Post-Game Talk: Capitals @ Rangers - 7pmish

[HecticGlow]

*Gently skipping past the 25 pages on Wilson*

Gutsy win by the guys, who've shown game-in game-out they step up from the top down when guys are out. To me that bodes well for the playoffs, because it shows they've got an extra gear when called upon.

Schultz coming back in as Carlson was held out, and then immediately back out when Carlson returned, makes me wonder if both guys have been banged up and they've been playing whichever has been the least hurt on any given day? Seems too coincidental otherwise. With TVR playing so well, there's no reason to hurry either of them.

Really liked what I saw from Raffl and Sprong that game. They give us some seriously useful options going down the stretch, and if a guy's out we can still field 12 NHLers who all deserve to be in.

The Kuzy/Sammy thing worries me. If it was one of them, you can explain it away – like that time Ovi forgot to set his alarm clock and missed a team meeting. But for it to be both of them there has to be more than simply lateness. This close to the playoffs, both of them should be tightening up their game and fighting for playing time, it seems difficult to rely on either for major playoff roles right now as things stand. Yikes.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

This is also why I dislike the circus around Tom Wilson because we should be discussing that this was a pretty dominant performance, all things considered. At 5-on-5 they owned 66% SF, 65% HDCF, and 71% (!) of XG. Pretty significant statement game against a team they've struggled against.

And Daniel Sprong... what a find he could turn out to be. GWG last night and he led the Caps with 6 SOG and 3 scoring changes. Does not look out of place at all playing in the top six. Still only 24 years old too.

 

[maacoshark]

Oh geez. Ray Emery. Yea, pass on that. Wanna talk about Kuznetsov?

Kuzy just keeps messing up. That along with his inconsistent effort on the ice makes you think his head isn't in it.

 

[twabby]

Usually if there's not going to be a hearing she knows pretty quickly, so my guess is he's probably getting a hearing.

 

[HecticGlow]

Usually if there's not going to be a hearing she knows pretty quickly, so my guess is he's probably getting a hearing.

In fairness, I suspect this is one the DOPS lawyers will be weighing into as much as Parros, trying to determine if anything actually illegal happened from a suspension perspective. No news might not be the worst news, for a change.

 

[Kuz]

This is also why I dislike the circus around Tom Wilson because we should be discussing that this was a pretty dominant performance, all things considered. At 5-on-5 they owned 66% SF, 65% HDCF, and 71% (!) of XG. Pretty significant statement game against a team they've struggled against.

And Daniel Spring... what a find he could turn out to be. GWG last night and he led the Caps with 6 SOG and 3 scoring changes. Does not look out of place at all playing in the top six. Still only 24 years old too.

Yeah not to mention they did that with 10 forwards and missing Ovi, Oshie, Kuznetsov and Schultz (27 million worth of players). If Kuznetsov arent able to bring it in the playoffs this year his place on the team should be discussed. He have looked quite good for awhile now, but it seems like he doesnt care enough. The good thing is that it looks like we could miss any player on the team and the depth players step up.

 

[EroCaps]

*Gently skipping past the 25 pages on Wilson*

Gutsy win by the guys, who've shown game-in game-out they step up from the top down when guys are out. To me that bodes well for the playoffs, because it shows they've got an extra gear when called upon.

Schultz coming back in as Carlson was held out, and then immediately back out when Carlson returned, makes me wonder if both guys have been banged up and they've been playing whichever has been the least hurt on any given day? Seems too coincidental otherwise. With TVR playing so well, there's no reason to hurry either of them.

Really liked what I saw from Raffl and Sprong that game. They give us some seriously useful options going down the stretch, and if a guy's out we can still field 12 NHLers who all deserve to be in.

The Kuzy/Sammy thing worries me. If it was one of them, you can explain it away – like that time Ovi forgot to set his alarm clock and missed a team meeting. But for it to be both of them there has to be more than simply lateness. This close to the playoffs, both of them should be tightening up their game and fighting for playing time, it seems difficult to rely on either for major playoff roles right now as things stand. Yikes.

Yeah, multiple in-season disciplinary actions against one player who they've paid 30 million dollars, and another who came into the season needing to prove his focus is more than alarming.

 

[Carlzner]

Well... this team never went far when things were going right heading into the playoffs!

 

[Ovie's Neighbor]

Well... this team never went far when things were going right heading into the playoffs!

They were super hot at the end of the season when they won the Cup

 

[HeyMattyB]

Well, here's why Oshie was out. Ugh.

 

[tenken00]

Oh man TJ. Condolences to you and your family. Be Strong!

 

[Hivemind]

Glad that Oshies dad got to see him lift a Cup. Hopefully that memory stuck.

 

[Ovie's Neighbor]

Well, here's why Oshie was out. Ugh.

Wasn’t there one poster yesterday who said it could have been about Instagram comments? RIP to his dad. I know they had a close bond.

 

[EroCaps]

Well... this team never went far when things were going right heading into the playoffs!

I lowkey expect them to win a couple rounds.

 

[Calicaps]

Thoughts the morning after:
Awesome win.
Kuzy is an anchor.
Wilson energized his team, as he does.
Haters gonna hate.
Get well soon Ovie
RIP Coach Osh. That just sucks

 

[895]

So reading the comments it seems like Ovechkin did not re-injure himself right? He just dressed because we were short, took a test shift and realized he wasn't 100%?

 

[txpd]

In fairness, I suspect this is one the DOPS lawyers will be weighing into as much as Parros, trying to determine if anything actually illegal happened from a suspension perspective. No news might not be the worst news, for a change.

From a suspension perspective DoPS already admitted to suspending him without a rules based justification when they did the Totality of the circumstances thing. They came right out and said it

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Well, here's why Oshie was out. Ugh.

Told my wife it was a Dad thing....sad. RIP.

 

[txpd]

So reading the comments it seems like Ovechkin did not re-injure himself right? He just dressed because we were short, took a test shift and realized he wasn't 100%?

Seems so.

 

[twabby]

So reading the comments it seems like Ovechkin did not re-injure himself right? He just dressed because we were short, took a test shift and realized he wasn't 100%?

That was my understanding based on the post-game comments.

At this point they need to shut him down for the regular season. Even if he says he feels good just keep him out until the playoffs start.

 

[txpd]

*Gently skipping past the 25 pages on Wilson*

Gutsy win by the guys, who've shown game-in game-out they step up from the top down when guys are out. To me that bodes well for the playoffs, because it shows they've got an extra gear when called upon.

Schultz coming back in as Carlson was held out, and then immediately back out when Carlson returned, makes me wonder if both guys have been banged up and they've been playing whichever has been the least hurt on any given day? Seems too coincidental otherwise. With TVR playing so well, there's no reason to hurry either of them.

Really liked what I saw from Raffl and Sprong that game. They give us some seriously useful options going down the stretch, and if a guy's out we can still field 12 NHLers who all deserve to be in.

The Kuzy/Sammy thing worries me. If it was one of them, you can explain it away – like that time Ovi forgot to set his alarm clock and missed a team meeting. But for it to be both of them there has to be more than simply lateness. This close to the playoffs, both of them should be tightening up their game and fighting for playing time, it seems difficult to rely on either for major playoff roles right now as things stand. Yikes.

It certainly fits the evidence. Schultz didnt look right when he played. He was not that effective. He played because Carlson couldnt and he could.

I really liked Raffl. Sprong does what he does well. He has issues but he can produce numbers. What he cant do is Ov's office. That clearly doesnt fit his skill set.

Kuzy and Sammy. Kuzy knows better. Sammy has had too much trouble not to be very careful. I am increasingly worried about Samsonov's inability to speak any english. I can find a road to understand Kuzy if he was with Samsonov purely for translation and got messed up as a result. Its one of several possibilities. Its clear Kuzy isnt a leader and he isnt responsible. It takes me back to my original position that Kuznetsov is an artist and behaves like one

 

[txpd]

That was my understanding based on the post-game comments.

At this point they need to shut him down for the regular season. Even if he says he feels good just keep him out until the playoffs start.

It would be better if he could play a game or two before. Waiting til the playoffs will effect his conditioning and his timing.

 

[twabby]

It would be better if he could play a game or two before. Waiting til the playoffs will effect his conditioning and his timing.

I think it'd be much worse if he aggravates his injury and is out or at limited capacity as a result.

 

[txpd]

I think it'd be much worse if he aggravates his injury and is out or at limited capacity as a result.

It would be better if he could play some. It would be worse if he were injured badly enough that he couldnt safely play some. Clearly playing less effectively in the first couple of playoff games would be better than not playing because of injury.

It would be better for his health, dont you think, if he could get 15 or 18 mins in the last game that doesnt count for much and get back in the swing of things than just dropping him into game 1 and him wanting to go 0 to 100% because the game counts?

 

[g00n]

I think Ovie has played enough games that recovery is more important than getting up to game speed this late in the season.