Series Talk: [M1] Washington Capitals vs [WC2] Montreal Canadiens (WAS Leads 3-1)

[Canadienna]

Hab fans... what's up with Laine? Is he playing injured or just doing Laine things?

He hasn't looked right all year, chose not to get surgery on his preseason injury and just looks like it's holding him back.

Tonight this couldn't have helped either.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

Laine is such a waste of talent. The guy should have been up there with Matthews & Draisaitl, challenging for the Rocket every year.
He just seems to not give the slightest of interest when not beaver tapping for a PP one-timer.

He's gonna end up in the KHL in a year or two.

 

[LegendaryNumber5]

 

[pezpunk]

Objectively Montreal should be getting blown out. The Caps are crushing them in high danger chances.

Other than the final ten minutes of the third in both games, the Caps have dominated. With a little puck luck, these games would have both been blowouts. The Habs' goalie is playing great -- I don't know what the people complaining about him were watching.

As a Caps fan, I've watched too many blown series leads to feel safe, but also I couldn't be happier with their play so far. Never expected an easy fight against a young and highly skilled team.

Anyone who watches a lot of hockey knows it doesn't matter how you win in the playoffs - getting out of any game with a W is all that counts. As far as I'm concerned, the Canadiens can stake claim to all the moral victories they want, so long as the Caps keep walking out with the scoreboard victories.

 

[PlushMinus]

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

I'll let the game score and series score do the talking

 

[pth2]

I'll let the game score and series score do the talking

Montreal losing isn't unexpected. I want my team to win but am aware the odds were never in their favor.

That being said, the multiple uncalled crosschecks to the face are getting tiresome. These aren't subjective like holds, picks, obstruction, etc.

 

[pth2]

Laine is such a waste of talent. The guy should have been up there with Matthews & Draisaitl, challenging for the Rocket every year.
He just seems to not give the slightest of interest when not beaver tapping for a PP one-timer.

He's gonna end up in the KHL in a year or two.

Yup. My expectations for him were low, and he isn't even close to reaching them. Those PP goals masked his issues for a few games, but he just isn't above replacement level other than when taking one timers on the PP.

 

[Fatass]

Yup. My expectations for him were low, and he isn't even close to reaching them. Those PP goals masked his issues for a few games, but he just isn't above replacement level other than when taking one timers on the PP.

Habs have the advantage with elite skill. Caps have no match for Hutson and Caufield. Suzuki is up there too, rven though not thst skilled.
So why are they down 0-2?
They have the most skilled players. What’s missing?

 

[Portable Mink]

Hearing a lot about multiple cross checks to the face without much evidence.

 

[Son of Nogatco]

Habs have the advantage with elite skill. Caps have no match for Hutson and Caufield. Suzuki is up there too, rven though not thst skilled.
So why are they down 0-2?
They have the most skilled players. What’s missing?

The caps may not have dynamic high-end offensive pieces on that level, but they certainly have guys capable of defending against players of that caliber

 

[Fatass]

The caps may not have dynamic high-end offensive pieces on that level, but they certainly have guys capable of defending against players of that caliber

Goalie?

 

[Canadienna]

Hearing a lot about multiple cross checks to the face without much evidence.

I got you







3 crosschecks to the teeth in 2 games with zero penalties.

 

[Reimannsum1988]

Objectively Montreal should be getting blown out. The Caps are crushing them in high danger chances.

Which is precisely why Montembeault has faced, what, the second most high-danger scoring chances in the league and has one of the best save percentages against high danger scoring chances? The Habs bleed them like crazy, and Monty covers over a multitude of their sins. One of the oddest goalies that I've seen given the combination of that statistic and his penchant for letting in weak goals at the same time.

 

[CrashOut]

Savard needs to sit.

Laine needs to sit.

Dress Xhekaj and Kapanen.

 

[pezpunk]

I got you







3 crosschecks to the teeth in 2 games with zero penalties.

The Alexeyev one definitely shoulda been called, but the other two are just kinda incidental. Maybe coulda been called, but neither are that egregious. After seeing them, I'm kinda shocked by the amount of bellyaching they generated.

 

[Duffman955]

Caps look like shit

 

[Canadienna]

The Alexeyev one definitely shoulda been called, but the other two are just kinda incidental. Maybe coulda been called, but neither are that egregious. After seeing them, I'm kinda shocked by the amount of bellyaching they generated.

The first Gallagher one and the Caufield one are missed 5 minute majors.

The second Gallagher one I have more understanding for because he's bending over and seems more "incidental" as you put it.

 

[pezpunk]

Caps look like shit

2-0

 

[Zalos]

there's nothing to be accomplished from complaining about officiating in these threads, just endless bickering and derails

should be a separate thread for people who would rather talk about the refs than the players on the ice

My dude, I have barely ever spoken of the officials over my tenure on this forum. They are always brought up ad nauseam in literally almost every thread. Let me mention it this once.

I have much respect for the officials. I pick my moments and this is definitely worth being talked about compared to people whining about GI calls or hooking penalties all year. These cross-checks to the face are up there as the most dangerous plays that can be done on the ice.

You've also forgot to mention that at no point did I BLAME the referees for the Habs losing. I am simply pointing the egregious non-calls and I believe fans are right to be angry in this case. Not calling those up means the Caps can continue to play that way with impunity.

 

[Tanknomore]

The Alexeyev one definitely shoulda been called, but the other two are just kinda incidental. Maybe coulda been called, but neither are that egregious. After seeing them, I'm kinda shocked by the amount of bellyaching they generated.

If that blatant Caufield cross check is called a major as it should have been, that is the difference with Montreal potentially splitting the series heading to Montreal.

That was a terrible miss. Refs cannot or should not be defended with none calls like that no matter what team you cheer for.

 

[pth2]

Habs have the advantage with elite skill. Caps have no match for Hutson and Caufield. Suzuki is up there too, rven though not thst skilled.
So why are they down 0-2?
They have the most skilled players. What’s missing?

Huh?
No match for Caufield? They have the best goal scorer of all time, and overall a deep lineup of big, talented players.

 

[Fatass]

Huh?
No match for Caufield? They have the best goal scorer of all time, and overall a deep lineup of big, talented players.

Caufield, Suzuki, Hutson, Slafkosky, and (now) Demidov how could the Habs lose?

 

[qcal1427]

Habs have the advantage with elite skill. Caps have no match for Hutson and Caufield. Suzuki is up there too, rven though not thst skilled.
So why are they down 0-2?
They have the most skilled players. What’s missing?

Habs do not have the advantage with elite skill

 

[Fatass]

Habs do not have the advantage with elite skill

Who on the Caps can match up, skill wise, with Hutson, Caufield, Suzuki, Slafkoski, and Demidov?

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Small side?

The Habs are on average 1 inch shorter and 1-lbs lighter than the caps. You saying Habs being on the small side makes me think you haven't watched the Habs much.

Can we say your best are at a considerable size disadvantage to ours?