GDT: GM34: Caps @ Bruins 7:00PM EST

[stephenball]

I said during the game that if they don’t manage to score on the major they will lose. To not even get a shot on goal during the 5 is truly pathetic. Also, if there was one time to get Protas on the PP it would be at some point during a 5 minute major.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Carbs interview seems to indicate Lappy was a healthy scratch and that Mac got in because he has been a good solider. Carbs screwed the pooch here.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

What are they talking about? lol

That Locker texted May to remind him to mention that Marchand is her favorite player….she said “it’s the opposite!”

 

[wickedwitch]

According to Carbery's post-game comments, the 11F/7D was because it was going to be a shortened bench with the 3 day break and he wanted to reward Mac.

So....... yeah.

 

[StrikingDistance]

Carbs interview seems to indicate Lappy was a healthy scratch and that Mac got in because he has been a good solider. Carbs screwed the pooch here.

I don't think having Lappy in the game would of changed anything but not giving Miro and Mac more time is weird. After 3-1, Carbs should of let Mac 'play' all he wanted.

This game needed more: Protas on PP, and more ppl taking shots when they had a lane. I saw at least 4 times where someone had a shot and passed it to someone who was covered.

Oh well, at least we're not the Rags! hahaha

 

[SherVaughn30]

Wasn't able to catch this game and was meh on it being another Caps win. Did the Bruins do their usual douche baggery playing against us?

 

[DWGie26]

I don’t love the lineup explanation. Not sure i believe it either. Lots of smoke and mirrors.

Guessing that means Lappy and Rybinski go back down. OV and Eller come back in after the break. At least i hope Eller is coming back.

Wasn't able to catch this game and was meh on it being another Caps win. Did the Bruins do their usual douche baggery playing against us?

Yes they did. Going to be fun on 12/31.

 

[SherVaughn30]

I don’t love the lineup explanation. Not sure i believe it either. Lots of smoke and mirrors.

Guessing that means Lappy and Rybinski go back down. OV and Eller come back in after the break. At least i hope Eller is coming back.


Yes they did. Going to be fun on 12/31.

Bruins could miss the playoffs, so they will get their due in the end. Bolts have 4 games in hand and the Sens have 2 in hand. I see both teams jumping ahead of the Bruins.

This 4 Nations Whatever Tournament coming up has really screwed a lot of teams into playing so many back2backs.

 

[troyerlaw]

That's a lot to ask of your forwards – dressing only 11 of them and then playing one of them for only 5 min, on the back end of a back-to-back. I don't think it gave us our best chance to win.

Our 5-min PP was god awful. It'll be nice to get Ovie back in January. Goals have been hard to come by

 

[ArmadilloThumb]

Always have a bad feeling when a game with at least some flow and, in the Caps case, the great net presence focused 5 v 5 game they have been excelling with gets completely derailed by a pp where there is conscious shift to what appears to be a pass-a-lot focus around the perimeter to set up something, but I have no idea what, and then the opposition four settle into a tight box.

They never recovered from that transition.

Sometimes the best pp system is play like you're 5 v 5. Net focus.

Merry Christmas all.

 

[DWGie26]

That's a lot to ask of your forwards – dressing only 11 of them and then playing one of them for only 5 min, on the back end of a back-to-back. I don't think it gave us our best chance to win.

Our 5-min PP was god awful. It'll be nice to get Ovie back in January. Goals have been hard to come by

I think Caps wanted to play a heavy game which means 3 lines. So the 4th (so to speak) didn’t play much. But then they did’t play Mac much either.

Maybe got to fancy. Fine. Enjoy the break and come back ready.

Happy holidays everyone!

 

[usiel]

That's a lot to ask of your forwards – dressing only 11 of them and then playing one of them for only 5 min, on the back end of a back-to-back. I don't think it gave us our best chance to win.

Our 5-min PP was god awful. It'll be nice to get Ovie back in January. Goals have been hard to come by

Yeah I was puzzled rolling 11 forwards on the 2nd of a back-to-back but didn't know if it was due to injury.

And got to score on the five minute PP.

 

[Langway]

Protas has been a more efficient 5v5 producer than McDavid, Kaprizov and Necas yet can't get PPTOI. Make it make sense...

 

[Marshall]

Thought the Caps looked tired.

 

[Fred22406Capsfan]

Thought the Caps looked tired.

That was my thought too. Lethargic. I'd expect Carbs will have 'em a bit more focused after the break.

 

[Langway]

Shortening the bench will also exacerbate lethargy. Hard to like the logic underpinning this one. Not a fan of going 11/7 unless one of the D are iffy to go and insurance is needed. But that doesn't seem to have been the case. It's even more troublesome for a team that relies so much on flow. The extras when the play fight to find it and the mains don't have the same crispness b2b. They often will their way through but they need to pace themselves and resist going scorched earth. They'll have time off but it's a long season. They have a small buffer to work with. Guys have stepped it up but the Strome line hasn't been working and, again, the PP2 lineup leaves a lot to be desired. Raddysh & Mangiapane haven't deserved prominent roles.

PLD and Chychrun really stepped up while Ovechkin has been out but getting a break and him back couldn't come at a better time. Strome really needs the big man back to be highly effective. Going back to 8-17-21, 24-80-43 should happen ASAP. Raddysh back to 4RW and Vrana/Mange on the third.

 

[zappa4ever]

not sure if just gassed or more defense-focused with the goals drying up the last several games or teams now focusing on WSH being a top team now, had high hopes that we'd have a patented Strong 3rd and pull out another one. Bummer.

All season we've been getting shots from point left and right like clockwork, looked like we chose not to bother shooting at all, just perimeter passing over and over in hopes something magically opened up? odd

If we're hitting the wall we've disguised it pretty darn good so far though there's been weaker efforts recently (CBJ/BUF/CHI/BOS) the record hasn't suffered much;
looks like the break is much needed right now and may turn out to be a perfect reset with OV (and assuming Lars) back Saturday

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Thought the Caps looked tired.

Tired, disinterested. They looked like a team that played the night before and wanted to be home on holiday break.

 

[zappa4ever]

They were hanging in there (tho' not by much) 1-1 halfway + thru 3rd until that 2v1 where JC74 and the fwds left Chych out to dry, quickly unraveled from there

re: shortening the bench -- this has been Carbs go-to move his whole NHL career, and it's been pretty successful, but it's a tactic that I think will bite them come stretch time and Playoffs when you need the full power of your 18 skaters; he'll regulary cut shifts on 2 of Lapi/Miro/Vrana/Milano after 1st pd, often see 10min+ gaps on shift charts in 3rd

 

[hb13xchamps]

Nice to get a little rest and allow the team to recharge. Hopefully Santa brings the Caps a healthy (Ovi)