Post-mortem on the season

[Riptide]

Can't help but to wonder what could've been had Malkin not been careless in that play that led to his injury. That basically turned Penguins into a one line team and as a result season is now over. Shame. Sure there were lots of other issues as well but a healthy Malkin still could have done wonders against Caps in the even strength play.

So Brassard and Kessel's excuse is what exactly? We had zero secondary scoring, and it wasn't because Malkin only managed 1 goal in the WSH series.

 

[USMC607]

Now someone wrote a response to the caps open letter. Lmao...

 

[SouthGeorge]

Not sure where to put this, but this is a really interesting article about how luck plays a bigger role in hockey than something like the NBA

Luck plays a bigger role in some sports than others — how come?

We are very unlucky Letang was making timbit mistakes

 

[cygnus47]

So Brassard and Kessel's excuse is what exactly? We had zero secondary scoring, and it wasn't because Malkin only managed 1 goal in the WSH series.

They were also injured. Brassard seemed to be starting to turn it on but Kessel clearly couldn't shoot or pass and we know he's not like that in the playoffs if it's his choice.

 

[cookthebooks]

kessel won one cup and then won another and now he’s supposed to be lazy and happy with 2? he decided that 1 wasn’t going to be enough so he got the second cup before shutting it down? it makes no sense, the guy was obviously hurt. he had zero first step.

 

[Burn]

Guys were hurt. So what... I'm happy the Pens aren't saying much about it.

Hated how every Flyer was hurt, had to walk to the game in the snow, had the Ebola virus...

 

[madinsomniac]

I pointed out i thought the caps facing us in the second round was a lose lose position for them... either they would lose... or they'd be so overjoyed about winning theyd lose focus and get beat next round.... from trotz talking about taking time to savor the win to the players reactions...its pretty obvious they were very emotionally invested last series... they may say the right things now, but that kind of emotional peak ruins a team way too often

 

[ColePens]

I just stare at the wall waiting for them to announce Game 7's time....

 

[DeadPuckEra]

After reading that open letter - it’s become clear that whoever wrote it, and a significant amount of that fan base places way more emphasis on the Penguins - than Pens fans do the Capitals.

They’re down there acting like this is Detroit vs Colorado in the hey day. Meanwhile we’re all just bitter we lost to a player who spent the better part of the last decade taking questionable runs at our players....

I said this earlier, but before Ovechkin - Washington was the equivalent of the Rangers or Islanders. After he’s gone, they will likely go back to that. Flyers - Pens is the real rivalry. It was a rivalry before everyone learned to hate the flyers. Philadelphia will hate the Penguins long after Crosby is gone, and Pittsburgh will hate the Flyers long after ______ (insert scum bag here) is gone.

There hasn’t been a single Caps roster (since Ovechkin) that has come remotely close to drumming up the hate that the Flyers have induced in the Crosby era. Mike Richards, Scott Hartnell, Daniel Carcillo, Zac Rinaldo, Chris Pronger, Riley Cote, Hatcher... etc

These Caps fans want so badly to place a narrative that they slayed the dragon. Yeah you did, but this dragon never gave much of a f*** about you. You were always just a team who’s ass we beat... now you aren’t - for one post season lol


Where are your cups? Please save your open letters for when you acquire 5 of them. Good luck wining a faceoff against Tampa, meanwhile a game. Weirdos. Enjoy this feeling though, it’s going to be gone in a little over a week.

 

[USMC607]

After reading that open letter - it’s become clear that whoever wrote it, and a significant amount of that fan base places way more emphasis on the Penguins - than Pens fans do the Capitals.

They’re down there acting like this is Detroit vs Colorado in the hey day. Meanwhile we’re all just bitter we lost to a player who spent the better part of the last decade taking questionable runs at our players....

I said this earlier, but before Ovechkin - Washington was the equivalent of the Rangers or Islanders. After he’s gone, they will likely go back to that. Flyers - Pens is the real rivalry. It was a rivalry before everyone learned to hate the flyers. Philadelphia will hate the Penguins long after Crosby is gone, and Pittsburgh will hate the Flyers long after ______ (insert scum bag here) is gone.

These Caps fans want so badly to place a narrative that they slayed the dragon. Yeah you did, but this dragon never gave much of a **** about you. You were always just a team who’s ass we beat... now you aren’t - for one post season lol


Where are your cups? Please save your open letters for when you acquire 5 of them. Good luck wining a faceoff against Tampa, meanwhile a game. Weirdos.

Do they realize they are only HALFWAY there?

They've made us the focus of their ire, for so long it feels like they forgot there are other games to be played.

8 more games to be precise, and TB/Winnipeg/Nashville/Las Vegas are going to be way harder of an out than we were.

 

[DeadPuckEra]

Here’s our official open response:

1991
1992
2009
2016
2017

Bye.

 

[Rossi Rat]

I agree with much of what’s been said... but i still just have this feeling the Caps will be a tougher out than everyone seems to think. They’re a confident team, and basically playing the underdog role now the rest of the way seeing as every team left had a better record this season.

 

[Ogrezilla]

I agree with much of what’s been said... but i still just have this feeling the Caps will be a tougher out than everyone seems to think. They’re a confident team, and basically playing the underdog role now the rest of the way seeing as every team left had a better record this season.

has there been word on Backstrom? They need him back to have a real chance imo.

 

[BHD]

The rules - e.g., not making inappropriate/sexual references - still apply in this thread. Refrain from posting if you can't find a different way to word your feelings.

 

[EliteGoaltending]

I just stare at the wall waiting for them to announce Game 7's time....

And to think about it...if Letang didn't give away Game 5 in the 3rd, we most likely would win that game and would be up 3-2 in the series and next it either advancing to the next round or Game 7.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Go enjoy hobbies.

 

[Giskard]

I'd be interested to hear exactly what happened to Hagelin's face at this point.

Giroux happened

 

[Bnat66]

I pointed out i thought the caps facing us in the second round was a lose lose position for them... either they would lose... or they'd be so overjoyed about winning theyd lose focus and get beat next round.... from trotz talking about taking time to savor the win to the players reactions...its pretty obvious they were very emotionally invested last series... they may say the right things now, but that kind of emotional peak ruins a team way too often

My thoughts exactly. They are going to be so emotionally spent from finally beating the Pens, they will forget they have more hockey left to play.

 

[Hockey4Life91]

Tampa fan here. Just want to underscore that the Bolts were so exhausted after the deep SCF run in 2015 and then the ECF run in 2016 that, last year, we were so gassed that we couldn't even make the playoffs - due, in part, to key injuries. The whole season it looked like our players were skating with cement in their skates. The point is, aside from your 2 cups (which of course is amazing - congrats), the very fact that you made it this far after those two runs is a superb feat in and of itself.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

Tampa fan here. Just want to underscore that the Bolts were so exhausted after the deep SCF run in 2015 and then the ECF run in 2016 that, last year, we were so gassed that we couldn't even make the playoffs - due, in part, to key injuries. The whole season we looked like our players were skating with cement in their skates. The point is, aside from your 2 cups (which of course is amazing - congrats), the very fact that you made it this far after those two runs is a superb feat in and of itself.

The last three b2b champs, Oilers, Pens and Wings all lost in the second round as well, so the fatigue is an extremely difficult thing to overcome.

Even Malkin admitted they were tired, and could essentially use some rest.

 

[Rick Kehoe]

So Brassard and Kessel's excuse is what exactly? We had zero secondary scoring, and it wasn't because Malkin only managed 1 goal in the WSH series.

Kessel was dealing with multiple injuries much of this season, and Brassard sustained a significant injury roughly a week after arriving in Pittsburgh. This was according to the GM, in his final press conference wrapping up the year. Also, Kris Letang probably didn't have enough time to recover after his serious neck injury surgery after the 2016-17 season.

 

[canadianguy77]

I pointed out i thought the caps facing us in the second round was a lose lose position for them... either they would lose... or they'd be so overjoyed about winning theyd lose focus and get beat next round.... from trotz talking about taking time to savor the win to the players reactions...its pretty obvious they were very emotionally invested last series... they may say the right things now, but that kind of emotional peak ruins a team way too often

They're facing a team that we probably wouldn't have beat even if the entire team was 100%. Washington is going to lose because they're a vastly inferior team than TB.

 

[ncm7772]

Guys were hurt. So what... I'm happy the Pens aren't saying much about it.

Hated how every Flyer was hurt, had to walk to the game in the snow, had the Ebola virus...

Yeah, I agree. Typical for a trash organization like that. Blame everything on the injuries!

 

[Gurglesons]

Yohe’s article for the Athletic has some interesting points.

Said something to the effect that Sullivan and Kessel butted heads about Kessel’s consecutive games played streak LAST April and that he wanted him to sit after a shoulder / wrist injury this year.

Also, Letang’s quote was extended saying he couldn’t skate until August which he thinks really effected his game this year. Would likely make sense given how many times he got beat one and one and he said the back to backs were difficult for him to establish consistency in.

 

[BrookswasHere44]

What is this "open letter" referring to? Where can I find it?