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

[SallyBalls]

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.

My market share post was a reply to Pezpunk’s post #855, which explicitly states:

"Can't be money. Caps are like the 9th biggest market in hockey. Montreal is 3rd."

I was pointing out to Pezpunk that concepts like market share and market saturation exist—meaning it may not necessarily be more valuable for the NHL if Montreal wins the series, as he explicitly claimed.

At no point have I said it's intentional. It's Caps fans who are hellbent on pinning a conspiracy theory on Habs fans.

Your post, however, is fair and reasonable.

 

[SallyBalls]

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.

Negates nothing.

Calling it what it is: bad reffing.

You were suggesting it’s been an even split—which it hasn’t. So here’s a question for you: who’s had the worse calls, the Habs or the Caps?

Let’s just hope the bad reffing evens out by the end of the series.

 

[Lshap]

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.

Just to be clear: You're talking about Ivan Demidov, a 19 year old who arrived in North America two weeks ago? The player who's played a total of approximately 50 minutes in the NHL? This is the player you believe you have an informed opinion on?

Sincerely curious.

 

[SallyBalls]

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.

Thanks.

Tell the other Cap's fans that.

 

[crab]

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?

I’ll give you the McMicheal goal but if you think the Strome, Beauvillier and Ovechkin goals were similar to the Caufield and Dvorak goals you need glasses.

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

Just to be clear: You're talking about Ivan Demidov, a 19 year old who arrived in North America two weeks ago? The player who's played a total of approximately 50 minutes in the NHL? This is the player you believe you have an informed opinion on?

Sincerely curious

The guy who’s played in Russia for years and years on easily accessible live steams? Lots of us have been watching him for a long time, what are you on about? He’s created nothing and his speed and skating stride is atrocious, those are observations that are easily detected. It’s not a crime to point it out.

 

[Lshap]

I’ll give you the McMicheal goal but if you think the Strome, Beauvillier and Ovechkin goals were similar to the Caufield and Dvorak goals you need glasses.

And if you believe Montreal has benefitted from special bounces and supernatural luck, you need a Ouija board.

 

[tenken00]

Negates nothing.

Calling it what it is: bad reffing.

You were suggesting it’s been an even split—which it hasn’t. So here’s a question for you: who’s had the worse calls, the Habs or the Caps?

Let’s just hope the bad reffing evens out by the end of the series.

Dude. You are the one claiming market size as the basis for calls.

I don't know what the splits for bad calls are. I dont sit there and keep track. Because none of that is important to me. I don't care about calls, I care about plays on the ice. Even strength or not.

I don't dwell on calls longer than 5 minutes as apparently you do. It's water under the bridge because the focus is not on penalties. It's on play.

I don't sit there and count my grievances.

 

[SallyBalls]

Dude. You are the one claiming market size as the basis for calls.

I don't know what the splits for bad calls are. Because none of that is important to me. I don't care about calls, I care about plays on the ice. Even strength or not.

I don't dwell on calls longer than 5 minutes as apparently you do. It's water under the bridge because the focus is not on penalties. It's on play.

Try again on the bolded—re-read the posts.

You don’t know what the splits are… convenient.

I think we’ve discussed this long enough—solid 12-round spar. Good luck with the rest of the series.

 

[Lshap]

The guy who’s played in Russia for years and years on easily accessible live steams? Lots of us have been watching him for a long time, what are you on about? He’s created nothing and his speed and skating stride is atrocious, those are observations that are easily detected. It’s not a crime to point it out.

And you believe watching a teenager for years and years in Russia makes you qualified to judge his skill after 50 minutes in the NHL? Astounding...

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

And you believe watching a teenager for years and years in Russia makes you qualified to judge his skill after 50 minutes in the NHL? Astounding...

I think this was to be expected while one fan base pretended that he’s the second coming. The guy has major flaws, and they’re showing. Hopefully he can show up in anyway in game 3, was hard to spot him in game 1 and 2.

 

[Lshap]

I think this way to be expected while one fan base pretended that he’s the second coming. The guy has major flaws, and they’re showing.

Your evaluation of 'one fan base' is as make-believe as your evaluation of the player.

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

Your evaluation of 'one fan base' is as make-believe as your evaluation of the player.

Why are you attacking me? I’ve watched tons of Demidov, I’m not surprised with what’s happening. Game looks too fast for him at the NHL level, let’s see what happens in game 3, I’m expecting a Casper level performance.

 

[Son of Nogatco]

Why are you attacking me? I’ve watched tons of Demidov, I’m not surprised with what’s happening. Game looks too fast for him at the NHL level, let’s see what happens in game 3, I’m expecting a Casper level performance.

What kind of player do you think he'll end up being? Haven't seen many detractors so far so I'm curious who you think his comparables are

 

[tenken00]

Try again on the bolded—re-read the posts.

You don’t know what the splits are… convenient.

I think we’ve discussed this long enough—solid 12-round spar. Good luck with the rest of the series.

Then you tell me. What is the split since you obviously keep track and care.

What are the numbers? For both teams.

Take your time as you tally them up. Don't miss a single one.

 

[SallyBalls]

Then you tell me. What is the split since you obviously keep track and care.

What are the numbers? For both teams.

Take your time as you tally them up. Don't miss a single one.

12-0 in the sparring session. You were wobbled from round 1.

 

[tenken00]

12-0 in the sparring session. You were wobbled from round 1.

LOL. Right. So giving up? You got nothing. You never had anything. This is just a way for you to escape and you know it.

Claim some sort of victory when you were wrong at every turn. Thats fine. Go ahead and turn tail.

No other Habs fans are backing you up on this whole journey, you know. It's just you. Only you.

 

[SallyBalls]

LOL. Right. So giving up? You got nothing. You never had anything. This is just a way for you to escape and you know it.

Claim some sort of victory when you were wrong at every turn. Thats fine. Go ahead and turn tail.

No other Habs fans are backing you up on this whole journey, you know. It's just you. Only you.

One man Army.

Classic projecting.

 

[gtrower]

The first video is clearly a trip. However, the Caps shouldn’t have been on the power play in the first place—somehow the Habs ended up with the extra penalty (Guhle, I believe).

The Caps should’ve been hit with two majors (on Caufield and Gally) for those cross-checks, and that floppy clown Wilson absolutely should’ve gotten a penalty for embellishment.

Demidov trip game 1?

The Caps have definitely been getting an armchair ride from the refs—arguing otherwise is just disingenuous.

McMichael footage? Find it.

Re: McMichael. Apparently the ESPN app disables screen record so can’t grab the clip. 13:36 remaining in the 2nd period. Habs PP. Puck battle near center ice squirts back into Habs zone and Laine gets caught flatfooted as McMichael squeezes by him to get to the puck. McMichael about even with Hutson in on net for a scoring chance. Laine reaches out and hooks his skate sending McMichael to the ice about 10 feet in front of the linesman who stares at the play and then shakes his head.

It happens. Just pointing out there been some blatant stuff ignored both directions. And as several posters have already pointed out, that’s probably a net win for Montreal given the disparity between special teams units for the two teams.

 

[kicksavedave]

Thanks.

Tell the other Cap's fans that.

Most of them, I think, can read it for themselves.

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

What kind of player do you think he'll end up being? Haven't seen many detractors so far so I'm curious who you think his comparables are

A poor man’s Kaprisov with less skating ability, he’s talented just not at the level of hype that’s been created, for me he tops out at just under a PPG player in his prime. 70-75 points. Could he exceed that? Sure, I think it’s unlikely. Hope he has a better game 3, should be interesting to see if he’s adapted to the pace by then.

 

[Son of Nogatco]

HREFboards posters should take it to PM's IMO

Anyone have any guesses as to MTL's adjustments for game 3?

 

[Lshap]

Why are you attacking me? I’ve watched tons of Demidov, I’m not surprised with what’s happening. Game looks too fast for him at the NHL level, let’s see what happens in game 3, I’m expecting a Casper level performance.

Oh please. No one's attacking you. Your evaluation of the kid just sucks. I'm sincerely baffled why anyone would boldly declare their opinion on a player who hasn't even played an hour in the NHL.

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

Oh please. No one's attacking you. Your evaluation of the kid just sucks. I'm sincerely baffled why anyone would boldly declare their opinion on a player who hasn't even played an hour in the NHL.

I don’t understand what you mean? We’re not allowed to evaluate a player unless it suits how you think or feel? Isn’t this hockey forum to discuss players and specifically players that are involved in the series? I never said he won’t improve, I said he’s looked terrible so far and the things that were issues for him previously that are still issues now and obviously a few new ones playing in a better league.

 

[Team_Spirit]