GDT: r2g2

[The Faulker 27]

Think it’s key to remember that Caps have a very good goalie in Thompson. He could be the difference in this series. Not saying he will be but he’s that good.

Caps got a very fortunate 1st goal and in tight games like these first 2 have been, 1 goal is a huge deal. It’s different with how the Devils series was where you just know Canes would have plenty of real estate for a come back if they go down.

 

[chaz4hockey]

How’d that work out for them?

Geez, Habs were barely a playoff team and canes aren’t.

Wilson had an unreal game tonight and I’d think that if we messed with him his emotions would get the best of him and not be as productive. You want Wilson as a hot head and losing his cool.

But that’s a take if you are a hockey pacifist

Btw: KK has to play a physical game or he is useless in the lineup (as we saw tonight as RBA yanked him off the line).

 

[Bub]

Leonard sucks I don’t know why he gets so hyped up. Has not impressed me one bit in the NHL, hope they put him back in

See also: Matt "Imminent Suspension" Rempe.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

Got a split. Decent. Someone go get us some GDT wins at home.

 

[Joe McGrath]

You know I would get that level of snark if most of the issues we saw from Burns, Gost, and Walker weren't largely self-inflicted. Washington wasn't doing anything particularly well, they just kept shooting themselves in the foot.

Walker and Ghost are 3rd pairing defenseman. Washington’s are TVR and a guy who they won’t play. 3rd pairing defenseman make mistakes all the time on 32 NHL teams. You just hope they don’t burn you. Burns is fried, we get it. But he’s also not the reason they can’t score. Stankoven is the only forward with a goal through 2 games. That’s the real issue.

 

[Nikishin al Gaib]

I mean at the end of the day, splitting in DC was the goal, and I said it earlier today, I did not expect a win tonight.

I'm frustrated because we did a lot to beat ourselves tonight, but it is what it is. We now control matchups the next couple games and if we can settle into our game I wouldn't be surprised if we completely overwhelm them in Raleigh.

But we have to be better than tonight

 

[CanesUltimate11]

Will he? 0 hits tonight basically went out for a cardio session

True he doesn't do it enough but certainly more than Roslovic who's gone cold offensively. And if both aren't scoring KK has shown that physicality more than Roslovic.

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

27-11 at Lenovo Center in the playoffs since 2019. 6 home sweeps of 3 games or more.

 

[User13452]

Caps are just playing with 5 defenceman basically. alexyev only played 9 minutes we should be able to take advantage of the matchups at home

 

[wgknestrick]

The fact that Gost scored will probably be enough to keep him in...

we are never going to see Nikishin, just face it.

Even if we do, he won't get many minutes and will get yanked at the littlest mistake. Coaches play a protectionism type of game, and rarely take risks that could be referenced as questionable (if they were to lose).

It's still not rocket science to bench your player who has the lowest +- though. I like the 7 D to give yourself some safety net if he doesn't adjust to the deep end. This also allows Rod to keep injecting random talent into that 4th line.

 

[hurricure]

This is the only time I’ve wished the canes had a Toronto or Montreal media feeding frenzy… force the Nikishin conversation front and center and surly be pointing out how crazy it is to continue playing Burns 20 minutes a game…put Handsome Rod on a little bit of a hot seat

 

[The Faulker 27]

Playoff hockey people. Goals aren’t gimmes.

 

[htdoc]

Dump that one. Just flush it.

No sense going down the list and pointing out all the problems with everyone performing poorly.

You don’t win playoff games scoring only one goal while also giving up a PP goal against.

Everyone needs to be better. We really missed Janky on the fourth line. Hopefully he can be back for game 3 and beyond.

We split the first two games on the road and took back home ice. Now let’s play better and hold serve at home the next two games and we will have completely forgotten about that pile of crap left on the ice tonight…

 

[The Faulker 27]

Have they considered Nikishin on the 4th line?

 

[MrazeksVengeance]

Got a split. Decent. Someone go get us some GDT wins at home.

VENGEANCE WILL BE MINE.

 

[bleedgreen]

5-2 in the playoffs so far. Split with the team that led the east on the road, when we suck on the road. Was a one goal game till the last minute.

I’m not seeing a reason to jump off a bridge here. We weren’t going to shut them out. We could’ve easily won the game with a little more puck luck.

Win your home games and we’re in the drivers seat.

 

[AD Skinner]

Doesn’t seem like people are too too upset but I don’t get being stressed by this loss at all. No one goes 16-0, win at home and we are cruising

 

[CanesFanBudMan]

If you don’t put Nikishin in after 3/6 defenseman we’re absolute dumpster fires you deserve to lose this series Rod

 

[Chrispy]

Doesn’t seem like people are too too upset but I don’t get being stressed by this loss at all. No one goes 16-0, win at home and we are cruising

From the perspective of "terrible bounce led to breakaway where perfect shot made it 1-0" I agree.

That said, I am more concerned they weren't getting consistent pressure or offensive zone time this game. Matchups in game 3 should shift that, but they need to adjust to Washington's adjustments after game 1.

And when even ESPN's announcers see that the offensive strategy changes from aggressive and try to maximize shots at 5v5 to extremely possession based and seeking out the perfect shot on the power play, it has to be pretty obvious to everyone. Need to see more of that aggression on the PP.

 

[hangman005]

Think it’s key to remember that Caps have a very good goalie in Thompson. He could be the difference in this series. Not saying he will be but he’s that good.

Caps got a very fortunate 1st goal and in tight games like these first 2 have been, 1 goal is a huge deal. It’s different with how the Devils series was where you just know Canes would have plenty of real estate for a come back if they go down.

This still infuriates me.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

This still infuriates me.

The guy we made a blockbuster trade for, who told us to go f*** ourselves, just scored back to back hat tricks in the playoffs. Simmer down now.

 

[hangman005]

The guy we made a blockbuster trade for, who told us to go f*** ourselves, just scored back to back hat tricks in the playoffs. Simmer down now.

Don't worry Stankovens back to back to back to back hat tricks against Dallas in the cup final will ease that pain.

 

[The Faulker 27]

This still infuriates me.

I understand. Believe me, I've wanted this team to have a Thompson-esque goalie for every post season since 2019. I think there is a SCF and/or cup win in there somewhere if we do. Game 1 of this series every one was saying Canes can beat him, they hit a bunch of posts. Well, they didn't beat him game 2. Goalies adjust too. Not to mention he's very good at playing his angles. I just like the dude. Hate the Caps, but like the goalie.

Now hopefully they can figure out how to cook him at home. Home cooking.

 

[hangman005]

I understand. Believe me, I've wanted this team to have a Thompson-esque goalie for every post season since 2019. I think there is a SCF and/or cup win in there somewhere if we do. Game 1 of this series every one was saying Canes can beat him, they hit a bunch of posts. Well, they didn't beat him game 2. Goalies adjust too. Not to mention he's very good at playing his angles. I just like the dude. Hate the Caps, but like the goalie.

Now hopefully they can figure out how to cook him at home. Home cooking.

Worst part is we had him... and we chose Hill over him... on the bright side we only have Hill signed for a 6 years.

 

[WreckingCrew]

Seems like scoring 1 goal in regulation per game isn't generally going to be enough to win. Good teams "create their own luck"...impotently throwing 100 pucks at the net without the goalie being screened or even having to flinch to stop it isn't going to result in a lot of goals. I remember at one point in the first we had like 22 shot attempts, 5 SOG, and 1 scoring chance. In the past 2 games we probably have in the range of 150 shot attempts, 51 SOG, & <10 scoring chances. Don't even bring up "high danger" shots because high danger location =/= high danger shot...a "low danger" shot on a chart still has a better chance of going in if you have screens or get the goalie moving. At one point we had them hemmed in their zone for a full 2 minutes, and never got a shot through. Both games have been close, very winnable, which makes it a bit more frustrating because we're not getting beat, we're just beating ourselves (euphemism not intended)

Anyway, I'm glad we got the split, I fully expected game 2 to be an autoloss because Washington was going to do everything they could not to go down 2-0 in the series at home. Still a bit frustrating though. We control our own destiny at this point with the next 2 being at home. Take them both and all the pressure is on Washington to try and come back.