Post-Game Talk: Caps/Sabres, 12/5/16, 7pm ET, Phone Booth

[AlexBrovechkin8]

Power Play Beagle.

Click to read more...

 

[Hivemind]

Power Play Connolly didn't do anything, so whatever.

 

[jBuds]

Vrana playing again?

 

[42]

Vrana playing again?

Yep. 2nd line, 2nd PP unit.

EDIT: although there is a confusing tweet about Vrana:



then later

 

[hockeykicker]

Yep. 2nd line, 2nd PP unit.

EDIT: although there is a confusing tweet about Vrana:



then later

What's confusing about that?

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Dark times or reason to celebrate? 5-1 Caps.

 

[42]

What's confusing about that?

First tweet says Vrana is in red (which means he's injured, no contact, usually).

 

[Hivemind]

Pretty sure red is just the color the 2nd line wears in morning skates.

 

[42]

Pretty sure red is just the color the 2nd line wears in morning skates.

I'll be over there, if anyone needs me

 

[twabby]

I'm still not understanding the line combinations as constructed. Ovechkin and Backstrom just aren't very good together at even strength any more and Burakovsky and Kuznetsov are both struggling and the solution is to put them together with a rookie?

Despite not scoring Williams seems to be shaking off his early season rust so I'd promote him to the top 6, and I'd break up the 8-19 duo along with the 65-92 duo.

90-19-65
8-92-14
28-20-13
26-83-43

It's time for the line experimentation to end. Their position in the standings is too fragile and they need to start building lines that work, and that includes the Tre Kronor line. When Oshie returns from injury, I wouldn't mind seeing:

8-92-77
90-19-65 or 90-19-14 (another line that has worked in the past)
13-20-14 or 65-20-13
26/10-83-43

 

[Langway]

Power Play Connolly didn't do anything, so whatever.

Well, he did score a somewhat important insurance PPG against these very same Sabres recently. But it is comforting to hear the head coach say they don't have anything to lose...

Given Eller's fancystats to date it's not a bad idea to try Ovechkin with him. When Oshie returns:

90 - 19 - 65
8 - 20 - 77
13 - 92 - 14
28/26 - 83 -43

Flip 65/13 as needed.

 

[billcook]

90 - 19 - 65
8 - 20 - 77
13 - 92 - 14
28/26 - 83 -43

Yes, please.

 

[Hivemind]

I like keeping 13 and 92 together, at the very least. I can't be the only one who thinks Kuz has shown marked improvement in the past two games. Still not 100%, but at least he seems to be playing with a bit more confidence, and certainly isn't afraid to wheel the puck around.

 

[CapsJunkie]

just stuff eller on the fourth line for now

 

[GoCaps2004]

is there a reason they arent really changing up the top lines? we cant produce for ****. why not try vrana on the first line? nothing is happening as is and vrana has been getting pretty good looks.

 

[txpd]

First tweet says Vrana is in red (which means he's injured, no contact, usually).

Yellow. Caution light. Is the no contact color

 

[hockeyfan88]

Not very confident about this game.

The Sabres love to elevate their game against the Caps, for whatever reason. Maybe it's the Bylsma factor, idk.

I have to say I'm a big fan of Ristolainen and Ryan O'Reilly.

 

[HecticGlow]

Pretty sure red is just the color the 2nd line wears in morning skates.

For line rushes red is top-6, white bottom-6 (with the D in navy). The different colours are also used to distinguish PP from PK.

 

[42]

Yellow. Caution light. Is the no contact color

For line rushes red is top-6, white bottom-6 (with the D in navy). The different colours are also used to distinguish PP from PK.

Thanks guys. Don't know why I had red mixed up with yellow

 

[RaindanceMaggie]

3-1 Sabres, we never play Buffalo well and they seem to step it up against us and look good. Beagle scores and earns top line minutes until February.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

This is my first GDT of the year. I'll take the blame if we lose.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

This is my first GDT of the year. I'll take the blame if we lose.

Thanks Barry.

 

[trick9]

I like keeping 13 and 92 together, at the very least. I can't be the only one who thinks Kuz has shown marked improvement in the past two games. Still not 100%, but at least he seems to be playing with a bit more confidence, and certainly isn't afraid to wheel the puck around.

This.

It's a shame they don't have chances or high-danger chances generated stats updated anymore. Kuznetsov has created lots of those in recent games. Still not nearly 100% but to say that time is running out for him is silly. Smart thing to do though is break up him and Burakovsky. It's been long overdue since they've both been struggling and clearly it's not working right now.

 

[Zman5778]

The Sabres love to elevate their game against the Caps, for whatever reason. Maybe it's the Bylsma factor, idk.

We're icing 3 NHL defensemen and Cody Franson is one of them (mind you, he's played well this year, but he's still molasses slow).

Enjoy keeping the puck for roughly 50 min of this game.

 

[troyerlaw]

Power Play Beagle.

I would prefer Power Play Marc Crawford. Or Kevin Dineen. Or Travis Green or Troy Mann or Guy Boucher