Game 78 - Get some and lock up the East

[Block]

Was glad to see people talking about AA not being in over McIlrath (which also pushed TvR to LHD though he is admittedly very solid on the left side). The only thing I can add to what has already been said is that going McIlrath over AA would've made more sense to me if Sandin or particularly Fehervary had been the guy out, as you'd want someone who could take defensive minutes. Chychrun is generally sheltered, so I'm pretty stunned that the team went TvR-McIlrath instead of AA - TvR. It does not seem like AA will be on the team next year, even if he is under team control (RFA).

On the game itself, one of the most frustrating first periods I've seen in a long time, but it was nice to see the Caps bounceback in the 2nd and 3rd. And yes, I include the 3rd despite blowing the lead as I thought the Caps had quality chances that they did not finish.

Final thought, I don't know what the referees were thinking on that 2nd Carolina goal. Not going to argue that it should have been goalie interference (they got that part right), but Lindgren clearly has the puck secured prior to the collision. The play should have been dead at that point, which makes the collision and puck going in after irrelevant. I doubt even Carolina thought they were going to get a goal out of that play.

Hopefully Carbs just figured the veteran guy was more ready to play on short notice. I genuinely never want to see McIlrath play for this team again, he is way too slow, way too bad with the puck including flubbing multiple point shots, and way too bad at reading the play to be in the NHL. He was directly responsible for two goals against and his foot speed gave Carolina the chance to set up in the O zone for over a minute a couple of times when the just chipped it to his corner and skated past him.

 

[Kazer]

Hopefully Carbs just figured the veteran guy was more ready to play on short notice. I genuinely never want to see McIlrath play for this team again, he is way too slow, way too bad with the puck including flubbing multiple point shots, and way too bad at reading the play to be in the NHL. He was directly responsible for two goals against and his foot speed gave Carolina the chance to set up in the O zone for over a minute a couple of times when the just chipped it to his corner and skated past him.

In McIlrath's defense, he picked a bad time to have a bad game. He was fine (not good but not bad) when the team played against Carolina on April 2nd even though that was a dreadful game for us overall, and he was good against Boston the night before that.

The fact he only gets ~11 minutes per game is telling though. The team simply does not trust him, and it also says a lot about how the team feels about AA.

Finally, at this stage, AA has to be viewed as a veteran. He's 25 and has been playing professional hockey for 6 seasons. If he cannot be trusted to jump in on short notice, then you really have to question why he's even on the roster.

 

[kicksavedave]

I thought it was obvious that DMac was played in case the game got a little chippy, which it certainly had the potential to do give the last game. As it was Duhaime took the fight with Chatfield, but Dmac could have pummeled him also. AA would have been useless there.

As for why is AA even on the roster, this will probably be his last year. Moving him this deadline for a pick or other prospect probably wouldn't have returned much value at this point, so he was worth more as an 8th D than a trade for no help this year.

At some point, maybe we can give the FO and Carbs a little credit for their results and not second guess every minor decision they make?

 

[Chokingdogs]

With great respect for folks who have been here longer and contributed more than I have to this board, that insult-fest exchange last night was annoying and detracted from the experience of sharing a game in real time with other fans of the team. Maybe that’s what happens when you get passionate people (or trolls, I suppose) but it would be more fun (for me at least) in the moment without the extracurriculars.

It’s one of the more enjoyable things about recording the game, watching it later, THEN reading the GDT.

The ebbs and flows can be, at times, quite comical.

 

[um]

Sorry I was a downer last night, I was absolutely fired up to watch that game and they certainly didn’t come out with the intensity I hoped for. I think spittinchiclets got me even more fired up for the game. I was thinking it would be like the Rangers game after the Panarin incident, that was a wild game

I think the ceremony calmed things down. They came out real flat in the first.

Also, credit to Chatfield for not cowering and taking his beating. He’s got more class than his delusional coach.

 

[g00n]

I certainly don’t mind people being negative about any one game. They are all human and we don’t always see “their best”, as that’s normal and frankly expected. People kvetching about that, is also to be expected.

It’s the poster (like an @mad4comp) that preach the sky is falling when said less than “their best” moments happen. Sure, they aren’t playing well, but that doesn’t mean they are a crap team, or a paper tiger, or will automatically be first round fodder for the 8th seed.

That kinda shit — constantly — is annoying as f***. It’s like someone sitting and just *waiting* for something bad to happen, so they can crow about being right about the team being shitty or whatever. Basically, their narrative is the team isn’t good, and anything that highlights that negative, is crowed upon.

As flawed as that narrative has proven to be over the year(s).

Then you throw in the insults (I haven’t been called “little” by anyone — at least to my face — in some 40yrs. I’m a large person, so it’s pretty funny…..but it’s stupid), and it’s a waste of time/energy/space.

Anyway, off my soapbox.

/steps on soapbox

100% this.

The thing is, both sides are understandable. It's human nature to scan for negatives because of how we evolved. The brain filters out thousands and thousands of inputs in order to react to anything that might be a "threat".

So there is a negativity bias to our perceptions UNLESS we recognize this and actively manage it.

Why Our Brains Are Hardwired to Focus on the Negative

The brain has a built-in negative bias that causes us to focus on bad things. This negativity bias can have an impact on our behavior and decisions.

www.verywellmind.com

Plenty of research on it.

And on a message board where people debate issues (sports, politics, etc) there is a need to BE RIGHT. If we scan for negatives and find some that fit our predictions then confirmation bias kicks in and we have to let everyone know about, it because god forbid strangers on the internet forget how SMART we really are.


At the same time, it's estimated that it takes about 3 "positive" thoughts to override one "negative" thought, at least in terms of emotion and performance psychology.

When people are self-aware enough to know when negativity bias may show up, they notice the negative thoughts and comments FROM OTHERS more, and that becomes annoying. They know it takes more effort to not be sucked in, which detracts from mood.

One person is "venting" and reacting to what they see on the ice, the other is reacting to what they see in the GDT in a similar way. The more this happens the more effort it takes to "flush out" the negative influence, and the harder it is to ignore it.

But don't worry, the fix is easy.

Clearly we all just need 3 good positive thoughts to repeat to ourselves every time we become aware of our negativity.......

/hands the talking stick to next person

 

[kicksavedave]

/hands the talking stick to next person

 

[Brian23]

I think my biggest worry going into the playoffs right now has got to be their passing game. I think they're generally in the right position, both defensively and offensively, and nothings really different in their compete level between now and the start of the year, but oh boy has the passing game just completely nose dived off a cliff. So many passes to no mans land, poor receptions, all of which force turnovers and give the opponents time to feast. That whole first period from Carolina felt like just bad pass after bad pass leading to just domination in their own zone.

I think in the second they started playing a more playoff styled game, which I assume was Carb's intent with the lineup to start with. I think they collapsed in front of Lindgren well, forcing most of the shots from the outside, and blocked shots that led to good counter attacking opportunities. All of which was seemingly inspired by the Captain deciding to take the body.

As an aside, I'm not sure if this is really a negative or positive highlight, but I really wish the team would take the body more. I know the NHL has changed, and stylistically it just isn't Carbery's game plan, but it still troubles me. They aren't fast enough to really win by just skating circles around anyone, and their passing and puck possession I've already highlighted as being suspect recently, so the one thing they've got over every other team is their size and I wish they'd utilize it more proactively.

 

[RandyHolt]

I vote for orgies over violence but do fear it'll be a dude ranch old school sword fight when its only 3 ladies there

Those scrappy old slow defensemen can still have a place in the modern game. To win a cup I think you durability on the backend - you need a guy that eats pucks keeps the G clean and keep plodding along. Its not all speed and skill even today otherwise Dylan wouldn't be in the NHL. A good coach can shelter him away from danger most of the game. One of our best pairings in our 40 years of playoff failures was the famed Erskine Eminger pairing vs Philly - 2008 I believe. Erskine carried that pair so well that he convinced Philly to trade for Eminger who flopped there too. In another series, I remember Erskine constantly boarding and neutralizing the rangers lead punk at the time Sean Avery. It wasn't that long ago Wilson dismantled a finesse rangers organization top down. Some players look at lineups and decide they may want to keep their nose clean.

A slow no skill tough player can goad dumb players for PPs too. Play off ones reputation to their advantage.

 

[SherVaughn30]

Was glad to see people talking about AA not being in over McIlrath (which also pushed TvR to LHD though he is admittedly very solid on the left side). The only thing I can add to what has already been said is that going McIlrath over AA would've made more sense to me if Sandin or particularly Fehervary had been the guy out, as you'd want someone who could take defensive minutes. Chychrun is generally sheltered, so I'm pretty stunned that the team went TvR-McIlrath instead of AA - TvR. It does not seem like AA will be on the team next year, even if he is under team control (RFA).

On the game itself, one of the most frustrating first periods I've seen in a long time, but it was nice to see the Caps bounceback in the 2nd and 3rd. And yes, I include the 3rd despite blowing the lead as I thought the Caps had quality chances that they did not finish.

Final thought, I don't know what the referees were thinking on that 2nd Carolina goal. Not going to argue that it should have been goalie interference (they got that part right), but Lindgren clearly has the puck secured prior to the collision. The play should have been dead at that point, which makes the collision and puck going in after irrelevant. I doubt even Carolina thought they were going to get a goal out of that play.

Isn't that a judgement decision by the refs? Technically in the rulebook, a ref blows the whistle when he determines the goalie has possession trapping/holding the puck. Because Wilson checked the Canes player into Lindgren, Lindgren fell backwards with the puck crossing the goal line. Had the Canes player knocked back Lindgren on his own accord, then no goal. If you recall earlier in OV's career, he had a goal overturned from review when he bulldozed big Hal Gill into I think Carey Price, where the puck came loose and crossed the goal line. The NHL site goal replay didn't show a good view of the Canes 2nd goal, in terms of time length on the play.

 

[Lou Sassole]

I watched an old Carolina game and saw Ovi hitting last night j/k... I miss Ovi hitting.

I wonder if he wasn’t hitting in recent years, to make sure he could stay healthy enough to break the record.

Physical play was a huge factor in us winning the cup. No one will ever convince me otherwise.

I think he's just saving the hits for the playoffs. As good as this team played this year, it allowed him to conserve some energy and not waste rounds on regular season games.

 

[RandyHolt]

I think he's just saving the hits for the playoffs. As good as this team played this year, it allowed him to conserve some energy and not waste rounds on regular season games.

Fair enough... but he didn't save it last night... he put our playoff opposition on notice.

If he hits this playoffs like yesteryear, that would be huge. If forces others to follow suit. Energizes the bench, and crowd. And can break down demoralize and destroy the oppositions best defensemen and entire team, all while creating turnovers.

 

[Kazer]

Isn't that a judgement decision by the refs? Technically in the rulebook, a ref blows the whistle when he determines the goalie has possession trapping/holding the puck. Because Wilson checked the Canes player into Lindgren, Lindgren fell backwards with the puck crossing the goal line. Had the Canes player knocked back Lindgren on his own accord, then no goal. If you recall earlier in OV's career, he had a goal overturned from review when he bulldozed big Hal Gill into I think Carey Price, where the puck came loose and crossed the goal line. The NHL site goal replay didn't show a good view of the Canes 2nd goal, in terms of time length on the play.

It is, but I've also seen them say that a play stoppage isn't necessarily determined by the whistle but can be when the 'intent' to blow the whistle occurred. When Lindgren stopped the puck and it was clearly secured (even a slight bobble or juggle would change my opinion), then the play should have been dead. To me, that was an awful situation to 'play on' as it were.

It was a close play, but there's clearly a gap, albeit a short one, between when Lindgren made the stop and the collision occurred.

I thought it was obvious that DMac was played in case the game got a little chippy, which it certainly had the potential to do give the last game. As it was Duhaime took the fight with Chatfield, but Dmac could have pummeled him also. AA would have been useless there.

As for why is AA even on the roster, this will probably be his last year. Moving him this deadline for a pick or other prospect probably wouldn't have returned much value at this point, so he was worth more as an 8th D than a trade for no help this year.

At some point, maybe we can give the FO and Carbs a little credit for their results and not second guess every minor decision they make?

I don't believe that a team playing Wilson and Duhaime (plus there's plenty of other guys who can throw them if needed) 'needed' McIlrath, but I'll acknowledge that it's a good point in terms of why McIlrath rather than AA (though Big Al did have a fight as a member of the Bears!)

In terms of the last point, I've given GMCP, McLellan, and Carbs a metric ton of credit over the past year, but I will also say what's the point of a forum if not to question/praise the powers at be? It's not like anyone in charge of the team actually cares about my opinion. In terms of the actual situation, I was mostly just surprised. AA hasn't played since November while McIlrath has had a few games recently. Seemed like an easy opportunity to get him some reps.

 

[RandyHolt]

Here's the thing about playoff hitting. It doesnt need to happen every game all game long. Just a few monster hits on D early in game 1 on slow dumps, or defensemen stepping up at the blue on forwards, can pay dividends the entire series.

On an unrelated note, I miss Orpik and Stevens... defensemen stepping up on the blue. Best hits in the game.
Best Caps hit at :56

 

[SherVaughn30]

I think my biggest worry going into the playoffs right now has got to be their passing game. I think they're generally in the right position, both defensively and offensively, and nothings really different in their compete level between now and the start of the year, but oh boy has the passing game just completely nose dived off a cliff. So many passes to no mans land, poor receptions, all of which force turnovers and give the opponents time to feast. That whole first period from Carolina felt like just bad pass after bad pass leading to just domination in their own zone.

I think in the second they started playing a more playoff styled game, which I assume was Carb's intent with the lineup to start with. I think they collapsed in front of Lindgren well, forcing most of the shots from the outside, and blocked shots that led to good counter attacking opportunities. All of which was seemingly inspired by the Captain deciding to take the body.

As an aside, I'm not sure if this is really a negative or positive highlight, but I really wish the team would take the body more. I know the NHL has changed, and stylistically it just isn't Carbery's game plan, but it still troubles me. They aren't fast enough to really win by just skating circles around anyone, and their passing and puck possession I've already highlighted as being suspect recently, so the one thing they've got over every other team is their size and I wish they'd utilize it more proactively.

Speed can overcome teams with a big/heavy lineup. Harder to hit a fast skating team if you can't match their foot speed to line them up for hits. Canes were the better team in the 1st and 3rd(the scoreboard reflected that), as Caps were the better team in the 2nd at the opposite side of the players bench.

 

[IafrateOvie34]

With great respect for folks who have been here longer and contributed more than I have to this board, that insult-fest exchange last night was annoying and detracted from the experience of sharing a game in real time with other fans of the team. Maybe that’s what happens when you get passionate people (or trolls, I suppose) but it would be more fun (for me at least) in the moment without the extracurriculars.

I admit I contributed to it last night although nobody should ever take me seriously. I'm passionate and competitive about the team and things in life overall. Most of the folks here I've chatted with since the mid to late 90s so I forget there is an eclectic mix of fans. I would like the team to start off better and focus more because it's narrowing down to the important time of the season. I'm extremely proud of the boys and this amazing 50th season.

 

[IafrateOvie34]

Here's the thing about playoff hitting. It doesnt need to happen every game all game long. Just a few monster hits on D early in game 1 on slow dumps, or defensemen stepping up at the blue on forwards, can pay dividends the entire series.

On an unrelated note, I miss Orpik and Stevens... defensemen stepping up on the blue. Best hits in the game.
Best Caps hit at :56

The hit on Bob Bassen was brutal and amazing it was that so long ago. Stevens for his age looks like he could still play.

 

[usiel]

Here's the thing about playoff hitting. It doesnt need to happen every game all game long. Just a few monster hits on D early in game 1 on slow dumps, or defensemen stepping up at the blue on forwards, can pay dividends the entire series.

On an unrelated note, I miss Orpik and Stevens... defensemen stepping up on the blue. Best hits in the game.
Best Caps hit at :56

Brings back the hopes we had for Brenden Witt to fill the heavy hitting ST void.

 

[Calicaps]

Speed can overcome teams with a big/heavy lineup. Harder to hit a fast skating team if you can't match their foot speed to line them up for hits. Canes were the better team in the 1st and 3rd(the scoreboard reflected that), as Caps were the better team in the 2nd at the opposite side of the players bench.

I didn’t think Carolina had the better of the third at all. Two breakdowns on D let them score, one with an empty net, but I thought the Caps had the better of the play overall by far that period. Anderson and his goal posts were the difference.

 

[RandyHolt]

The hit on Bob Bassen was brutal and amazing it was that so long ago. Stevens for his age looks like he could still play.

That's awesome you remember that was Bassen! I never would have pulled that name but after you said it I was like yeah thats Bassen. i think that was on George Michael's plays of the year.

 

[IafrateOvie34]

That's awesome you remember that was Bassen! I never would have pulled that name but after you said it I was like yeah thats Bassen. i think that was on George Michael's plays of the year.

Lots of memories watching some highlights. I used to try and watch every game I could as a kid on open air satellite. Some things you just don't forget and those Montreal/Quebec games also had some rivalry then. Being a hockey fan in the 80s was a special time. Games were also mostly free and you could even watch the broadcast teams rehearse. HNIC was great then. To think that wasn't even Stevens best career hit.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

That's awesome you remember that was Bassen! I never would have pulled that name but after you said it I was like yeah thats Bassen. i think that was on George Michael's plays of the year.

RIP Sports Machine….

 

[RandyHolt]

RIP Sports Machine….

Way ahead of its time...

202.364.4444

I think was the number that I would call to get scores after coming home.

Drunk

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Way ahead of its time...

202.364.4444

I think was the number that I would call to get scores after coming home.

Drunk

Close! I had to look it up….202-362-4444! Loved that guy/show. Sunday night plays of the week baby. Always had some WWF too…we used to have to call to get the time and then sports scores lol….