GDT: Round 2 Game 2

[NoVaCapsFan]

CMM even strength
Ovi PPG
Protas SHG
Random ENG

Caps win 4-2.
Or not, WTF do I know?

 

[Kazer]

Pulling someone out that can skate well seems like the exact opposite of what we should be doing.

In Carbs we trust, but the mental gymnastics that occur to pretend Lars Eller is not our worst player is frustrating.

I know you would prefer Lapierre, but the reality is that this discussion isn't Eller vs Leonard. It's Eller vs Lapierre and Leonard vs Raddysh vs Frank. And given Lapierre's AHL struggles and lack of defensive play (not to mention Sgarbossa's struggles), Eller isn't sitting any time soon.

I was hoping we would go after an Eller upgrade at the deadline, but that ship sailed a long time ago.

I should add that I don't agree with this decision. My point was that I trust GMCP/Carberry to send the right message to Leonard about being sat for a game. I would not have said the same of Laviolette or Reirden. As I noted in the other thread, I would've simply flipped Beauvillier & Protas for game 2, but I'm not the coach.

 

[um]

This fantasy needs to go away….

Hard to say, it was never tried.

Or maybe they’ve already made that evaluation in practice and didn’t feel they needed to tinker in games as you’re suggesting.

Imagine CMM lining up against and expected to cover Jordan Staal well….lol….the size/strength difference is alarming.

on a team with Dubois and Dowd you’d use McMichael as the match up guy? And when did Jordan Staal become the guy to lock down? Are you thinking of Eric?

Practice? You talking about practice?

 

[kicksavedave]

Hard to say, it was never tried.

on a team with Dubois and Dowd you’d use McMichael as the match up guy? And when did Jordan Staal become the guy to lock down? Are you thinking of Eric?

Practice? You talking about practice?

I mean I think it has been tried. A few times. Several people have been given the 3C job ahead of CMM, for a few years. How many times do you suggest they revisit it? As CCR points out, he's going to get physically worked at 3C in ways that will hurt the team. He's not moving ANYONE from the front of the net on D, and he's going to be physically handled by most D when he's on offense trying to occupy the net front.

I get we have this hate for Eller because he's not an offensive play driver. But he's also very responsible defensively. Sure we want someone who is both. That person isn't on the roster, and wasn't available for a reasonable price at the deadline.

Last point: Eller is not the reason we lost and got outshot 4 million to 13. That was a total team effort. Swapping out any one player won't make a bit of difference if the whole team doesn't up their game significantly. The good news is, I think they absolutely can, and will.

 

[Calicaps]

Pulling someone out that can skate well seems like the exact opposite of what we should be doing.

In Carbs we trust, but the mental gymnastics that occur to pretend Lars Eller is not our worst player is frustrating.

I doubt anyone thinks Eller isn't our worst player. But he's not going to improve by sitting. We'll just be short one centerman. Putting more experienced wingers with him to maybe better compensate for his weaknesses is likely the best we can hope for on that line. Lenny, otoh, can and likely will get better by watching and learning.

 

[RandyHolt]

I miss the days of early online betting... odds were SO far out of whack for hock. Now every game is a coin flip odds wise which reflects reality.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Hard to say, it was never tried.

on a team with Dubois and Dowd you’d use McMichael as the match up guy? And when did Jordan Staal become the guy to lock down? Are you thinking of Eric?

Practice? You talking about practice?

I haven’t paid close attention but someone else said Eller has been playing against Staal…so if that’s true….Mikey is going to get abused physically.

CMM is an emergency C only at best IMO.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Well it’s early in the day still, but you may be on to something.

Tonight, my wife and 16 year old daughter will be attending to create new Mojo. So, I am optimistic.

Mine will also be there….golf league for me!

 

[Todos a la Calle]

Remember when Eller subbed for an injured Backstrom against the Lightning in 2018? How can we get him to remember and channel those games?

 

[RickDias]

Let's uh play better or something.

 

[RandyHolt]

@tenken00 Ask your AI buddy to do Baby Aho's pacifier being removed by Willy

 

[um]

I haven’t paid close attention but someone else said Eller has been playing against Staal…so if that’s true….Mikey is going to get abused physically.

CMM is an emergency C only at best IMO.

That's what saying. You need extra options if something goes wrong or the team is struggling. I'm sure we all remember how great Eller was in 2018 when Backstrom and Kuzy went down at various points.

 

[Calicaps]

That's what saying. You need extra options if something goes wrong or the team is struggling. I'm sure we all remember how great Eller was in 2018 when Backstrom and Kuzy went down at various points.

I hope Hershey wins tonight. But if they lose, I want Lappy brought up and given an opportunity. He's got footspeed and was our best player vs. the Rags last year. Maybe he sucks... but that's not a big drop off from where we are at 3C so...

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

That's what saying. You need extra options if something goes wrong or the team is struggling. I'm sure we all remember how great Eller was in 2018 when Backstrom and Kuzy went down at various points.

As an already established C…..CMM isn’t that.

 

[Holtbyisms]

All this arguing and bitching about stuff that doesn't even matter is bringing bad mojo to this GDT. How bout you guys give it a rest. Let's focus on what matters, winning the game with what we got, LFG!

 

[crab]

Historically whenever I start ripping onto Eller he steps up. So…. if it wasn’t for being a center he 100% should be the scratch. Leonard’s floor is an Eller like performance but has upside.

 

[um]

As an already established C…..CMM isn’t that.

Perhaps. We don't know who our next best option is.

Our likely 5C is in Hershey right now, or it's someone else on the current roster. I don't know.

 

[marcel snapshot]

Can't sit still waiting for low-event, low-risk opponent to make mistakes because they're style doesn't generate those opportunities. They dump the puck and make the D turn and hope for mishandles, or they shoot from anywhere and hope the pressure of the puck being around the front of the net creates turnovers and higher-danger opportunities (their 1st goal in Game 1) or flukily goes in (their 2nd goal). Need quicker and crisper zone exits; more of an attack mentality thru neutral; a commitment to have at least 1 F banging a D man if we do dump it - and a more aggressive mindset regarding counter-attacks.

We have to expose ourself to more risk and make the Canes beat us with actual skill - if they thought they could, they'd play a style that shows it more. If we try to match their risk averse shutdown style, we likely lose, because they're better at that.

 

[Langway]

Taylor be swift. IDK. Watever.

Hopefully it's not another...

 

[twabby]

After a tough Game 1, I'm ready to bounce back with a better effort:

#1: Plant a seed of doubt into Sebastian Aho's mind regarding his own identity.

#2: Limit Carolina's time of possession by loading up against the run.

#3:

 

[tenken00]

@tenken00 Ask your AI buddy to do Baby Aho's pacifier being removed by Willy

Hey SKYNET. Buddy ol' pal. Create image of Tom Wilson taking Sebastian Aho's baby pacifier away from him.

HAHAHAHAHA. I CAN'T EVEN. LOL.

I'm not even 100% sure that's Aho.

Or Tom LOL.

 

[Neil Racki]

I love Carbs, but I'm actually pretty pissed off that he is scratching Leonard.

I am as well but Im going w the crowd here ... hes young, thrown into the fire, took some lumps .. a day to step back and soak it in isnt bad thing

 

[Todos a la Calle]

On Leonard, eh ... it was a tight game and he hasn't scored. You gotta think Raddysh is gonna be eager to make an impact. Maybe it'll pay off?

 

[RedRocking]

f*** shit up…

 

[um]

I'd prefer Leonard play but I don't feel we're losing a lot by sitting him. 1 empty net goal and 1 assist so far in his career. He has the speed and skill but I don't think he's figured out how to produce in the NHL yet.

Hopefully, the game off helps him out, and Raddysh is motivated to play well. Competition is good.