Series Talk: [M1] Washington Capitals vs [WC2] Montreal Canadiens (WAS Leads 2-0)

[Lou Sassole]

...and this is why trying to just have a rational hockey discussion rarely happens here these last few years; too many people trying to "dunk" on opposing fans instead...I'll try one more time; as I originally stated, the Caps have slowed down in the 3rd periods their last few weeks; it's not a knock on them, it's just a fact that playing their physical style takes a toll on them the later the game goes and teams that can keep it close have an opportunity to take advantage of it, should they have the steam left in their tank...Montreal needs to try & take advantage of this if they have any hope of making Washington sweat in this Series...

The last few weeks the Caps have just been slow in general. There was a focus on the chase for 2 or 3 weeks and a bit of a hangover. We'll see what happens going forward, they outplayed the Habs for the majority of the game, but it's the NHL playoffs so anything can happen. It's so annoying how fans on all sides have to make proclamations after 1 game. Like you said, everyone wants to dunk on someone with witty remarks.

 

[CrashOut]

Please don't Crash Out after the result of Sunday's game.

Yeah I think its you having PTSD of getting sweep last year.

What is it. 6 first round exit in a row now ? Thats a struggle eh.

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

The last few weeks the Caps have just been slow in general. There was a focus on the chase for 2 or 3 weeks and a bit of a hangover. We'll see what happens going forward, they outplayed the Habs for the majority of the game, but it's the NHL playoffs so anything can happen. It's so annoying how fans on all sides have to make proclamations after 1 game. Like you said, everyone wants to dunk on someone with witty remarks.

...yeah, I was very happy to see that this Series thread started out respectful for the most part and just wanted to discuss & debate hockey & this Series...should have known better once it actually began...

 

[Coldnwindy]

Yeah I think its you having PTSD of getting sweep last year.

What is it. 6 first round exit in a row now ? Thats a struggle eh.

It would be a struggle if I wasn't such a casual bandwagoner who only follows their team the years they're playing well.

At least I've seen my team win it all in the past 30 years.

...yeah, I was very happy to see that this Series thread started out respectful for the most part and just wanted to discuss & debate hockey & this Series...should have known better once it actually began...

Oh come on, it's friendly ribbing. Our fanbases won't have the chance to bicker again until 2027, when we decide who the better Hutson brother is.

 

[Dr John Carlson]

...they were also tied for 2nd (3rd cuz the top 2 were tied) in Empty Net goals, which helped that stat massively...they tired, it was obvious, and it's happened to them often recently...they play a hard, banger style and that's an unfortunate side effect...all I was pointing out is that Montreal needs to continue to take advantage of that or it won't be a long Series...

You're really overselling this. Washington was only 23rd in the league in total hits this season. They play a hard, physical game, but they aren't out there running on fumes every third period - as evidenced by the stat in the post you're replying to.

Caps were dominating, Montreal got the PP goal with 10 minutes left to get a shot of momentum, they ramped up the forechecking pressure to get the equalizer and got it. That's what actually happened.

 

[mrv52]

...they were also tied for 2nd (3rd cuz the top 2 were tied) in Empty Net goals, which helped that stat massively...they tired, it was obvious, and it's happened to them often recently...they play a hard, banger style and that's an unfortunate side effect...all I was pointing out is that Montreal needs to continue to take advantage of that or it won't be a long Series...

They gave up a dozen or so in the 3rd differential since the chase ended for whatever thats worth. They were comfortably ahead of everyone up to that point so "recently" doesnt mean much. I think most reasonable people agree they could have been up 4-0 minimum after 2. The Habs sacked up in the third for a bit so credit due there. As you said, Habs have to play like that 6-7 minute stretch last night for all 60. Thats a tall task for a one line team.

 

[pezpunk]

@BigDaddyLurch The dunking isn't because caps fans can't have rational arguments. It's your ridiculous "they got TIRED because they play PHYSICAL, that's OBVIOUS" as if that's a fact rather than just one poster's really weird opinion.

Plus you making essentially the same post like 5 times doesn't help.

 

[SkinsFan09]

That’s not what happened though, Washington got outplayed

Aside from 10-12 minutes in the 3rd they were clearly the better team. Not sure what you were watching.

 

[PlushMinus]

@BigDaddyLurch The dunking isn't because caps fans can't have rational arguments. It's your ridiculous "they got TIRED because they play PHYSICAL, that's OBVIOUS" as if that's a fact rather than just one poster's really weird opinion.

Plus you making essentially the same post like 5 times doesn't help.

Not to mention the Habs fan suggesting that his team needs to take out Ovechkin.

"Maybe he could lose a few more teeth".

Real classy.

 

[qcal1427]

What Narrative? Did you honestly expect a rookie player to make 0 mistake in his first playoff game against the best team in the East? It is his first NHL season. He will continue to improve.

The narrative that as you said Hutson "won't survive playoff hockey"

I don't believe that at all, and I didn't expect him to make zero mistakes. Making a definitive claim on either side of that statement because he had two secondary assists and ignoring everything else about his game 1 (good and bad!) is not a good way to approach player evaluation.

 

[TheSmokingMan]

What the Habs need is Andrei Markov back. He was soooooo damn good at shutting Ovechkin down.

Andrei Markov was very underrated. Great 2-way d-man who played from 2000-2017. Ovechkin has scored 39 goals and 31 assists (70 points) in 60 games against the Canadiens in his career, so I don't really think you can say he was shut down by anyone on the Habs.

 

[TheSmokingMan]

...Washington got tired; that was the key...their physical brand of play makes them vunerable to losing a step as they tire as the game goes on...playing that punishing brand of hockey for a full 60+ minutes takes its toll...

I'm not so sure about that. Look at the ice-time for WSH. Very evenly distributed amongst the lines. Nobody except Roy played excessive minutes. Besides, they've been playing this way all season and always seemed to play their best hockey in the 3rd period. I think it makes more sense that they thought they could continue to shut the Habs down and took their foot off the gas.

 

[TheSmokingMan]

...they were also tied for 2nd (3rd cuz the top 2 were tied) in Empty Net goals, which helped that stat massively...they tired, it was obvious, and it's happened to them often recently...they play a hard, banger style and that's an unfortunate side effect...all I was pointing out is that Montreal needs to continue to take advantage of that or it won't be a long Series...

And if you removed all empty net goals when comparing 3rd period goal differential where does that leave WSH ranked in the league in 3rd period scoring?

Also, how do you account for all of the times when the Caps were behind or tied going into the 3rd period and came back and took the lead? Should we discount all those empty net goals too? I guess I'm confused as to which goals should count and which ones shouldn't.

I'm not really seeing how this supports your argument that they were "tired". I think you already came to a conclusion and are looking for evidence to support it.

By your logic, since it's difficult to maintain such physical play through an entire game, should the Caps become more and more "tired" as the series goes on? Thus giving Montreal the advantage since WSH will be tired? Or will the physical play start to tilt the series more and more towards the Capitals?

Let's see what happens in the 3rd period tonight. I hope it's as good as game one.

 

[TheSmokingMan]

Well this page got kinda dickish on both sides. We all watched the same game. There were many hits, shots, and saves. Each team had the better of play for portions of the game, one team got an OT goal and won Round 1. Lots of hockey left to be played.

Maybe between a couple posters, but overall I think the discourse here has been pretty civil. I've enjoyed my conversation with Habs fans so far. I hope the reverse is true.

Obviously, there will be disagreement between the fanbases. I have no problem with differing opinions, but if you are going to present something as fact without supporting evidence, then I might have a thing or two to say. If you support your argument with verifiable evidence (not opinion), I could even change my mind and agree with you.

 

[TheSmokingMan]

Nonsense. "Took their foot off the gas" is an excuse. And once we're making excuses, why not say that Montreal took its foot completely off the gas at first because they were nervous, allowing Washington to take the lead. That's equally true (which is to say, not true at all).

It feels good to believe a team 'lets' the other team score, but it's just fan fiction.

You may have a point here. It does kind of sound like they "let" them back in the game when you phrase it that way. I think expressions like that are used to convey an idea with brevity instead of going into more accurate detail. The brevity of the expression can lead to misinterpretations. Let me try a more detailed way of saying it.

To my eye, the Caps didn't put as much pressure on the Habs with their forecheck as they did in the 1st and 2nd period. They looked as though they were content with a 2 goal lead (the worst lead in hockey). As a result of that dialed back forecheck, Montreal had more offensive zone time, drew a penalty, and scored on the PP. They got themselves some momentum and tied it up before Washington could recover. Montreal outplayed Washington in the 3rd period for sure. IMO, it was because the Caps stopped being as aggressive (taking their foot off the gas).

 

[Sparky]

Tonight'll be interesting. The Caps aren't going to change their game plan, they'll focus on improving discipline throughout, keeping all four lines engaged, while continuing to wear the Canadien down across the board. Probably no Protas yet, unfortunately. Montreal will be looking to get off to a stronger start, keep generating chances from the Suzuki line, and try to find some secondary offense. Assuming both teams are reasonably successful in playing their own games, Montembeault will decide this one. He stood on his head and kept Game 1 close long enough for Montreal to find some life at the end and he'll have to outplay LT in game 2.

Keep the PLD line out there against Suzuki, or Dowd's boys, and the Caps should be in pretty good shape despite the inevitable (and all too common) momentary lapses the team is prone to. I really hope this doesn't turn into a special teams battle.

 

[Lshap]

Key for Montreal tonight: Don't start off sluggish and allow so much time and space to Washington. The Caps will probably take it to the Habs physically, but the Habs should stick to their game and take it to the Caps through speed and fast zone transitions. Caps are really good in the neutral zone; Habs need to find a way through, as they did later in the game.

Both teams are strongest in the 3rd period; in fact, Washington had the best 3rd period GF/GA ratio in the league. The Habs deserve credit for their 3rd period in game-1.

It'll be interesting to see how much adapting both teams make, and who steps up. Hoping for a Habs win, but part of me continues to be amazed at how Ovechkin's season for the ages continues into the playoffs. May the best team win!

 

[Leonardo87]

GDT is up…

GDT: - ECQF: Game 2 - Warshington Meanies (And Friends) vs Montreclan Canabiens, 7pm ET

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Oh yea
PRIME don cherry was incredible back in the late 80s early 90s


[/QUOTE]
"Who's the best I often ponder there's no doubt it's Stevie Wonder! Let's go! Let's go!..."

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

"Hey, Marty...I think we should go 6-on-5 now...need that tying goal"


"Great idea...Dvorak, Gally; are you ready to play the rest of the game?"

 

[Zalos]

One cross-check to the face of a Toronto player. Results: five minutes PP.

Three cross-checks to the face of a Montreal player. Results: not a damn thing.

Discuss.

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

One cross-check to the face of a Toronto player. Results: five minutes PP.

Three cross-checks to the face of a Montreal player. Results: not a damn thing.

Discuss.

...we killed this extensively in the GDT...let's move on...refs ain't gonna change...

 

[Leaf Fans]

One cross-check to the face of a Toronto player. Results: five minutes PP.

Three cross-checks to the face of a Montreal player. Results: not a damn thing.

Discuss.

When did that happen?

 

[pth2]

Not to mention the Habs fan suggesting that his team needs to take out Ovechkin.

"Maybe he could lose a few more teeth".

Real classy.

Crosschecks to the face appear to be legal though, so why not ?

 

[Tasteless Beaver]

I've been a big fan of Laine since day #1, even through his struggles in Columbus and Montreal - but the difference between Montreal's play before and after he was benched tells me that he's just a liability now. The Bell Centre is going to have to tilt the ice, because Washington is looking like they're good enough to sweep this.