GDT: New York Rangers @ Washington Capitals 12:00 p.m.

[McVechkin]

These guys gotta settle down and take care of the puck.

 

[mad4comp]

Put OV on the 4th line please.

 

[Block]

please "rest" Ovie in the 3rd

He's having some issues skating it looks like, can't tell if he's not really healed or it's just catching up on his conditioning after a missed month.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Should be 4-0 or 4-1 if we weren’t giving them freebies

 

[Block]

Ferraro sounds so sad that the Rongos are down 2.

 

[stephenball]

That was the worst PP ever until it wasn’t anymore.

 

[notDkristich]

putrid pp and still score. OV on the PP has made it way worse.

at least Lavi and his old man lips are another day closer to being fired. that would obviously be a mistake Drury. Let him finish the season.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

I hope he figures it out but he has a 46% xG% and 27% actual G% at 5v5. He was a beast for them through 2022 and completely underrated but he hasn’t been the same (understandably) since.

He’s missed some time and started the season on a floundering team. I’d give him more time to adjust before giving my final verdict.

 

[Kazer]

putrid pp and still score. OV on the PP has made it way worse.

at least Lavi and his old man lips are another day closer to being fired. that would obviously be a mistake Drury. Let him finish the season.

Yes, but the whole reason that goal is scored is because the far side defenders left McMichael wide open because they were afraid of the Ovechkin one-timer.

 

[Fred22406Capsfan]

Sloppy day and that's not just talking the two big gaffes. Quit trying to keep the Rags in this game, Caps. Get the 2 in regulation. PLEASE.

 

[notDkristich]

Yes, but the whole reason that goal is scored is because the far side defenders left McMichael wide open because they were afraid of the Ovechkin one-timer.

i hear ya. what was out PP % in his absence? 30%?

 

[StrikingDistance]

Come on ppl, the strategy is to keep the game close so we can get #8 some ENs.

#strategery

 

[Nogatco Rd]

Damn forgot it was an early puck drop. Good to see mcmichael on the board. Not surprised it still sounds like ovi needs to play his way back into shape

 

[Fred22406Capsfan]

Man, these guys at the desk aren't even hiding that their on the Rags' jock. Hate national broadcast games.

 

[stephenball]

If Ferraro could put the feeling he gets when the Rangers are gifted a goal into pill form he would never need Viagra again.

 

[Block]

Man, these guys at the desk aren't even hiding that their on the Rags' jock. Hate national broadcast games.

Yeah the 8 games was too much is a ridiculous opinion.

 

[Kazer]

i hear ya. what was out PP % in his absence? 30%?

Just did a manual count via hockey reference (so may not be 100% accurate) but I get 11/49 or 22%. That includes a hot stretch right after he went out 7 out of 25 [28%] and then the team went 4 out of 24 [rounds to 17%] the rest of the way.

Team is 3/9 (33%; not including today since the game is incomplete) since his return.

 

[Fred22406Capsfan]

Yep. Too long. If it was Wilson then Suban would have been calling for a lifetime ban.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

putrid pp and still score. OV on the PP has made it way worse.

at least Lavi and his old man lips are another day closer to being fired. that would obviously be a mistake Drury. Let him finish the season.

PP is 2/3 today, not the best day to complain about it.

 

[Kazer]

Yeah the 8 games was too much is a ridiculous opinion.

To be fair, 8 games was ridiculous. It should've been 10+.

 

[BallardEra]

Yes, but the whole reason that goal is scored is because the far side defenders left McMichael wide open because they were afraid of the Ovechkin one-timer.

Came here to post this. Nice catch.

 

[caps4cup]

He’s missed some time and started the season on a floundering team. I’d give him more time to adjust before giving my final verdict.

He probably still does need to adjust to Carberry’s system. I just think a lot of his decline the last few years (that was evident in his last year here too) is physical. He used to be a beast down low with the puck and that piece of his game (which was probably his best offensive trait) just isn’t there anymore. The way he possessed the puck down low from about 2018-2021 was amazing and he might have legitimately been their best 5v5 forward besides Backstrom. Without that puck protection/possession, he just doesn’t bring much with the puck at all.

They’ve been way too sloppy with the puck on their sticks in every zone. Their defensive coverage is fine, everything is pretty much coming off some sort of turnover. They really need to clean it up. Make simple plays and possess the puck.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

He probably still does need to adjust to Carberry’s system. I just think a lot of his decline the last few years (that was evident in his last year here too) is physical. He used to be a beast down low with the puck and that piece of his game (which was probably his best offensive trait) just isn’t there anymore. The way he possessed the puck down low from about 2018-2021 was amazing and he might have legitimately been their best 5v5 forward besides Backstrom. Without that puck protection/possession, he just doesn’t bring much with the puck at all.

That’s OK, I’m fine with him not contributing as much offensively as long as he can be reliable in his own end. What the Caps need is for guys like Lapierre to eventually figure it out and take over that spot. Eller isn’t a long term solution.

 

[Block]

To be fair, 8 games was ridiculous. It should've been 10+.

Oh I think 20 minimum based on the statement they made w/ Wilson.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Another Dowd penalty.