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

[Son of Nogatco]

The Caps better be ready for the games in Montreal. It's going to be nuts.

This team will not go gently into that good night.

Caps have generally been a better road team than home team for a while now, for whatever reason. Maybe some of the younger guys will be affected though.

 

[SallyBalls]

so you're saying the refs ARE in the tank for the Caps for .... no reason.

"The NHL wants the Caps to win because their fanbase is smaller" is literally the most nonsensical argument i've ever heard.

Not calling it a conspiracy—just pointing out how money and markets work, and that your post was incorrect.

 

[Lshap]

2 of the 3 goals they have scored so far in the playoffs have been off broken plays / fortunate bounces.

Same with Washington's goals - random bounces and rebounds.

Seriously man.... are you going to play the 'lucky bounce' game for one team, but claim the other team's bounces were skill and strength?

 

[tenken00]

I get to do whatever I like...

No one’s denying that calls get missed, but the majority have clearly gone the Caps' way. Arguing otherwise is disingenuous.

Two majors were missed. Which are game changing pens.

So... what? You think that you would be taking the series if the refs only saw it your way? That you would be beating Washington?

Then that is up to your Habs to prove it. Prove that you can beat us by going out there and actually doing it.

Prove it like the Philadelphia Eagles punching the referee protected Patrick Mahomes and the league favorite Kansas City Chiefs in the mouth and actually do it.

Come out and prove it. Otherwise, you'll just be going home. Whine or Shine.

 

[pezpunk]

Not calling it a conspiracy—just pointing out how money and markets work, and that your post was incorrect.

Your argument is that the NHL is the first sports franchise of all time to prefer a smaller market championship matchup to a large market championship matchup. And not only that, they want it so badly that they're willing to tell their own refs to cheat. That's the argument you're making. I want to get this straight.

You know, for my economics lesson.

 

[SallyBalls]

Your argument is that the NHL is the first sports franchise of all time to prefer a smaller market championship matchup to a large market championship matchup. And not only that, they want it so badly that they're willing to tell their own refs to cheat. That's the argument you're making. I want to get this straight.

You know, for my economics lesson.

Lesson 1:

Spectator Sports Market Size & Share Analysis.

Have a read then come back to me. Very simple concepts.

 

[SallyBalls]

So... what? You think that you would be taking the series if the refs only saw it your way? That you would be beating Washington?

Then that is up to your Habs to prove it. Prove that you can beat us by going out there and actually doing it.

Prove it like the Philadelphia Eagles punching the referee protected Patrick Mahomes and the league favorite Kansas City Chiefs in the mouth and actually do it.

Come out and prove it. Otherwise, you'll just be going home. Whine or Shine.

Habs are losing the series because they too predicatable on the PP and dont have enough size on the blue line.

Zebras arent helping our cause either.

 

[VivaLasVegas]

Lesson 1:

Spectator Sports Market Size & Share Analysis.

Have a read then come back to me. Very simple concepts.

But none of that is relevant unless it results in bias by the refs. Do you claim the refs are biased or not? Straightforward question.

 

[tenken00]

Habs are losing the series because they too predicatable on the PP and dont have enough size on the blue line.

Zebras arent helping our cause either.

Dang. I was trying to give you an out. That yes, Montreal can prove that to us, that they are a force to watch out for.

But there you go again. Going back to blaming zebras, anything to take some of the blame off yourselves.

I'm sorry. There is no league wide conspiracy against Montreal. No matter how much you wish to believe it to be true.

 

[SallyBalls]

But none of that is relevant unless it results in bias by the refs. Do you claim the refs are biased or not? Straightforward question.

My claim is that the refs have missed some terrible pens.

You can throw whatever narrative you want on it.

 

[Lshap]

I'm seeing a number of Habs fans who are not seeming to realize that the reason the Habs are being competitive in these games is because they are playing the wheels off of their top line which is not sustainable in a seven game series. When the Habs are rolling their lines normally they are getting dominated (periods 1/2), but in the third they are shortening the bench to ~6 forwards which helps them push hard short-term, but by games 6/7 and beyond they will be absolutely exhausted

It's a good strategy if you're just trying to get your team a win or two for confidence and to build off of, which I guess is what they are after since the Habs are overachieving even by making the playoffs, but as the series goes on these third period pushes are going to be much less of a thing as Suzuki/Caufield/Slafkovsky have their legs get heavier

Not to mention, Montembeault is playing fantastic between the pipes

Pretty accurate take on the team. As far as Habs fans, most are well aware their young team is strongest at the top, but needs depth. Our 1st line has proven they can play with any team, but we still need Demidov, Hutson, and a couple of key prospects to mature. Plus we need a 2C. So even while we're thrilled with the progress and enjoying the playoffs, we're tempering expectations. This was never supposed to be 'the year', which is why management ignored the trade deadline. We know the real moves will come in the off-season.

 

[CrashOut]

 

[CrashOut]

Demidov looking horrible shift after shift, is ruining a lot of Montreals chances. His skating speed is putrid and his stride is even worse, how can you even fix that?

Repeating the same non sense over and over won't make it true?

His stride and skating speed aren't even an issue.

Clearly you didn't see him play all year.

 

[pezpunk]

Lesson 1:

Spectator Sports Market Size & Share Analysis.

Have a read then come back to me. Very simple concepts.

Total nonsense. Try again. Or give up. Either way is fine by me. There’s no conspiracy against your team, bro.

 

[SallyBalls]

Total nonsense. Try again. Or give up. Either way is fine by me. There’s no conspiracy against your team, bro.

Thanks for waving the white flag.

 

[Gravity]

There is obviously no conspiracy but since when are cross-checks to the face not called? CC gets another one from McMichael. You're not getting away with that dirty shit in Montreal.

 

[SallyBalls]

Dang. I was trying to give you an out. That yes, Montreal can prove that to us, that they are a force to watch out for.

But there you go again. Going back to blaming zebras, anything to take some of the blame off yourselves.

I'm sorry. There is no league wide conspiracy against Montreal. No matter how much you wish to believe it to be true.

Re-read my first sentence.

The rest of your post is pushing a conspiracy narrative you're desperately trying to pin on Habs fans.

 

[Demandedace]

There is obviously no conspiracy but since when are cross-checks to the face not called? CC gets another one from McMichael. You're not getting away with that dirty shit in Montreal.

Why do you think that the location where it happens matters lol

 

[SallyBalls]

There is obviously no conspiracy but since when are cross-checks to the face not called? CC gets another one from McMichael. You're not getting away with that dirty shit in Montreal.

Watch out.

Can’t call out referee decisions without being labeled a conspiracy theorist.

 

[kicksavedave]

Re-read my first sentence.

The rest of your post is pushing a conspiracy narrative you're desperately trying to pin on Habs fans.

Question for you, jumping in late here. You're said the refs have missed some important calls - No one really disputes that. You've said that's hurt the Habs more so than it has hurt the Caps. That's probably also true, I haven't really seen anyone dispute that either. But you've dabbled into "market share" as a potential mitigating cause for this to have happened so I want to ask: Do you believe the Refs are making any of these calls with market share in mind, yes or no?

My take on the missed calls are that they are random, inconsistent, and cause by the refs being low quality as it relates to the speed of the game. Sometimes they will fall for one team, sometimes they will fall for the other team, but every fan base suspects bias against their team. This is demonstrated as part of sports psychology 101. Do you think the refs are intentionally missing big calls against the Caps, for any reason that is intentional?

Me personally, I believe that the refs just suck and are inconsistent as hell, and it will most likely even out over a 4-7 game series. I doubt market shares have anything to do with anything on the ice. Also not going to apologize to anyone if the calls have favored the Caps. In the end, luck is the residue of hard work and the Caps have outplayed the Habs for about 75% of the time. They deserve to be up 2-0.

 

[kicksavedave]

Watch out.

Can’t call out referee decisions without being labeled a conspiracy theorist.

Nonsense. Calling out missed calls isn't the same as attaching it to any intentional cause, which is what conspiracy theorist do. In fact pointing out that the missed calls have favored one team or the other isn't a conspiracy either, its just luck.

 

[Lshap]

Question for you, jumping in late here. You're said the refs have missed some important calls - No one really disputes that. You've said that's hurt the Habs more so than it has hurt the Caps. That's probably also true, I haven't really seen anyone dispute that either. But you've dabbled into "market share" as a potential mitigating cause for this to have happened so I want to ask: Do you believe the Refs are making any of these calls with market share in mind, yes or no?

My take on the missed calls are that they are random, inconsistent, and cause by the refs being low quality as it relates to the speed of the game. Sometimes they will fall for one team, sometimes they will fall for the other team, but every fan base suspects bias against their team. This is demonstrated as part of sports psychology 101. Do you think the refs are intentionally missing big calls against the Caps, for any reason that is intentional?

Me personally, I believe that the refs just suck and are inconsistent as hell, and it will most likely even out over a 4-7 game series. I doubt market shares have anything to do with anything on the ice. Also not going to apologize to anyone if the calls have favored the Caps. In the end, luck is the residue of hard work and the Caps have outplayed the Habs for about 75% of the time. They deserve to be up 2-0.

I'm with this guy ^.

 

[tenken00]

Re-read my first sentence.

The rest of your post is pushing a conspiracy narrative you're desperately trying to pin on Habs fans.

You threw in the referee bit afterwards though. That's what negates it.

So what would you call it? In your own words? If it's not a conspiracy, then what do you think it is?

Just bad refereeing right? Which happens all the time.

Which is basically my point in my first initial post that you so vigorously responded to.

 

[Son of Nogatco]

Arber is 6"4 245lbs.

Pretty sure he can roll over 40years old Ovechkin.

Sorry but there’s absolutely no chance that dude weighs 245

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

Repeating the same non sense over and over won't make it true?

His stride and skating speed aren't even an issue.

Clearly you didn't see him play all year.

Being a Montreal homer doesn’t make what you say true, his skating is worse than advertised. Decision making as well, hope he can figure it out.