Does anyone want to talk about the Capitals...

[Jerzey Devil]

2–1-1 against them in the season series.

Pretty sure this is only a thread because Caps fans got their jimmies rustled by the NJ GDT yesterday. They played well and the Devils obligingly shot themselves in the foot to give the game away.

Without looking at the stats I feel like the Devils have struggled against the caps in recent years. Caps and Canes scare me the most in the playoffs.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Some upset Pens fans for sure.

At least they exist to keep Sid's seasonal points per game streak going.

There'd be something wrong if Pens fans were ever happy for Caps success, and vice versa.

Washington sure seems like they're pulling off the sort of retool on the fly that Dubas has been selling to Pittsburgh. We'll see if the Pens can find similar success in a couple years with the formula of rebuilding with young castoffs and mid to late 1st rounders.

 

[43sfriends]

Calling it now, if Strome can sustain this pace of sacrificing his face for double minor PPs, we are unstoppable.

 

[tmg]

Without looking at the stats I feel like the Devils have struggled against the caps in recent years. Caps and Canes scare me the most in the playoffs.

Yeah that doesn’t need stats, it’s a glaring truth.

Though this year the Devils’ narrowly winning the season series showed a change from that … I think the bigger surprise is “the Devils won the series against a Caps team that has otherwise been among the league’s best”, where I think the more likely assumption pre season would have been “The Devils might overcome the Caps curse purely because the Caps will be bad this season” - and obviously the Caps didn’t follow that script.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

2–1-1 against them in the season series.

Pretty sure this is only a thread because Caps fans got their jimmies rustled by the NJ GDT yesterday. They played well and the Devils obligingly shot themselves in the foot to give the game away.

Pretty sure this thread was made because it’s December 1 and the Caps are a point away from the top record in the NHL when they were a team nobody outside of Washington gave any second thought to. Most posters on here had them has a bottom three team in the Metro. They were also mocked for being a team that snuck in at -37 and are currently +32, which is good enough for 2nd best in the NHL.

Also, one of those wins was the Caps first game of the season with Washington icing a roster that had nearly 40% turnover since last season, while the Devils were playing their fourth game of the season, and Roy got hurt, so I wouldn’t put too much into that game in my opinion. And the Devils had no business being in the game last night save for some Jake Allen brilliance in the first period.

 

[hockey4sale]

Caps look phenomenal right now, great work ethic, great coaching, very dynamic skilled D that can drive transition and put pucks in the net, the biggest surprise I think how great Caps look offensive, caps always had good bottom 6 but this year their top 6 exceeding every expectation

I think Caps main weakness is goaltending, I am not sold on their goalies, I feel like Caps have two backups but no real starter, this likely why Caps may not win 7game series against Panthers or Shesterkin

Right now I just enjoy watching caps, they are playing fast offensive style which is brand of hockey most fans love, and let’s see what happens in the spring

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Love what the caps are doing , everybody is very proud of them , so we don't talk about them in case they get jinxed

 

[centipede2233]

I thought trading kuemper for dubois and adding Logan thompson was a savvy move.

 

[MrazeksVengeance]

or are they still just a fraud to people?!

No I don’t WANT TO.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

Pretty sure this thread was made because it’s December 1 and the Caps are a point away from the top record in the NHL when they were a team nobody outside of Washington gave any second thought to. Most posters on here had them has a bottom three team in the Metro. They were also mocked for being a team that snuck in at -37 and are currently +32, which is good enough for 2nd best in the NHL.

Also, one of those wins was the Caps first game of the season with Washington icing a roster that had nearly 40% turnover since last season, while the Devils were playing their fourth game of the season, and Roy got hurt, so I wouldn’t put too much into that game in my opinion. And the Devils had no business being in the game last night save for some Jake Allen brilliance in the first period.

"No business", and yet, it took an Allen giveaway goal to seal the game for the Caps. You're free to take the position that the Devils had no business being in that game and that shades better on the Caps, that's fine. I'm more of the mind that the Devils played horribly and still lost by a fluke goal while having to play two AHLers and Kurtis Macdermid (or not play them as it was) in place of three regulars on the fourth line.

You act like the Devils had no turnover either. They had an entirely new coaching staff, had arguably the toughest schedule in the league between travel and back-to-backs through November so no practice time, and about six new signings to acclimate into the team. And that game in October may have been their fourth game, but they were also missing two of their top four defensemen in Pesce and Hughes.

 

[Oilslick941611]

I couldn’t be paid to care enough about the capitals. Something about them that’s just forgettable as a franchise.

And I’ve been watching hockey since the mid 90s

 

[Random schmoe]

The Metro division is shaping up to be pretty tough this year. 3 of the top 10 teams in points percentage (Caps, Devils, Canes) are in the Division, with the Rangers having just recently slid out of the top 10. Those same 3 teams are in the top 5 in goal differential. The Central is the only other Division that looks as competitive right now.

Good news for the Caps is that Tankathon thinks they have the 4th easiest strength of schedule remaining. "Power Rankings Guru", whatever that is, thinks they had the 3rd hardest so far this season, but 3rd easiest remaining.

 

[SkinsFan09]

"No business", and yet, it took an Allen giveaway goal to seal the game for the Caps. You're free to take the position that the Devils had no business being in that game and that shades better on the Caps, that's fine. I'm more of the mind that the Devils played horribly and still lost by a fluke goal while having to play two AHLers and Kurtis Macdermid (or not play them as it was) in place of three regulars on the fourth line.

You act like the Devils had no turnover either. They had an entirely new coaching staff, had arguably the toughest schedule in the league between travel and back-to-backs through November so no practice time, and about six new signings to acclimate into the team. And that game in October may have been their fourth game, but they were also missing two of their top four defensemen in Pesce and Hughes.

Last two matchups no Ovechkin who has been a force this season. We can go back and forth, both teams along with Carolina are the upper echelon in the East.

 

[NoVaCapsFan]

Fight Club.

 

[SkinsFan09]

Don’t the Capitols have a ridiculously high PDO right now? I think it was like 1.036 last I checked. That will definitely regress as the season goes on. They also have the highest shooting % in the league over 13% which is 2% higher than any other team. Washington will eventually come crashing back down to earth once things even out.

Just to give context, the highest PDO team last year was 1.024 and highest shooting % was 10.5%

Regressing from the best offense in the league to the 4-7th best puts you in great position.

Either way, this is an unnecessary jinx thread. Let's let the season play out.

 

[BallardEra]

We'll see if the Pens can find similar success in a couple years with the formula of rebuilding with young castoffs and mid to late 1st rounders.

In a couple of years Sid will be 40 years old and Malkin/Letang will be gone.

Will be full rebuild mode for the Pens by then.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

Last two matchups no Ovechkin who has been a force this season. We can go back and forth, both teams along with Carolina are the upper echelon in the East.

Exactly the point, I agree. Trying to parse it being Devils fourth game, or the Caps turnover, or first period goaltending, or or or, is a meaningless race to the bottom.

Nothing about the four games makes me super concerned as a Devils fan apart from goaltending and pockets of their even strength play. We’ll see where these teams are in February, it’s a shame they don’t play again in the regular season already.

 

[shtorm2005]

Does anyone want to talk about the Capitals...

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

"No business", and yet, it took an Allen giveaway goal to seal the game for the Caps. You're free to take the position that the Devils had no business being in that game and that shades better on the Caps, that's fine. I'm more of the mind that the Devils played horribly and still lost by a fluke goal while having to play two AHLers and Kurtis Macdermid (or not play them as it was) in place of three regulars on the fourth line.

You act like the Devils had no turnover either. They had an entirely new coaching staff, had arguably the toughest schedule in the league between travel and back-to-backs through November so no practice time, and about six new signings to acclimate into the team. And that game in October may have been their fourth game, but they were also missing two of their top four defensemen in Pesce and Hughes.

Sports are great because we all see things differently. I think the Devils wouldn’t have been in a position to have Allen give the Caps a gift if it wasn’t for Allen in the first period. Could/should have been a multi-goal Caps and Washington held NJ to 33 even strength shot attempts which was their second lowest on the season. You think the Devils were awful, I think that’s in large part because the Caps were good. All a matter of perspective.

Not sure what the Devils’ November schedule have anything to do with the first game of the season? The Devils had a few warm up games before they played the Caps, which I think was an advantage they had when they played the first time.

Anyway, strange and somewhat unfortunate that they won’t play again this season. They’re typically very entertaining games.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

Sports are great because we all see things differently. I think the Devils wouldn’t have been in a position to have Allen give the Caps a gift if it wasn’t for Allen in the first period. Could/should have been a multi-goal Caps and Washington held NJ to 33 even strength shot attempts which was their second lowest on the season. You think the Devils were awful, I think that’s in large part because the Caps were good. All a matter of perspective.

Not sure what the Devils’ November schedule have anything to do with the first game of the season? The Devils had a few warm up games before they played the Caps, which I think was an advantage they had when they played the first time.

Anyway, strange and somewhat unfortunate that they won’t play again this season. They’re typically very entertaining games.

You should probably start to account for the multiple big saves from Lindgren in your ledger, otherwise you’re clearly just tilting the recap. Goalies making saves is a lot less interesting to me than literally handing the other team empty net goals, but maybe that’s just me.

Yes, the Devils were bad, particularly in the first period. That’s in keeping with at least their last three games where they got badly outplayed early - the others being middling teams like St. Louis and Detroit. They were the better team in the second until Mercer’s double minor changed the game, giving up the the four on three and then five on four power play goals.

I’m referencing all of the games between the teams in relation to their November schedule, not just the game you’re hung up on. But like I said, they were having to adjust to an entirely new system, shorthanded, and with no little practice time traveling back from Prague for that first game anyway. I’d say that just about cancels out whatever handicap you’re trying assign the Caps just because it was their first regular season game.

Ultimately, like I said to the other poster, it’s not a particularly interesting exercise to start finding all the reasons the games they lost don’t count. I could find them if I wanted to, as in this exchange - it just doesn’t matter. The record between the teams is the record. We’ll see what happens as the season goes along.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

You should probably start to account for the multiple big saves from Lindgren in your ledger, otherwise you’re clearly just tilting the recap. Goalies making saves is a lot less interesting to me than literally handing the other team empty net goals, but maybe that’s just me.

Yes, the Devils were bad, particularly in the first period. That’s in keeping with at least their last three games where they got badly outplayed early - the others being middling teams like St. Louis and Detroit. They were the better team in the second until Mercer’s double minor changed the game, giving up the the four on three and then five on four power play goals.

I’m referencing all of the games between the teams in relation to their November schedule, not just the game you’re hung up on. But like I said, they were having to adjust to an entirely new system, shorthanded, and with no little practice time traveling back from Prague for that first game anyway. I’d say that just about cancels out whatever handicap your trying assign the Caps just because it was their first regular season game.

Ultimately, like I said to the other poster, it’s not a particularly interesting exercise to start finding all the reasons the games they lost don’t count. I could find them if I wanted to, as in this exchange - it just doesn’t matter. The record between the teams is the record. We’ll see what happens as the season goes along.

All good. Two good teams who may see each other again in a few months. New Jersey, Washington, and Carolina look to be a cut above the rest in the Metro as things currently stand, will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

 

[Lou Sassole]

I couldn’t be paid to care enough about the capitals. Something about them that’s just forgettable as a franchise.

And I’ve been watching hockey since the mid 90s

Yeah, that Ovechkin guy just screams "forgettable". Lol.

 

[Oilslick941611]

Yeah, that Ovechkin guy just screams "forgettable". Lol.

I always like Crosby more.

Washington just doesn't do it for it me.


The absolute ass jerseys they've worn since the RBK era don't help either.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

I always like Crosby more.

Washington just doesn't do it for it me.


The absolute ass jerseys they've worn since the RBK era don't help either.

Well, one team is forgettable right now and it ain’t the Caps.

However, you’re under no obligation to like them of course. The main RBK era jerseys do suck, I hope they transition back to the Screaming Eagle permanently.

 

[pezpunk]

I couldn’t be paid to care enough about the capitals. Something about them that’s just forgettable as a franchise.

And I’ve been watching hockey since the mid 90s

If the team that’s leading the league in scoring, goal differential, has the greatest goal scorer of all time, and is second in the nhl in win percentage is forgettable to you, maybe you should just admit to yourself that you don’t actually like hockey.