than McD and Girardi. I think Staal is their best individual defender (not the best all-around defenseman, just the best in his own zone), and he's big enough that Ovechkin can't just overpower him.
RE: Lets Go Rangers! Kreider was a beast in Saturday. Loved the headlock
They have last chance now, so it's going to be harder to keep Boyle and Yandle away from their top line.
Boyle and Yandle shouldn't be a pair to begin with. I think AV & Ulf have done an awful job this series, and that three of the four Caps goals could be tied to them being outcoached.
And I agree about your comments regarding Staal - especially with McDonagh Rick Nashing it on defense this post-season.
Boyle has been paired with Staal generally, and Yandle with Klein, no?
I know Yandle/Boyle have wound up on the ice together but I didn't think they were designated as a pairing.
They were on the ice for the first goal in game two after taking the puck up the ice after a faceoff - both Yandle/Boyle made terrible plays on that goal.
But it was in the second game. I actually don't have a big problem with this provided that AV is slick enough to keep them away from the Ovie line, and after the first two games I can't say I have a lot of faith in that.
It's not the worst idea at home when you should presumably be able to keep them away from Ovi/Backstrom (even though AV still couldn't avoid it completely) but pairing them on the road is playing with fire.
... it's a fantastic day for a Stanley Cup hockey game and I can't wait for puck time. Hopefully Trotz will make great use of the line change advantage that home ice brings. Hope you all enjoy the game and that it's exciting and injury free. Hopefully the Caps have learned that the way to beat Henri is to shoot while falling forward on one knee and with no skates on the ice. Let's go Caps !!
Later.
they need to keep MSL-Brassard-Nash away from Ovie too
be in full effect tonight with their horns and bullshit queues to make noise and start chants with some of Ovechkin's ridiculous EDM horseshit pumped in prior to each faceoff. The Verizon Center is a fucking dump.
Lot of rumors going around, but I believe it's been confirmed he's done for this series. And I think he'd be a surprise if he came back at all this season.
Almost certainly won't see him this series and odds are probably against seeing him again in these playoffs unless he makes a really quick turnaround or we get back to the SCF.
Pretty clear that we have a depth advantage at forward (even without Zucc). We've dominated the puck for stretches (first period game 2 and at times in the third period). But they have the best player in the series and he's playing at a really high level.
Not saying anything earth shattering, but they clearly go as Ovechkin goes. There isn't much else there other than that top line. It's a really fucking good top line, but if it can somehow be shut down, we can win this in 5 or 6.
Kuznetsov is turning into a hell of a player. But I agree with your overall point; their bottom 6 depth really just isn't threatening.
Much like the Pens series, the top end talent advantage is on the other side but ours everywhere else. If we can keep Ovechkin/Backstrom from beating us, we'll win the series.
Ovechkin is clearly the most dominant player in hockey right now, and it isn't close. We've watched the Rangers play the Caps in the playoffs enough times in the past to see that he's playing at the absolute peak of his game right now as compared to past seasons, and he's much more dangerous at the moment than either Crosby or Malkin was in the first round. At the moment, he's terrifying.
Im not even getting upset with these Ovie goals. They're that impressive. It's like the NBA equivalent of "Dude is gonna get his, so stop someone else and win".
I was watching the game with about 5-6 friends and we just laughed when Ovi scored their 2nd goal. No one was even mad. That was just straight up dominant, unstoppable hockey on his end. The guy is far and away the most dominant player in the league right now. Just unbelievable.
Kuznetsov is turning into a hell of a player. But I agree with your overall point; their bottom 6 depth really just isn't threatening.
Much like the Pens series, the top end talent advantage is on the other side but ours everywhere else. If we can keep Ovechkin/Backstrom from beating us, we'll win the series.
Should be out of this in 6.
Yeah, Kuznetsov is good, the one guy that worries me outside of their top line.
I want the Rangers to win it all while Nash fails to score another goal.
Well we all want to win, but there is a strong correlation between your best players producing points... and actually winning.
It'd be like saying I'm fine with the Rangers winning and Hank giving up 3-4 goals a night. Could it happen over 4 grueling series? I guess, but not likely.
We went 13-12 in the postseason last year despite facing a backup goalie for 8 of those games. We need our star to play like a star - and yes, i realize how good Nash's game is away from the puck. I'm not saying trade the guy... but damnit he and Stepan will need to catch fire if we are going back to the Finals. Ovi has raised his game for them - we need to match it.
As for arc's earlier post -- first of all, pfft... "5 or 6 friends" ...yeah ok.
Second, as great as Ovi's goal was saturday, i should watch it again as I was at the game and didnt get to see the review, but didnt he deliver a flying elbow to Girardi down at their end about 5-10 seconds before that goal? Ovi - dont get me wrong if he wasnt playing us... i love this guy's game -- but IMO he gets away with some shit that should be a penalty.
Don't be jealous just because you're so short on friends you had to resort to asking Brett to sit with you at a game...
Bwahaha... well played, Sir. Truth is i was just looking to get some $$$ back for my seats from Brett though - think he would have noticed if i charged him 1.5x ?
Did you end up going to the game Saturday, brettsky?
to put miller with Nash and brassard. He has been creating chances think both he and Nash can compliment each other and get them both scoring
Personally I wouldnt touch that third line right now. They've been our best scoring threat line these playoffs it seems, at the very least this series so far.
Truth is Nash, Brassard and Stepan have been playing pretty well. MSL is dragging a lot of guys down right now - the Zuccs injury wouldnt kill so much if father time hadnt put a big giant sized fork on this guy's back this year.
I don't know think Stepan is playing that well, but agree with everything else you said.
I wonder if MSL is still suffering from effects due to the injury... Unlikely since he started playing like shit around game 50. Richards seems to be playing pretty well for CHI right now.
There's not much we can do about MSL's spot since Miller is really the only other guy you can put there and that 3rd line is humming as it is (though I think that has more to do with Hayes/Hagelin than anything else.. seems like no matter who has skated on that line with them, it has been our best line or close to it)
I think we just have to hope that Marty has one last push in him and can pick it up.
Nice to see that Nash played well on Saturday. Very active around the net.
I was a big fan of that as well.
Boyle and Yandle shouldn't be a pair to begin with. I think AV & Ulf have done an awful job this series, and that three of the four Caps goals could be tied to them being outcoached.
And I agree about your comments regarding Staal - especially with McDonagh Rick Nashing it on defense this post-season.
No idea how this makes any sense to the coaching staff
I know Yandle/Boyle have wound up on the ice together but I didn't think they were designated as a pairing.
Seems like the coaching staff is choosing it in spots, but I can't say for sure.
I know Yandle/Boyle have wound up on the ice together but I didn't think they were designated as a pairing.
They were on the ice for the first goal in game two after taking the puck up the ice after a faceoff - both Yandle/Boyle made terrible plays on that goal.
Like when he scored that goal on Saturday?
Later.
That OT GWG from Marty in Game 4 of the ECF last year is my favorite goal from last year. Would love to see more shots like that this year.
Lot of rumors going around, but I believe it's been confirmed he's done for this series. And I think he'd be a surprise if he came back at all this season.
Almost certainly won't see him this series and odds are probably against seeing him again in these playoffs unless he makes a really quick turnaround or we get back to the SCF.
Not saying anything earth shattering, but they clearly go as Ovechkin goes. There isn't much else there other than that top line. It's a really fucking good top line, but if it can somehow be shut down, we can win this in 5 or 6.
Much like the Pens series, the top end talent advantage is on the other side but ours everywhere else. If we can keep Ovechkin/Backstrom from beating us, we'll win the series.
Should be out of this in 6.
Much like the Pens series, the top end talent advantage is on the other side but ours everywhere else. If we can keep Ovechkin/Backstrom from beating us, we'll win the series.
Should be out of this in 6.
Yeah, Kuznetsov is good, the one guy that worries me outside of their top line.
I'd forgotten about that. For Martin Erat, holy shit. Imagine him on their 2nd line with Kuznetsov centering him. Yikes.
I want the Rangers to win it all while Nash fails to score another goal.
I want the Rangers to win it all while Nash fails to score another goal.
Well we all want to win, but there is a strong correlation between your best players producing points... and actually winning.
It'd be like saying I'm fine with the Rangers winning and Hank giving up 3-4 goals a night. Could it happen over 4 grueling series? I guess, but not likely.
We went 13-12 in the postseason last year despite facing a backup goalie for 8 of those games. We need our star to play like a star - and yes, i realize how good Nash's game is away from the puck. I'm not saying trade the guy... but damnit he and Stepan will need to catch fire if we are going back to the Finals. Ovi has raised his game for them - we need to match it.
As for arc's earlier post -- first of all, pfft... "5 or 6 friends" ...yeah ok.
Second, as great as Ovi's goal was saturday, i should watch it again as I was at the game and didnt get to see the review, but didnt he deliver a flying elbow to Girardi down at their end about 5-10 seconds before that goal? Ovi - dont get me wrong if he wasnt playing us... i love this guy's game -- but IMO he gets away with some shit that should be a penalty.
Bwahaha... well played, Sir. Truth is i was just looking to get some $$$ back for my seats from Brett though - think he would have noticed if i charged him 1.5x ?
Did you end up going to the game Saturday, brettsky?
Personally I wouldnt touch that third line right now. They've been our best scoring threat line these playoffs it seems, at the very least this series so far.
Truth is Nash, Brassard and Stepan have been playing pretty well. MSL is dragging a lot of guys down right now - the Zuccs injury wouldnt kill so much if father time hadnt put a big giant sized fork on this guy's back this year.
Might go Friday depending on how cheap the seats get.
I wonder if MSL is still suffering from effects due to the injury... Unlikely since he started playing like shit around game 50. Richards seems to be playing pretty well for CHI right now.
Even last year's MSL would be huge for this team.
I think we just have to hope that Marty has one last push in him and can pick it up.