 25ish minutes a night; he didn't do that when he was in his prime and we won the cup!

Carberry abandoning the team strategy we had all year is brutal. Especially against this Canes team who skates non stop.

 

[StrikingDistance]

I am going to bang this drum until some lurking Caps employee listens:

You can't chip or fling the puck into space when the other team is skating and working to gain/keep possession, and you're not.

It's just a turnover.

Move the feet and make passes tape to tape or don't make them at all, except for clearing emergencies. Always be looking to provide the puckhandler with 2 passing options if possible. MOVE YOUR FEET TO DO IT. Don't just hang out on the boards.

We're going to have to open up the middle of the ice and beat some guys one on one.

If you get stripped then at least you have guys nearby who were looking for the pass and can support on defense instead of hanging out on the boards waiting for a chip, clear, or deflection. You can use your body on the guy challenging you. Worst case you backcheck or take a penalty.

What do you have to lose? Flipping the puck all over the place is just giving the games away. This feels like the Trotz et al turtle years when we were so slow and clunky we didn't dare leave the safety of the boards, and teams just pinched at the blue or center line EVERY TIME and we never adjusted.

And ffs start hitting and getting physical again. CAR are THANKFUL that's been toned down because it allows their holding and interference to dictate who's in position and who's not.

We aren't cheating therefore we aren't trying. Ask Dale.

All of this. Seems like hard hitting has been discouraged because they might end of on the wrong side of the puck.

Also, f'n lappy and whomever are not going to turn this around.

This is all WILL over Skill. The Cans just appear to want it more.

That's the difference.

 

[Ovie's Neighbor]

Losing this series would suck but what makes it so shitty is how boring it is. They are not scoring but also they are not really throwing the body, no scrums after whistles. It feels like they are checked out.

 

[um]

Losing this series would suck but what makes it so shitty is how boring it is. They are not scoring but also they are not really throwing the body, no scrums after whistles. It feels like they are checked out.

They're tired. Carberry is coaching scared and sheltering the third line and pairing.

 

[Ovie's Neighbor]

They're tired. Carberry is coaching scared and sheltering the third line and pairing.

Wonder if they expelled too much energy at the start of the year? Older guys are toast? Maybe next year he really cuts down minutes for guys like OV and Carlson?

 

[um]

Will Carbs be reactive and make big changes or will he “not panic” and go down with the ship?

Carbs has been reactive already sheltering the third line and pairing. He should go back to what we did in the regular season: win by committee.

 

[um]

Wonder if they expelled too much energy at the start of the year? Older guys are toast? Maybe next year he really cuts down minutes for guys like OV and Carlson?

Maybe.

But Carlson for example, is being pushed to play more than he did in the regular season. When we were at our best we had 6 dman playing 20ish minutes.

 

[illicit]

Maybe.

But Carlson for example, is being pushed to play more than he did in the regular season. When we were at our best we had 6 dman playing 20ish minutes.

Marty being out of the lineup has certainly complicated things. Easy to say in hindsight, but would have been good if AA was given some decent minutes at the beginning and middle of the season to evaluate whether he could step in if required.