GDT: Lloyd vs Canes

[marcel snapshot]

It all fell apart as soon as Mrs Marcel abandoned me at the bar. I’m not going to tell her though, she’s already powerful enough.

 

[bacchist]

Just reflecting on moments of this game.

- Leonard was thinking too much/nervous on his breakaway chance. He had the right idea, but he was a split sec late releasing it off his back-hand.
- Tom Wilson shanked a back door pass to the right post. Andersen had no chance on it had Wilson got full stick blade on that puck.
- Earlier in this thread I said the 1st Canes goal was Protas/Alexeyev's faults. It was as this was Protas 2nd playoff game since coming back from the cut on his foot. Alexeyev, there is a reason he has been given limited minutes each game. He can't be trusted regularly like Fever would normally be. That type of play never should have been executed in the first place considering how high risk that sort of breakout from below the goal line is, plus the fact Alexeyev was trusted on that play(he's not a good enough of a d-man to complete a play like that so high risk).

I haven't rewatched it, but it seemed to me like Leonard wanted to get a shot off, but it skipped on him. Maybe some nerves of course, but I think a little bad luck too

 

[trick9]

And on home ice is the thing. Pathetic.

They looked every bit of their age. All of them. You have to credit Carolina for pretty constantly being in their grill, though.

This series comes down to second effort. Who on this team gives that? PLD? Protas? Maybe Wilson? Roy? It's not an overly long list so it's tough to love their chances unless every single player manages to be much better.

That's really the frustrating part. I don't think this is even that old of a team in general, or atleast one that should be this slow. Yes, there's Ovechkin, Carlson and Dowd who are getting pretty slow, but other than that. There are plenty of good to great skaters like CMM, Wilson, Protas, Leonard, Mangiapane, Beauvillier but if the puck moving isn't crisp then you can't really build any kind of speed through the neutral zone. Puck is always faster.

Canes were really on point with their puck movement and when the passing lanes were clogged they managed to make these area plays where they moved the puck to an area where their guy was going to get first to. Hell they at times moved the puck so well that they made Jordan Staal look fast.

I do think there is a path for the Caps to get back in this but it needs to happen quickly. They were getting their rush chances and they got to prime scoring areas pretty well which is pretty remarkable because you could count on one hand the times Canes had to spend more than 15 seconds on their own zone. I guess my point being that they made the Canes look really good because they were spending basically the entire time on the Caps zone, which is their game. They can switch personnel fast, have their relentless forecheck going and you can't concede if the game is played at the other end of the rink. When they can get the Canes on their back foot they are a very vulnerable defensive team who struggles on their own zone and struggle to defend the prime scoring areas. But again got to let the puck do the work and stop handling it like a grenade. Once that happens they can create more speed, dump the puck in more and do what they do best, pound those Canes D men. We already saw a stretch in this one where Ovechkin threw few hits and right after the first one Ovechkin went to threw another hit which caused panic to the Canes player who turned it right over which led to grade A chance. We've seen Ghost and Walker from their days in Philly, they don't want to take hits. Burns is getting there with age and good forecheck causes him all kinds of problems.

I guess we are going to see how they bounce back. Canes were good here but mostly that was because how Caps made them look. They got to play exactly where they wanted, in the Caps end. There is a path to getting back into this but it does require a strong game 2. You can't really go down 0-2 against one of the best home teams (and the worst road team), or it turns into a battle to avoid getting swept.

 

[Langway]

That's really the frustrating part. I don't think this is even that old of a team in general, or atleast one that should be this slow. Yes, there's Ovechkin, Carlson and Dowd who are getting pretty slow,

Eller and Strome also aren't burners. That's the majority of the center ice position right there and a significant limitation when it comes to breaking pucks out, backing defenders off, attacking laterally and generally being more dynamic and fluid. Those are defining elements of what makes a strong, dynamic possession team.

That's not to say they just need to wait until those few older/slower guys are gone. Revamping center ice 1-4 with more fluidity and explosion won't be easy. Lapierre seemingly doesn't have the tenacity needed to be a reliable transporter in all three zones for whatever reason. And so they have a plug there for reliability's sake. As good as Strome was in the last round he doesn't have the space (or the ability to earn/open it up) to do much. That space definitely needs to be created on a team level more than individually. Their collective will must be what forces breakdowns because individually there isn't enough trickery. Hunkering down, blocking shots, making the game a bog and then being just resourceful enough offensively is unlikely to cut it. This roster does have limitations on paper that tactically I'm not sure they can mask. I mean, Mangiapane/Beauvililier/McMichael all may be relatively better skaters but they're not that big nor physically imposing.

They need Wilson to be a wrecking ball shift to shift. Ditto Ovechkin to at least make it a battle of attrition. Beyond that at a certain point it is sort of a thin recipe in terms of decisive elements.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Carbs didn’t have the boys ready last night to play.

 

[Misery74]

Eller and Strome also aren't burners. That's the majority of the center ice position right there and a significant limitation when it comes to breaking pucks out, backing defenders off, attacking laterally and generally being more dynamic and fluid. Those are defining elements of what makes a strong, dynamic possession team.

That's not to say they just need to wait until those few older/slower guys are gone. Revamping center ice 1-4 with more fluidity and explosion won't be easy. Lapierre seemingly doesn't have the tenacity needed to be a reliable transporter in all three zones for whatever reason. And so they have a plug there for reliability's sake. As good as Strome was in the last round he doesn't have the space (or the ability to earn/open it up) to do much. That space definitely needs to be created on a team level more than individually. Their collective will must be what forces breakdowns because individually there isn't enough trickery. Hunkering down, blocking shots, making the game a bog and then being just resourceful enough offensively is unlikely to cut it. This roster does have limitations on paper that tactically I'm not sure they can mask. I mean, Mangiapane/Beauvililier/McMichael all may be relatively better skaters but they're not that big nor physically imposing.

They need Wilson to be a wrecking ball shift to shift. Ditto Ovechkin to at least make it a battle of attrition. Beyond that at a certain point it is sort of a thin recipe in terms of decisive elements.

Whatever we think of Lapierre, he has foot speed. Something this team needs in spades.

Lars Eller cannot carry a third, or fourth line on a team that has Championship aspirations. Watching him chase down the puck is maddening. And when he gets it, it’s only until someone takes it away.

Good enough to beat the Habs. Not going to be close to good enough against the Canes.

 

[RandyHolt]

Carbs Post Game Presser link - he didn't cite rust as I predicted - should have pointed the finger at himself IMO. Tough to use rust as an excuse since the canes had more days off. But I am still on my hill saying if Protas was practicing on 4 for the past week, that it was a mistake. But obviously we had more wrong than that but not having your ace top line from the season assembled... I always start grading a game with the top line. Nothing against Beau of course who was one of our better players.

 

[crab]

Obviously not a good game and they need to control the puck more but lots of Carolina’s shots were perimeter unscreened. Will be a challenge but could still see the Caps winning in 6 or 7

 

[RandyHolt]

As Skruds mentioned the Caps decades past used to routinely heavily outshoot playoff opponents and.... lose 2-1. I blamed panic mode just getting lots of low quality shots on goal hoping for a miracle but when doing so, would get the opposition G into the zone... just stopping everything. The hot goalie is the one facing lots of shots. The cold goalie not facing shots is one that gives up the softy. So the lack of shots last night doesn't terribly concern me. Halakers can steal a series but they need a few goals.

That all said the onus may be on Logan to save our season. If Carbs cannot figure things out strategically we will have to go into Halak mode and eat pucks and support him. Our defensemen did a shit job of clearing out the canes in front of Logan on the game winner.

To me the big fail was the lack of hitting needed when it became clear they had the puck a ton. Roy Ovi and Willy had some but we need more on days we don't have the puck. Sure we were chasing so it was tough. I think they lost 2 players last night? which should bode well for our mission. Eat pucks and hit. The blood sweat and tears way to win a cup. We aren't pretty boys.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

It’s one game but I can’t remember the last time they were that poor with the puck. I don’t recall many if any instances where they strung more than one pass together in a row. Carolina had a bit to do with that but the Caps were missing passes when they were wide open and uncontested. They were off all night and it led to chances against and forfeiting potential quality scoring chances.

The centers got abused. Eller is a complete liability, PLD was too indecisive and played too much on the perimeter, and I’m not sure I remember a single play made by Strome. I thought Aho and Staal were the two best players for Carolina last night… after all these years J Staal is still a moose.

Surprisingly unbothered. Play better or go golfing in a few weeks.

 

[tenken00]

It’s one game but I can’t remember the last time they were that poor with the puck. I don’t recall many if any instances where they strung more than one pass together in a row. Carolina had a bit to do with that but the Caps were missing passes when they were wide open and uncontested. They were off all night and it led to chances against and forfeiting potential quality scoring chances.

The centers got abused. Eller is a complete liability, PLD was too indecisive and played too much on the perimeter, and I’m not sure I remember a single play made by Strome. I thought Aho and Staal were the two best players for Carolina last night… after all these years J Staal is still a moose.

Surprisingly unbothered. Play better or go golfing in a few weeks.

This reminds me of... 2019 against the Canes.

Where our guys were so tired chasing the puck in our zone that they would just blindly throw it up the boards not caring if a Canes player was just sitting on the boards on the blue line. Just needed at least a chance to clear the puck out of our zone we were getting hemmed in so bad at times.

We can defend well against their 37292947472 perimeter shots, we just can't transition all that well from it and get past the neutral zone. And that saps our energy so much.

I love John Carlson. And I think the over the hill pronoclamations are a little over the top. But I think the Canes style of play is brutally bad for him as he was particularly bad in the series in 2019. Just as it was last night.

It's just a really bad match up and style of play for a defender like him. And with the more slick skating Fever out, it's probably harder for him without his normal pairing.

I think we need to wear on them. Wear them down. It's going to be a long series and the wearing them down can be beneficial later on. We should have started really laying the lumber last night, but we backed off some.

I know it's hard to hit em when we are chasing the puck and they get rid of it so fast, but we were doing it in the 1st period with Tom and 2nd with a good shift from Ovie there. Roy had some feistiness as well.

Wear them down, make sharp and SMART passes tape to tape, and just battle more. Show the effort to get there to the puck. It's so cliche to say that you want the puck, but this series is definitely going to be an effort showing.

We got to play to our strengths as much as Carolina is playing to theirs.

 

[Lindemann]

I do not get how Carolina has not made it to the cup with how they play. They are very well played aggressive team.

But something happens every year with them that causes them to lose. I don't know what it is but maybe that is what we are trying to do?

 

[tenken00]

I do not get how Carolina has not made it to the cup with how they play. They are very well played aggressive team.

But something happens every year with them that causes them to lose. I don't know what it is but maybe that is what we are trying to do?

Maybe they just run out of steam with Brind'Amour's style of play.

All that aggressiveness like you say. It's exhausting just thinking of doing it for 1 seven game series. Now imagine doing it for 3 more times after that right after each other lol.

 

[Nice]

I don't think Tom Wilson had much fun tonight.

Yup. Sadly it's hard to get involved when you're playing on the back foot the whole night. He was pretty much a non factor, along with 17 other guys. LT was awesome at least

 

[g00n]

We just beat MTL-- a team every doomer was convinced was going to blow us away with speed-- in 5 games, and people are just going back to "we're too slow and old".

NO. That's not what happened. It doesn't matter how fast you are in foot speed if you don't MOVE your feet and play an aggressive, clean style with consistent focus on protecting the puck and making good passes with structured support.

Instead they were reactive, tentative, and half-ass in their attempts to clear the puck or exit the zone. Carolina didn't burn them up and down the ice for breakaway after breakaway, they peppered them with constant shots and poke checking so the Caps were constantly reacting to shot attempts and panicking, thinking they had to do anything to get the puck away.

Speed buys you time and space. The Caps had time and space even when playing defensively, they just used it terribly.

The Canes have a dozen guys in their 30s and even one in his 40s. IT'S NOT AGE.

It will be much better if they move their goddamned feet and create even more time and space, play with structure that isn't just "fling it away from goal or along the boards", and focus on passing.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Been in a shit mood since the overtime loss
It feels like the series is already over

 

[Empty Goal Net]

Time to dress Mac and let AA sit for one game? If they're gonna do it, the time is early in the series and for a match where Carbs has last change. We may be giving up a bit defensively but the added physicality at this point in the series may be beneficial.

 

[Misery74]

We just beat MTL-- a team every doomer was convinced was going to blow us away with speed-- in 5 games, and people are just going back to "we're too slow and old".

NO. That's not what happened. It doesn't matter how fast you are in foot speed if you don't MOVE your feet and play an aggressive, clean style with consistent focus on protecting the puck and making good passes with structured support.

Instead they were reactive, tentative, and half-ass in their attempts to clear the puck or exit the zone. Carolina didn't burn them up and down the ice for breakaway after breakaway, they peppered them with constant shots and poke checking so the Caps were constantly reacting to shot attempts and panicking, thinking they had to do anything to get the puck away.

Speed buys you time and space. The Caps had time and space even when playing defensively, they just used it terribly.

The Canes have a dozen guys in their 30s and even one in his 40s. IT'S NOT AGE.

It will be much better if they move their goddamned feet and create even more time and space, play with structure that isn't just "fling it away from goal or along the boards", and focus on passing.

The major difference I see is that Montreal was/is a one line team, Carolina has greater depth.

Containing this team is nothing like containing that team.

Largely, everything you said is spot on. Just going to be a much tougher challenge.

 

[StrikingDistance]

Down 1 game and some people are ready to quit. Gawd, I hope everyone on the team has 100x's the mental fortitude.

My take, much like Goon's: Appeared the Caps were intent on reaching for loose pucks instead of moving their feet and engaging physically. Don't think we need to be like the Cans by flinging everything at the net, but definitely need to fling more and chip in rebounds. Moar hits = moar goals.

ps Still hate Rod 'Pepe le Pew' B'mor

 

[Lindemann]

Down 1 game and some people are ready to quit. Gawd, I hope everyone on the team has 100x's the mental fortitude.

My take, much like Goon's: Appeared the Caps were intent on reaching for loose pucks instead of moving their feet and engaging physically. Don't think we need to be like the Cans by flinging everything at the net, but definitely need to fling more and chip in rebounds. Moar hits = moar goals.

ps Still hate Todd 'Pepe le Pew' B'mor

You need to start hitting the ignore button on these babies. They said we were getting swept against MTL too

 

[um]

On to game 2.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

LOL its an emotional hedge. I put alot of money on the Caps to win the series

 

[IsThatSemin]

We couldn’t possibly play any worse and we went to OT. Defensive structure was mostly sound and LT looks sharp. We couldn’t even string two passes together, I do not expect that to continue unless 20 is on the ice. Carolina looks vulnerable on the long break outs, we just couldn’t find anyone’s stick last night.

Need to take good shots when they come, and skate way f***ing harder. One handed pokes to avoid board battles and little chip plays aren’t going to cut it this series. Glad Carbery seemed pissed and changed up the lines in the 3rd and moved Pro up. I’d be way more worried if he was all positivity and “work our game” talk after that one, makes me confident he will attempt to adjust some things. I’m still feeling we take this in under 7 games.

 

[pman25]

The thing with Carolina is their game isn’t a secret. They are all about volume and persistence. Kinda bummed we didn’t seem prepared or know how to handle it at all.

Carolina just comes off as the prepared, disciplined team. Washington looked like a team that has accomplished its goals for the season and happy to be in the mix still.

More Protas / Leonard, less Dowd / Duhaime. Shake up them lines. I’d even scratch Eller. Leonard was calling for the puck on an entry from Eller who just ignored him and skated it into nothingness. Put CMM there, move Protas up, and put in Raddy/Frank. Other than that, play better!

 

[StrikingDistance]

You need to start hitting the ignore button on these babies. They said we were getting swept against MTL too

Oh, I rarely use it, but yes, the list has grown as of last night.

Negatory Squad when things are not satisfactory: 'Hey, look at me! I'm never happy with anything, let me hate post this place to oblivion!'

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