Does anyone want to talk about the Capitals

[Summer Rose]

Somehow they just keep taking care of business even under the pressure of the chase. The team is built for the playoffs with a nice combination of young players and resurgence of players. Balanced attack. They've been so steady all season.

I also wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people aren't convinced and it's all smoke and mirrors. I guess the question will be, does the team have another gear or intensity level for the playoffs.

I don't watch them very often, but they impress me when I do. The reason I consider them a bit of a question mark is because from what I understand, they're having several players having career years, or something to that effect. I wonder if that's sustainable in the playoffs, which is a different style of play. I look forward to finding out.

 

[Herregud]

I don't watch them very often, but they impress me when I do. The reason I consider them a bit of a question mark is because from what I understand, they're having several players having career years, or something to that effect. I wonder if that's sustainable in the playoffs, which is a different style of play. I look forward to finding out.

A few of those career years are guys that were trending upward continuing to do so. McMichael, Wilson, Protas. Strome's output is consistent with him being the team's leading point guy last season during that absolutely perfect storm of bs.

So I'm optimistic. I won't try to predict the playoffs because these are the Capitals, but I don't think they're going to pull a vanishing act next season.

 

[PlushMinus]

"Almost always".... it's a fact

So he's saying......there's a chance?

 

[TS Quint]

So he's saying......there's a chance?

 

[ozzie]

Anyone else feel like the capitals are playing with house money? No expectations, no pressure? No one had them playing this well. They seem or feel really loose at least to me.

 

[Sparky]

Anyone else feel like the capitals are playing with house money? No expectations, no pressure? No one had them playing this well. They seem or feel really loose at least to me.

As a Caps STH yeah, I expected them to be a playoff team but not challenging for the top. The coaching has been just outstanding, I think that's a big part of it.

 

[CokenoPepsi]

I don't think they will make the SCF but man...imagine if Ovi leads them to another cup at 39?

Think he'd have to get moved up all time lists

 

[Demandedace]

Strome
Protas
McMichael

It might not be too flashy, but I dont think they are weak down the middle, honestly.

Eller is our 3C, he’s been fairly reliable and Dowd may be the best 4C in the league. Strome and Dubois give us an incredibly strong and deep top 6

Neither center is an insane all star, but they are both excellent. We may not have a McDavid or Mack but I like our chances

 

[Dingo]

I don't think they will make the SCF but man...imagine if Ovi leads them to another cup at 39?

Think he'd have to get moved up all time lists

thats what i will be cheering for this playoffs, for sure!

 

[HTFN]

Eller is our 3C, he’s been fairly reliable and Dowd may be the best 4C in the league. Strome and Dubois give us an incredibly strong and deep top 6

Neither center is an insane all star, but they are both excellent. We may not have a McDavid or Mack but I like our chances

Realistically Dowd is the 3C and has been for a while, it just doesn't show that way in the lineup cards. Man is one of the best defensive forwards in the NHL despite historically bad deployments because he eats them up, the Caps' "third line" has been the collection of unused forwards for at least the last 2-3 years.

When people think "okay they need a better third center" it's a byproduct of not realizing how Dowd is deployed, because their shutdown center is already there. Guy has played 13-15 minutes a night for the last three years, that's not fourth line time.

 

[Matty Sundin]

Don’t think they’ll win the cup and Ovie being completely uninterested last playoffs was a bit concerning but they’ve added a some pieces that are fitting in and their young’s players are starting to break out. They are not the same playoff filler team like last year.

 

[Summer Rose]

Eller is our 3C, he’s been fairly reliable and Dowd may be the best 4C in the league. Strome and Dubois give us an incredibly strong and deep top 6

Neither center is an insane all star, but they are both excellent. We may not have a McDavid or Mack but I like our chances

Love me some Lars Eller. Didn’t he score the game-winning goal in the cup-clinching game in 2018?

 

[HTFN]

Don’t think they’ll win the cup and Ovie being completely uninterested last playoffs was a bit concerning but they’ve added a some pieces that are fitting in and their young’s players are starting to break out. They are not the same playoff filler team like last year.

he dragged them down the stretch at like 38, he wasn't disinterested he was completely gassed. most of the team was because they were playing for their lives for like a month.

 

[Mr Nogatco]

he dragged them down the stretch at like 38, he wasn't disinterested he was completely gassed. most of the team was because they were playing for their lives for like a month.

Yeah they were deadline sellers and had the toughest 2nd half schedule in the league, they were running on fumes vs the Rangers (in addition to being pretty much completely outclassed)

IMO Ovi is better off either hitting 895 ASAP or else not coming close. Last thing they need is him pulling a Matthews or Nylander trying to chase the record thru game 82 and then being a non-factor in Round 1

 

[bambamcam4ever]

With the way OV plays these days, pretty hilarious to suggest the guy was just too worn out last year.

 

[Caps8112]

I dont know how theyll do in the playoffs. Ignoring the caps own historic bad playoff luck, would think by watching them play the 3rd round should be possible. IMO them getting behind to start games a billion times this season is not a good look for the playoffs. Yea in the regular season you can pull that and come back but in the playoffs everyone is dialed in and getting the lead and just playing smothering Defense. Tough, especially for young players.

 

[Mick Riddleton]

Team is poised to win another cup as the favs. They are about to clinch the 1st spot soon and should have the luxury of resting guys, but will they?

 

[PlushMinus]

With the way OV plays these days, pretty hilarious to suggest the guy was just too worn out last year.

Oh it's another person who doesn't actually watch the games!

BamBamBoxScore!

 

[Ridley Simon]

Let’s talk about them in April.

Is it April, yet?

 

[BelovedIsles]

Is it April, yet?

Not quite.

 

[Ridley Simon]

Teams can do worse for sure. Stanley Cup Winning teams haven't done worse however.

O'Reilly-Schenn would be the most comparable, but I think most would argue O'Reilly was a much better two way center than either of the Caps guys.

You haven’t watched PLD much this year, have you? It’s ok to admit it. He’s been shutting down ALL the top C’s for the opposition, ANd should bank a good 70pts.

He’s been as good a 2-way C as there is…. This season.

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

 

[Ridley Simon]

Not quite.

Oh.

Damn it, I had a point to make. Guess I need to shut up and sit tight for a bit longer

 

[TS Quint]

No one needs to break this down to a granular level of positions or age or whatever stupid things people want to use to use as haterade. Just look at the standings the next best team in the East is closer to missing the playoffs than catching the Caps. That's all the proof you need. To say they are anything but top level contender for the Cup is just just silly.

 

[pezpunk]

With the way OV plays these days, pretty hilarious to suggest the guy was just too worn out last year.

He was playing like 4 minutes more per game last year, plus this year he had a 16-game “break” (heh). The lower ice time is in direct response to him being worn out last year.