Koized
Registered User
- Oct 8, 2005
- 4,562
- 540
Great post! I mostly agree.
What is going unnoticed by most was Datsyuk's prep for this shot: a throw-back to the old Russian 5; his movements drew the Caps total attention... hypnotized them... and then he let loose... hitting a spot less than one square foot.
Abby's undressing of Burbavosky (I think it was him) and quick flip into the net, to me, is hardly something you lay on Holtby.
What I saw were 2 teams that are fundamentally different in one important aspect:
DRW came in prepared to play 60 minutes, and did.
Caps came in and repeated a script we've seen for many, many years: they lost interest in the 3rd period.
And sorry to p'off BC, but common sense would tell most that if you're only willing to play 40 minutes, at least, make those 40 minutes the last 40 minutes of the game!
Watching the Pens, Flyers, and DRW so far, I'm impressed most by the coaches. In the games I've seen, they've already got their team committed to playing full 60 minute efforts.
Even with a new coach, our players aren't willing to do this. We can blame Oates and others, new systems, etc., all we like, but the new broom hasn't swept clean.
The Wings were awful for the first 20 minutes. You're so bias it is funny. Even the announcers mentioned Babcock being upset they weren't moving their feet enough. If it wasn't for Howard in the first the Capitals would have had a large lead.