Series Discussion: Capitals vs Islanders

[AlexBrovechkin8]

Jensen is playing terrific hockey, he and Orlov have been our best defensemen. And I think it's pretty clear that Carlson is not 100%.

Get Backstrom back and get the bottom six going and let's see what happens. Go 1-0 tomorrow.

 

[g00n]

Given the comments by Kuzy and Ovie about "fun" and "simple" replacing "Corsi or whatever that stat is" (to paraphrase), you have to wonder if the turnaround we saw was fury unleashed by the players or the coaches. I doubt the players tied themselves up in knots *as a team* worrying about fancy stats. It's much more likely somewhere in the coaching message there's a sudden preponderance of stat-focus that didn't exist under Trotz.

Here's hoping that disregard continues for many more games, but it also begs the question "if this is from the coaches, are they the right coaches?"

And yes, it's only 1/2 of one game. Could completely revert in G5.

 

[txpd]

Skimmed the replay of the game. So I know a little bit now.

I am sure Carlson is playing on one leg or diminished. Even with that he has 6pts in 4 games.
Fancy stats: Ive heard players and former players talk about how those stats are front and center at contract and evaluation time. That many players make decisions more often than you would think based on how a good play can look like a bad play in the stats. I would not be shocked to find a bit of rebellion against those stats and the influence they can have.

Why has Vrana become the bad Burakovsky?
MacLellan needs to reevaluate some of his roster construction. I realize that Backstrom is not replaceable but when you lose him the result shouldnt be effectively playing a man short with the replacement stapled to the bench.

Kovalchuk? Is his career over again?

 

[CapsDC]

Kuzy actually made things happen and looked like 2018 Kuzy, that was cool. Ovi is a such a stud. That snipe for the GW goal was absurd. Where the f*** has Vrana been?? He looked like he was about to take the next step and become a great player a couple years ago and now he's invisible. We need some young guys to step up and help out the veteran core. My son whose first season of hardcore fandom was 2018 had lost faith and didn't even want to watch the game last night, if this guy only knew how many times I've had to deal with disappointment and still keep on rooting for them in the face of it.

 

[Bieronymus Trotz]

Vrana played well last night.

 

[Brucelenok]

Not sure whom I disappointed in more Kovalchuk or Vrana. Both have been pretty bad. We need some secondary scoring badly if we want to have a chance to win this series...

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Vrana played well last night.

Hmm “well” for a goal scorer isn’t a zero pt, 3 shot, -1 performance....for me at least.

He was better.

 

[McVechkin]

Hmm “well” for a goal scorer isn’t a zero pt, 3 shot, -1 performance....for me at least.

He was better.

Ya.. that was not good enough to warrant "well". Hes making progress and I could see him going on a nice little run here... but his game 4 performance wasnt good enough.

 

[francaisvolantsparis]

Offensive monsters like Ovi and Kuzy will score goals without much help from defensemen. But other three lines need a guy like Carlson, Djoos or Gudas to score goals. Carlson is hurt. Gudas was scratched. Djoos is traded. You shall not score a lot with a hurt Carlson, four stonehanded guys and Orlov as your only offensive treat.

 

[Hivemind]

Vrana played well last night.

No, he really didn’t.

He had a chance at a sure goal when a puck was laying just behind Varlamov in the crease, but instead he did a flyby and missed his opportunity to score. He also consistently lost 1v1 battles.

 

[illicit]

Offensive monsters like Ovi and Kuzy will score goals without much help from defensemen. But other three lines need a guy like Carlson, Djoos or Gudas to score goals. Carlson is hurt. Gudas was scratched. Djoos is traded. You shall not score a lot with a hurt Carlson, four stonehanded guys and Orlov as your only offensive treat.

Uhh, Gudas has been in the last 2 games? He's not exactly an offensive juggernaut either, same with Djoos, who's totally irrelevant actually. If I'm looking for someone to create offense from D, I'm looking at guys like Carlson, Jensen, Orlov and Fehevary.

 

[Bieronymus Trotz]

He also consistently lost 1v1 battles.

That's where I don't agree. Not "consistently." He looked better in that area than in previous games, I thought.

But fair enough, "well" was an overstatement. I thought he looked better and contributed to his line's ability to maintain pressure on offense.

 

[JMUcapsfan07]

Carlson's points in this series are more than offset by his -8 IMHO.

I'm not blaming the guy but he looks too injured to be playing right now.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Vrana looks at Kuzy....”well if he does it”........lol....

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Carlson's points in this series are more than offset by his -8 IMHO.

I'm not blaming the guy but he looks too injured to be playing right now.

I think his mental game looks worse....physically he doesn’t seem hampered. Mentally he looks brain dead to me on too many shifts.

 

[JMUcapsfan07]

I think his mental game looks worse....physically he doesn’t seem hampered. Mentally he looks brain dead to me on too many shifts.

I don't know.

The way he was blown by for that breakaway last night combined with the OT GWG on Sunday make me think he is still pretty injured.

 

[g00n]

One of you guys has to change avatars. I'm getting dizzy.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

So still no game time tomorrow?

 

[mad4comp]

So still no game time tomorrow?

Assuming if Boston wins, it will a 3-4pm game for us, if carolina wins, it'll be 8pm.

 

[shtorm2005]

Actually, Kuzy's goal wasn't perfect. Someone hit his stick so puck went in earlier. Looked similar to Kucherov's goal on Holtby.

 

[ovikovy817]

Assuming if Boston wins, it will a 3-4pm game for us, if carolina wins, it'll be 8pm.

I think it's the opposite.

If Boston wins = series over = Caps can play at 8pm
If Carolina wins = back to back games = need some rest = they play at 8pm

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

One of you guys has to change avatars. I'm getting dizzy.

(Finger on nose) NOT IT!

 

[txpd]

Ive got an odd feeling. The Nats pulled for the Caps to get their cup. The Caps were the inspiration for the Nats to get their world series. Now the Caps need to use the Nats go 1 and 0 today plan to keep going. It just feels right

 

[hockeykicker]

What time is the game tomorrow?

 

[g00n]

There is also talk about the goatees, a team "chat" or other mysterious bonding coming from Ovechkin and others. Kuzy also shaved his head bald. So there's some kind of player-led thing going on.

(clip from WaPo article)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/08/18/washington-capitals-new-york-islanders-game-4/