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

[GrumpyKoala]

This have upset written all over it.
The east is weak....

 

[Vachon23]

TodayI learned “toughest” in franchophone means “maybe if I pretend he doesn’t exist Tom Wilson won’t hurt me”

 

[MCR74]

Let's Go Washington!

 

[TheSmokingMan]

Good hit and good scrap! Hope the playoff series has more of this!

 

[HockeyVirus]

This is going to be some really fun hockey. Both teams are extremely flawed imo dispute the record of the Capitals. I think the Capitals win still, but the Habs won't make it easy.

 

[Thechozen1]

Capitals will impose their size and physicality and they’ll be too much for Montreal to handle.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Both teams look awful lately. It’s anyone’s series

Both teams are flawed. It will come down to special teams. I think Montreal team wins in 6 but it wouldn’t surprise me if the Caps win in 4.

 

[Random schmoe]

The version of the Caps we've seen for the past month and change isn't even a playoff caliber team. Their scoring has gone cold, their goalies can't make a save. I don't think this series ends well for them. Hope I'm wrong.

 

[Skrudland2Lomakin]

Wouldn’t put much stock in the games after the Chicago game since the Caps haven’t really iced their playoff lineup since then.

For some of those games there was some combination of no Chycrun, Carlson, Ovechkin, Thompson, and Protas.

Caps ran a roster out their for the first CBJ game that was missing probably close to $30+ million in cap space and starting an AHL goalie.


By most accounts it seems Thompson will be back for the playoffs as he’s traveling with the team. Protas is the only other injury and his was a skate cut but he’s already skating so he’ll likely return in round one (although I wouldn’t be surprised if they hold him out if the Caps are doing well.

Caps have a lot of playoff experience, even their young guys have won back-to-back Calder Cups. I think Montreal has difficulty adjusting to the speed, physicality and lack of space.

When I watch them I see guys who are a bit to reliant on having space to make moves (I’ve watched this sink many a Caps team) and that space simply isn’t available in the playoffs.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Capitals will impose their size and physicality and they’ll be too much for Montreal to handle.

If the banging starts Montreal may well call up Florian to join Abner and the ensuing physicality will take a toll on the Caps. With that type of series, the Caps may get by Montreal, but they won’t go further. The same could be said for the Canadiens.

 

[HockeyVirus]

I am interested in seeing Hutson in the playoffs. He is going to get destroyed is my guess. He got rocked last night pretty hard. Every single game I watch he is being bullied below his own hashmarks. If the Capitals scout that they should be playing him insanely hard.

 

[CDN24]

Montreal is the worst team in these playoffs. Caps will walk all over them. Washington in 4. And each one in convincing fashion.

That was 2010 Caps no 1 overall with 121 pts, Habs were something like 19th OA with 88 points (but good enough for 8th in east). I forget, I think Caps were predicted to win that one in 3. Caps are the favorite but don't sleep on habs

 

[Voight]

Bandz a Maker Her Dance in 4

 

[beardawg]

Do we think game 1 is going to be Sunday or Monday?

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Odds are heavily stacked against the habs but I think we can all agree the playoffs just don't feel the same way without the habs in it.

The entire league (except for Columbus) wins

Owners pockets get heavier when they are in.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Do we think game 1 is going to be Sunday or Monday?

Why not Saturday?

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

 

[Egresch]

I am interested in seeing Hutson in the playoffs. He is going to get destroyed is my guess. He got rocked last night pretty hard. Every single game I watch he is being bullied below his own hashmarks. If the Capitals scout that they should be playing him insanely hard.

I have similar feeling, hopefuly they do not injure him in game 1 and hopefuly MSL realizes Habs need Xhekaj in the lineup. Savard is too slow for regular season, not even playoffs.

 

[GrandmaCookie]

Matt Knies is doing fine thanks

Knies vs Demidov, Hutson, Slafkovsky mmm I wonder who I take!

 

[caps4cup]

The version of the Caps we've seen for the past month and change isn't even a playoff caliber team. Their scoring has gone cold, their goalies can't make a save. I don't think this series ends well for them. Hope I'm wrong.

They have a 52% xG% in the last month but by far the lowest PDO in the league at 0.948.

They’ve actually been playing fine but yeah the finishing and goaltending need to pick back up.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

 

[golgoXIII]

This have upset written all over it.
The east is weak....

so weak they win 3 of 5 last stanley cup

 

[Power Surge]

Habs in 5 I have.

 

[Sam de Mtl]

I am interested in seeing Hutson in the playoffs. He is going to get destroyed is my guess. He got rocked last night pretty hard. Every single game I watch he is being bullied below his own hashmarks. If the Capitals scout that they should be playing him insanely hard.

Hard to say. He has been playing noticeably tired (or nervous) the past few games, as did most of the team. He has taken some body checks and put himself in positions I had not seen him get into when he was playing his best.

Maybe a little rest before the series start can help him reset. At his best, he is hard to hit because he is elusive. If he gets into positions where he can be out muscled, he is not playing to his strengths anymore.

 

[Theodore450]

Feels great to have a seat at the big boy table