GDT: GM: 420 Habs @ Caps - 7:08pm EST

[lotty83]

Lucky to even get a point. We’re trash right now.

And other than the team dishing him the puck when they can, Ovi is damn well worthless out there.

Something has to change.

 

[caps4cup]

Their puck decisions are just absolutely atrocious right now. Way too many turnovers in bad areas of the ice which is leading to them constantly defending. Then when they do get chances, consistently passing up shots. Need to figure it out.

 

[Dr John Carlson]

Carlson consistently makes the most braindead OT plays. Why go 1 on 2 on the first shift and just give away possession? Dumb.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Carbery would be ripping his hair out right now if he had any left.

 

[notDkristich]

?

First GA was him misplaying puck with Zero pressure, second was him high stinking the puck when they had a player without a fracking skate blade. Smoke another joint Johnny your deserve it

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

That is a seriously shitty bounce..

 

[qc14]

Hate to be so negative but a deserved loss yet again. They absolutely are not winning a series against one of the wild card contenders playing like this let alone NJ or Carolina. Hope this will be a wake-up call but there's been a whole lot of those the last couple of weeks and nothing has changed yet.

Players need to play better and put in more effort but there are some troubling systems breakdowns as well, particularly our neutral zone defense. If Carbery really is the Jack Adams level guy we think he is this is something he needs to fix ASAP. Ovi gets a pass coming back from injury but a lot of guys -- Strome, McMichael, Mangiapane, Dowd, Carlson, Sandin, Fehervary -- have regressed hard and need to step back up.

Congrats to Frank on his first game and point. Really like his game (and honestly the whole third line's) tonight.

 

[Calicaps]

That’s on Protas….need to shoot that not lead the breakout against with a bad pass…

Agreed. He's been pretty mistake-free but that was a doozy. Team needs a reset. Either figure it out or just keep eking out points until the 4 Nations break.

 

[Fred22406Capsfan]

Maybe dropping out of first? Could there be a "Hey, we're still on top" mentality? Team looks like a car with water in the gas tank.

 

[Calicaps]

Good to know the HFCaps mass hysteria/doom patrol haven't lost its form. Team is in a slump. But still getting points almost every game. No need to panic... yet.

 

[twabby]

Ethen Frank gets the game puck with a primary assist and a 73% xG share. Well done Ethen!

I have no HMs tonight.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Hate to be so negative but a deserved loss yet again. They absolutely are not winning a series against one of the wild card contenders playing like this let alone NJ or Carolina. Hope this will be a wake-up call but there's been a whole lot of those the last couple of weeks and nothing has changed yet.

Players need to play better and put in more effort but there are some troubling systems breakdowns as well, particularly our neutral zone defense. If Carbery really is the Jack Adams level guy we think he is this is something he needs to fix ASAP. Ovi gets a pass coming back from injury but a lot of guys -- Strome, McMichael, Mangiapane, Dowd, Carlson, Sandin, Fehervary -- have regressed hard and need to step back up.

Congrats to Frank on his first game and point. Really like his game (and honestly the whole third line's) tonight.

You aren’t being negative, you are being honest.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Happy for Frank and hope he gets a jersey Tomorrow.

The game kindof turned to shit after Charlie got knocked out. Im not a goalie but it could be hard going in clean up duty mid game on your off day.

 

[pman25]

They aren’t playing well but still making it to overtime somehow despite generating almost no shots or chances for. So that’s a plus

Hopefully they pull out of the slump soon. But if they’re gonna continue to be kinda bad, at least get it to overtime like they’ve done this week…

But the overall standings picture is a mirage. They’re lucky they’re not in a losing streak right now, they haven’t really deserved many wins lately

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Happy for Frank and hope he gets a jersey Tomorrow.

The game kindof turned to shit after Charlie got knocked out. Im not a goalie but it could be hard going in clean up duty mid game on your off day.

The goaltending wasn’t the issue. They never have the puck that is the problem.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

They have started looking more like last years caps the last month. Im hoping the 4 Nations and ASG break give them some time to recharge.

4 Nations I think is a big deal for a break since we have no players in it. Some teams will have their best players hurt or gassed after it.
ASG. Ovie can take his 1 game for not playing again. Go do your thing big guy

 

[Calicaps]

They have started looking more like last years caps the last month. Im hoping the 4 Nations and ASG break give them some time to recharge.

4 Nations I think is a big deal for a break since we have no players in it.
ASG. Ovie can take his 1 game for not playing again. Go do your thing big guy

Agreed. I also think Carbs has some work to do. He may need to tweak his system. This is a moment where we see whether he makes the first-time coach mistake of being too inflexible or if he realizes he needs to adjust.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Agreed. I also think Carbs has some work to do. He may need to tweak his system. This is a moment where we see whether he makes the first-time coach mistake of being too inflexible or if he realizes he needs to adjust.

Im not sure if we will run practices during 4N but it could be a mini training camp and a prefect time to tweak and teach a system

 

[wickedwitch]

They're not terrible, but they clearly need a spark of some sort.

 

[Coldnwindy]

Agreed. I also think Carbs has some work to do. He may need to tweak his system. This is a moment where we see whether he makes the first-time coach mistake of being too inflexible or if he realizes he needs to adjust.

The consistently low SOG game after game make me think this is a systems issue. Teams have been watching Caps footage and made tweaks to their own play.

 

[AZ Caps Fan]

Great hussle by 53 on the Eller goal! Hopefully he stays in the lineup for a bit.

 

[NoVaCapsFan]

Great hussle by 53 on the Eller goal! Hopefully he stays in the lineup for a bit.

Yes! Best player on the ice tonight, per Carbery. Hope to see him in Nashville tomorrow.

 

[usiel]

January is generally the doldrums of winter so not surprised they are up and down but they are getting the loser points. If they start losing 3 or 4 games in a row concern factor for me would be higher.

One thing I noticed on 5v5 breakouts when they were playing real well the forward were circling deeper in the defensive zone on the breakouts which allowed for easier break outs with indirect or two on one passes around the fore check. When the TV camera is on the D whose behind the net and I don't see a forward and they start breaking out I know generally it will allow other team to collapse in the neutral zone.

 

[DWGie26]

Didn’t get to watch much of this one. Sounds like Frank played well but team overall did not.

This slump we are in looks like this… of the 16 teams in the eastern conference, last 10 games points: First is Montreal at 16, then Columbus at 15, Caps at 13. All other teams at 12 or less.

So even though we don’t look great, we continue to perform at top of the class.

 

[PlushMinus]

this Habs broadcast crew are the rare unlistenable Canadian group. awful.

Yes - "John Carlson and Lane Hutson, two great American defencemen"

Hutson has played 42 games in the NHL - sigh.