Natey
GOATS
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Confirmed with Link: [BUF/WSH] Halak'd: Halak & 3rd '15 for Neuvirth & Klesla
- Thread starter Langway
- Start date
ChibiPooky
Yay hockey!
Sky Kerstein @SkyKerstein 1h
#Caps Halak says he's seen 2 on none's before, but never against him
#Caps Halak says he's seen 2 on none's before, but never against him
CapitalsCupReality
It’s Go Time!!
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FloridaCap
Beaglechuk Mania
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Usually I'd agree, but if Oates sticks around, there won't be a single person signing in DC unless we offer them SIGNIFICANTLY more money than the next team.
Who would want to be on a team trending downhill, with a passive-aggressive coach who has no idea what he's doing?
Say he comes to DC on a 2-year deal, and thanks to Oates, he puts up numbers like a 2.8GAA and a .912. What would he get in his next contract? Backup money. They weigh those options.
CapitalsCupReality
It’s Go Time!!
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ChibiPooky
Yay hockey!
I'd say his play since the deadline is a reason the Caps were in the playoff conversation.
CapitalsCupReality
It’s Go Time!!
- Feb 27, 2002
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CapitalsCupReality
It’s Go Time!!
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Let's put it this way, if we had that level of goaltending all season, we'd be IN a playoff spot instead of wishing we were.
He's been refreshingly solid.
g00n
Retired Global Mod
- Nov 22, 2007
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Refreshingly solid?
Halak's main advantage over Holtby this year was his initial tendency to get stronger or at least stay consistent late in games, and even that eventually disappeared after a few games. His numbers since joining the Caps are almost the same as Holtby's and, like Holtby, he's had a lot of great saves and a few softies.
He's lost his last 5 starts during a playoff push and put up sub-.900 save percentages in 3 of those games. He looked bad in 3 lost shootouts in that span, which could have netted another 3 points. In another game he was pulled halfway through after giving up 3 goals. In a critical game against NJ he gave up the GWG in the last 5 minutes.
Regardless of who we want to blame for any of that, if Holtby had done those things the people who hate him would be calling him a choker in big games and howling for blood, not calling him "refreshingly solid".
Meanwhile since the TDL Holtby has won 2 of his last 3 starts at .918 (about the same as Halak's season save % of .919 which includes games with the Blues and is the same as his save % with the Caps), with the only blip coming as a 4-2 loss to the best team in the league (Boston).
Halak hasn't been vilified yet because of his honeymoon period and confirmation bias. Give him a playoff series loss and another season of softies for people to see and the goals that go without comment now will turn into "WAY TO LOLAK".
Nothing has changed. It's not the goaltending, it's the team, GMGM, and Oates.
Zoidberg Jesus
Trotzkyist
- Oct 25, 2011
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Refreshingly solid?
Halak's main advantage over Holtby this year was his initial tendency to get stronger or at least stay consistent late in games, and even that eventually disappeared after a few games. His numbers since joining the Caps are almost the same as Holtby's and, like Holtby, he's had a lot of great saves and a few softies.
He's lost his last 5 starts during a playoff push and put up sub-.900 save percentages in 3 of those games. He looked bad in 3 lost shootouts in that span, which could have netted another 3 points. In another game he was pulled halfway through after giving up 3 goals. In a critical game against NJ he gave up the GWG in the last 5 minutes.
Regardless of who we want to blame for any of that, if Holtby had done those things the people who hate him would be calling him a choker in big games and howling for blood, not calling him "refreshingly solid".
Meanwhile since the TDL Holtby has won 2 of his last 3 starts at .918 (about the same as Halak's season save % of .919 which includes games with the Blues and is the same as his save % with the Caps), with the only blip coming as a 4-2 loss to the best team in the league (Boston).
Halak hasn't been vilified yet because of his honeymoon period and confirmation bias. Give him a playoff series loss and another season of softies for people to see and the goals that go without comment now will turn into "WAY TO LOLAK".
Nothing has changed. It's not the goaltending, it's the team, GMGM, and Oates.
Well said. I just want to add that Halak's very quietly lost 5 straight starts while the Caps are (or rather were) fighting to make the playoffs, with Holtby provided our only two wins in the past three weeks. I wonder what the anti-Holtby lobby would be saying if the roles were reversed.
As inconsistent as Holtby's been, if you factor out that 6 game stretch from December to early January he's got the same .919 sv% as Halak, and would slide in just ahead of Lundqvist for 15th in the league. Not to mention he's younger than every starter in the top 14.
CapitalsCupReality
It’s Go Time!!
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Yes Holtby's been great as a backup. Maybe he found his position where he can dominate once a week.
Caps aren't even still alive if not for Halak. Honeymoon or not, he's been steadier overall and like Gruby, the team's confidence swelled in front of him and they played much better than in front of Holtby.
Caps aren't even still alive if not for Halak. Honeymoon or not, he's been steadier overall and like Gruby, the team's confidence swelled in front of him and they played much better than in front of Holtby.
CapitalsCupReality
It’s Go Time!!
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CapitalsCupReality
It’s Go Time!!
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Zoidberg Jesus
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Or perhaps he's just playing near the level he's been at his whole career, aside from one 6 game period.
We've got 11 points from Halak's 11 starts. Considering that's a worse pace than they've had in the other 67 games, I don't know where you're getting that conclusion from.
And they're playing better in front of him? You really think this team has picked up its game since the deadline? There was a three game stretch there where they looked good, but otherwise they've been dreadful. The back to back losses to Pittsburgh, the five game losing streak - that's not a team that's swelling with confidence.
Halak's given up 6 goals on 11 shots. Those shootout losses are squarely on his head.
g00n
Retired Global Mod
- Nov 22, 2007
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Anyone who honestly thinks Halak, Holtby, Grubaeur or Neuvirth haven't been almost completely interchangeable behind this team hasn't been paying close enough attention. None of these guys have played shutdown hockey long enough to make a difference, and none of them can sustain the level necessary to overcome the other issues with this team...especially as much as would be needed to vault them from near the bottom of the league to near the top.
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CapitalsCupReality
It’s Go Time!!
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FloridaCap
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Halak's GAA with us this season is 2.53 while Holtby's is 2.99. With the same defense, no less. Simple stat, but whatever...one lets in less goals than the other.
He does blow in the shootout, though. Not sure that matters anyhow, because our shooters can't put it in the net regardless.
He does blow in the shootout, though. Not sure that matters anyhow, because our shooters can't put it in the net regardless.
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