GDT: GM#3: Dallas @ DC - 7pm-ish

[Carlzner]

Getting harder to envision what Lapierre could turn into

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

idle "knock on wood" type thoughts:

Chychrun is a significant upgrade over last year's Jensen. Don't know if that will bear out in microstats but he's so much more talented that even his "safe play" comes through with a snappiness we didn't see last season

Agreed. The main difference I see with Chychrun is that he's a crafty and creative player from the blue line. This element of his game is something Orlov used to bring to the team.

 

[Coldplay619]

Ovi was probably playing through a back injury last year. Glad that he looks like a positive player at this point.

 

[Calicaps]

bleh

 

[HTFN]

Agreed. The main difference I see with Chychrun is that he's a crafty and creative player from the blue line. This element of his game is something Orlov used to bring to the team.

It seems like he and Carlson think in similar ways, perhaps due to having played such similar roles in the past. So far it's meant that they seem to work well together and instinctively cover for each other, it can almost feel like having two of them out there

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

How does Wilson not score there wow….

 

[Calicaps]

How does Wilson not score there wow….

He seemed to think DeSmith tripped him.

 

[HTFN]

He seemed to think DeSmith tripped him.

I get where he's coming from but also he wasn't strong enough on his stick, he can do better than that. Trying to hook that with the toe can be tough but if his shoulders were over the process a little more he'd have had it.

Honestly if the dude would have just left his feet Bobby Orr style I think that's in the net.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Getting harder to envision what Lapierre could turn into

He's still young and has some potential as we saw in the playoffs last year. He's like a less skilled (but hopefully smarter) Kuznetsov.

 

[Calicaps]

Woo!!!

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

 

[Coldplay619]

God, we are going toe to toe with the Stars.

 

[HTFN]

View attachment 917958

I'm an idiot and sat with this for a minute going "yeah, turnips! Turn... Ips? Turn Up? Is this... are we doing turnt up jokes?"

then it clicked

 

[Langway]

Got to get the Big Man going. PLD almost found him at the doorstep. PLD's best game so far.

 

[Calicaps]

nice play by McIlrath to end the period.

RE: Lappy, I'm not worried--yet. It's only game 3, and I still think he's legitimately the player we saw late last year. But I suspect he's battling fatigue and the lack of training in the short offseason. He may have to play himself back into game shape. If he's not looking better by game 10, then I'll worry.

 

[twabby]

Good game so far

 

[Calicaps]

I get where he's coming from but also he wasn't strong enough on his stick, he can do better than that. Trying to hook that with the toe can be tough but if his shoulders were over the process a little more he'd have had it.

Honestly if the dude would have just left his feet Bobby Orr style I think that's in the net.

"If he'd just copied one of the greatest plays in NHL history, he'd have scored" is an interesting take.

 

[Coffee]

Are the Capitals legit ?

 

[tycoonheart]

Are the Capitals legit ?

2legit2quit

 

[wickedwitch]

I'll present the dissenting opinion: I think Lapierre has looked fine tonight. He had a nice pass to Mangiapane (and then Desmith made his best save of the same) plus drawn 2 penalties.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Almost for Ovi. The skate-to-stick reception and chip shot in one motion is a really high skill play

 

[HTFN]

"If he'd just copied one of the greatest plays in NHL history, he'd have scored" is an interesting take.

I'm no NHL hockey player or anything but there have been times where I've been forced to choose whether to control my upper or lower body, and know that it won't be both. This just seems like one of those times to me

If he'd have gotten himself out over his skates he'd have the angle he needed to curl and tuck that puck on the forehand, it's his relatively upright body position that caused him to lose the puck off the toe

I'm not saying it's easy or that he even had the opportunity, just that he needed to 100% sell out and go way over the puck in order to score

 

[Calicaps]

Almost for Ovi. The skate-to-stick reception and chip shot in one motion is a really high skill play

When the dam breaks...

 

[HTFN]

I can't shake the image now that I've put it in my brain, Mangiapane is an Oshie. His hustle and backchecking, the weird little way he uses his slightly-too-long stick to open up and pass to the forehand side...

it's kind of uncanny now that I'm looking for it. He doesn't have that pitbull build but almost all of it is there

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

I can't shake the image now that I've put it in my brain, Mangiapane is an Oshie. His hustle and backchecking, the weird little way he uses his slightly-too-long stick to open up and pass to the forehand side...

it's kind of uncanny now that I'm looking for it. He doesn't have that pitbull build but almost all of it is there

And doesn’t have the scoring touch or shot. I look at him more as like a Konowalchuk who can skate.