Series Discussion: 2018 Stanley Cup Final: Washington Capitals vs Vegas Golden Knights

[HunterSThompson]

Stanley Cup Final staff predictions

7 going with Caps
7 going with Vegas

 

[Lindemann]

Stanley Cup Final staff predictions

7 going with Caps
7 going with Vegas

Only 2 of them correctly picked the conference finals right

And both of them picked the Caps to win

 

[Maryland17]

PM me if STH and can't go to game 3, 4, or 6. I'd be interested to pay, so don't want to pay the extra stubhub fees

 

[Skrudland2Lomakin]

The key to success is to test the mental fortitude of VGK. They're a young team, they've experience 0 tribulation in the post season, I want to see how they respond when things aren't going their way. The reason these Caps are in the SCF and not the 2010, 2016, 2017, etc. is that ability to over come adversity. Down 0-2 in round 1? No panic. Against our foes the Pens? No panic. Game 7 of the ECF? No panic. I haven't had the sense this team has clinched their sticks a little tighter even once, that used to be the hallmark of this club.

Let's see what VGK does when things and calls aren't working out for them, will the bend or will they break?

 

[OviTaughtMe]

Listen, I get Vegas has to be good to have made it this far. But looking at that roster, I’m sorry. I’m not scared at all. Outside of Fleury of course.

I think we run this guys out in 5. I think the West was weak this year.

 

[amjay13]

Still can't believe the thread title. Stanley Cup Finals Caps vs Vegas. LOL.

 

[JMUcapsfan07]

I find it incredibly difficult to predict what will happen in these series before they start. Coming into this past series, I expected Tampa to be flying all over the ice and have a huge advantage in speed but the Caps often looked quite a bit faster, in my opinion. I'm just not quite sure what to expect besides the fact that Fleury has been on fire and goals will most likely not come easy.

 

[um]

Listen, I get Vegas has to be good to have made it this far. But looking at that roster, I’m sorry. I’m not scared at all. Outside of Fleury of course.

I think we run this guys out in 5. I think the West was weak this year.

I do think our offense and defense are a little better than theirs but they have the edge in goal right now, which can go a long way in winning a series.

 

[peterthegreat12]

I do think our offense and defense are a little better than theirs but they have the edge in goal right now, which can go a long way in winning a series.

Caps have also played four more games, and their top d-men have a ton of miles/minutes on them right now.

 

[Sam Spade]

Early on against the Kings I heard a commentator say trying to carry the puck thru the neutral zone will not work against Vegas, you HAVE to be willing to dump it and do the work to get it back, despite all the new NHL stuff about not giving up possession.

I really started watching Knights games with an eye on watching this and it seems like a legit observation. The 1st line of Karlsson/Marchesault seem especially adept at stealing the puck in NZ and turning it into quick offense or 2 on 1's. The Knights really do own the middle of the ice.

I noticed that if a team could establish possession they could get a decent chance (MAF was just saving everything thrown at him).

I don't know what plan the coaches have but I hope it is a great one.

 

[CapsDC]

Listen, I get Vegas has to be good to have made it this far. But looking at that roster, I’m sorry. I’m not scared at all. Outside of Fleury of course.

I think we run this guys out in 5. I think the West was weak this year.

What scares me is just that they're really solid & deep, due to how the expansion draft went down. And MAF. He seems like one of those goalies who's virtually unbeatable when he's on a heater. They have to figure out a way to get to him.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

Vegas feasts on turnovers. Watch Game 6 against the Sharks. They are stingy on defense and opportunistic on offense. The Caps ability (or inability) to control the neutral zone will determine this series. I see a lot of 2016 and 2017 Pittsburgh with less firepower when I watch Vegas.

 

[Sam Spade]

Listen, I get Vegas has to be good to have made it this far. But looking at that roster, I’m sorry. I’m not scared at all. Outside of Fleury of course.

I think we run this guys out in 5. I think the West was weak this year.

Respectfully, you are crazy. They didn't just beat teams, they cut through them like a hot knife through butter.

 

[Portable Mink]

Dammit. Didn’t win tattslotto.

Let’s just get a win first.

 

[ALLCAPSALLTHETIME]

Respectfully, you are crazy. They didn't just beat teams, they cut through them like a hot knife through butter.

Yes, the whole is more than the sum of the parts here.

They play extremely well as a team and are very well coached.

This is going to be a tough series.

 

[CraigsList]

Congrats Caps fans. You've been given **** for the past few years and now this is your time. Go and get your cup.

 

[BiPolar Caps]

Would just like to point out Alzner had a chance to be traded to Vegas and he refused (screwing us over) and then went to MTL and took a shot at the Caps for being a bad franchise

Now both teams he could of played for are in the Cup

Nice going!

This is the first I've heard of any of this. Never heard Alzner bad mouth the Caps and never heard of the trade possibility to Vegas. Do you have a link for any of this?

 

[Hivemind]

Would just like to point out Alzner had a chance to be traded to Vegas and he refused (screwing us over) and then went to MTL and took a shot at the Caps for being a bad franchise

Now both teams he could of played for are in the Cup

Nice going!

Source required

 

[Jags]

Djoos will need to be better as well.

You really have to figure that Bowey has been uncoachable for things to continue with Djoos as they are. I like Djoos a lot, but his size and inexperience were worrisome enough without him having to adapt to playing his weak side.

With Orpik playing well, it's a shame he doesn't have a more fitting partner that needs less sheltering. It really surprises me that they'd cycle through problematic lefty options in that RD spot with all the time they've had to work on Bowey's game. He needed to get stronger and add some snarl -- things they could mostly fix in the weight room in a few weeks with a guy his size. The rest was just tentative play and inexperience, which they could have worked on down the stretch instead of trying to force square pegs into round holes.

Djoos struggling on the right has to be hard on him, is definitely handcuffing his natural gifts, and isn't doing his development any favors. And him getting muscled off every puck isn't doing us any favors, either.

We could use Bowey's right shot and extra 30 pounds right about now. Its a shame they punted on him early and that he apparently didn't work hard enough to up his game and compete for that spot.

 

[troyerlaw]

Anyone else see the Backstrom postgame lockerroom interview? At one point, when he wiped his mouth or nose, you could see his hand for a second. Definitely looked like swollen and uncomfortable index finger.

 

[2017WashingtonCaps]

Anyone else see the Backstrom postgame lockerroom interview? At one point, when he wiped his mouth or nose, you could see his hand for a second. Definitely looked like swollen and uncomfortable index finger.

View attachment 122431

Also noticed he used his left hand to shake hands at the end of the game.
That looks painful...

 

[Langway]

Thinking about this match-up more, I find it a bit hard to believe that a defense of Schmidt, McNabb, Theodore, Miller, Sbisa & Engelland will be the ones to deny this team. It's asking for it perhaps and Fleury will also have something to say about that but it's not a tremendous group on paper. Paper doesn't matter at this point but it is a group a little suspect in terms of overall depth and speed (at least when it comes to McNabb, Sbisa & Engelland). Vegas compensates for that by backchecking with a purpose but there should be opportunities for sustained pressure chances if they're able to control the flow of the game. The Caps have feasted on transition pretty often but I'm not sure Vegas will break down that easy structurally. It would be great but they may have to do more work with sustained forechecking pressure like some of the better efforts the Sharks had. Vegas starting to try to do too much at home would be a good sign and, of course, the Caps getting out to a lead could help spur that on.

The Caps will need their middle six going and for the fourth-line to put in good work getting chunks of Schmidt, Theodore & Miller IMO. Slow those guys down, make them wear it and their blueline becomes far less dynamic. Of course, the Caps will need their third pair to be better in underlying play as well and to prove overall that they're able to get the upper hand structurally. The Caps should have a slight edge on defense and up the middle but it's on them to prove it in practice by continuing to attack responsibly, be disciplined and to continue to play as though it's a battle of wills. Do that and they'll be in good spots to have success.

 

[SpinningEdge]

Vegas announced tix go on sale Friday.

When do Caps individual tix go on sale? Resell tix will be ridiculous - so id wait hours and hours if needed to get tickets from the team or box office or whatever

Anyone know?

 

[um]

Caps have also played four more games, and their top d-men have a ton of miles/minutes on them right now.

That could hurt, however 9 days off could also hurt them.

 

[HTFN]

It'll be a grindfest, a real coaching/goaltending duel. If Trotz and Holtby can stay equal to Gallant and Fleury, I would hope/think that the team with more talent coursing through it should reign supreme. Truly believe that if Fleury hadn't relocated his magic horseshoe, this story is already over for them. Fact is, though, he's part of the team too, and knows how to win as well as anyone. He could be writing the second half of his own impressive story, and those wheels might not fall off.

It's up to Holtby not to saddle himself with too much pressure, while ultimately still keeping pace.

On the coaching end, from what I've seen of Vegas they like to frustrate and counter-punch, they get their way by having (mostly) good skaters who hustle relentlessly. That sucks, but I also think that Trotz is pretty uniquely suited to coaching into that kind of game. Outside of some systems peculiarities I don't think they coach drastically different games, so if the coaching can negate each other and it comes to individuals and execution, they've got enough talent to pull through.

I think it helps Vegas' cause that most players around the league seem to have "but I used to practice against this guy, he should suck, what's wrong here?" moments that can put them off their games. I think it helps Washington's cause that the guy they gave up was obviously great, and whose game should have their respect right away (not that you should outright disrespect/fail to acknowledge anyone in a film session for a friggin' Cup Finals).

idle thought, who benefits more from the fact that Schmidt is their 1D, based on the practice reps they used to take together? An improving Schmidt is nothing to shake a stick at, but is it more likely that a guy like Kuznetsov/Backstrom has figured out how to play Schmidt, or vice versa?