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

[HecticGlow]

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.

You could try 90-92-13, but that inevitably still leaves you with Ovi-Backstrom. You're also left with the sense that Kuzy has to play away Ovi, Williams and Burakovsky - you're fast running out of top-6 wingers he can play with.

Let's not forget Wilson with his 0.04 points/game, or Lars 'Better offense at 3C' Eller with his 3 points in 21 games. What's happening to this team is really hard to understand - it's not just that we're not winning like we did last season, everyone not named Backstrom, Mojo, Ovi, Oshie or Beagle seem off their game offensively.

 

[g00n]

What's worse than gloom but not quite doom?

Going with that.

 

[Barry Amsterdam]

13 19 77
8 20 14
90 92 65

 

[RandyHolt]

Wonder why Bura doesn't score, see him touching up that icing

 

[hockeyfan88]

GO Caps. I'm ready for the end of the slump here (I hope).

 

[Jacoby4HOF66]

88 gets the scratch not 9? Dont get it.

 

[Hivemind]

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

Guy Boucher is the head coach in Ottawa. Marc Crawford is an assistant coach in Ottawa. Kevin in Dineen is an assistant coach for Chicago. Travis Green is the head coach of Utica.

So the only one of those options available for an in-season hire is the promotion of Troy Mann.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

We suck agian

 

[twabby]

Oh...

 

[Calicaps]

Well that sucked.

 

[Hivemind]

Girgensons isn't even that fast, but he blazed by all the Caps. That's what a good neutral zone attack does. Take notes, Barry.

 

[troyerlaw]

Guy Boucher is the head coach in Ottawa. Marc Crawford is an assistant coach in Ottawa. Kevin in Dineen is an assistant coach for Chicago. Travis Green is the head coach of Utica.

So the only one of those options available for an in-season hire is the promotion of Troy Mann.

Mann it is!

 

[Calicaps]

88 gets the scratch not 9? Dont get it.

I thought the same thing.

 

[GoCaps2004]

the caps are so ****ing boring and are so out of sync what the **** gives

 

[Calicaps]

Woo! Blind flailing passes for everyone.

 

[troyerlaw]

88 gets the scratch not 9? Dont get it.

God. Me neither. There just seems no number of costly errors which will earn 9 a ticket to press box this year

 

[RandyHolt]

Alzner the homer at RD steps up aggressively, odd man against....ends up a break.

When will it end?

 

[Corby78]

I honestly have never heard of that dude who scores

 

[Hivemind]

It seriously looks like the neutral zone scheme is "skate forwards, try to chip the puck past the defender, go to the corner when that inevitably doesn't result in a clean possession"

 

[GoCaps2004]

lmao 2 on 0 lets go offside

 

[Hivemind]

I honestly have never heard of that dude who scores

Girgensons? He made the All-Star game a couple years ago because all of Latvia turned out to vote him in and Buffalo didn't have anyone better.

 

[twabby]

Carey had an opportunity to go to the front of the net and receive the pass from Eller. Instead, the puck was put into the slot and harmlessly cleared by the Sabres.

 

[Calicaps]

It seriously looks like the neutral zone scheme is "skate forwards, try to chip the puck past the defender, go to the corner when that inevitably doesn't result in a clean possession"

And when they do get into the O zone, they cycle hopelessly and no one's ever in position to receive a centering pass.

 

[g00n]

Girgensons isn't even that fast, but he blazed by all the Caps. That's what a good neutral zone attack does. Take notes, Barry.

He was uncontested because Carey and Eller got their signals crossed and both followed the puck. I guess it depends on what Trotz teaches, but looked to me like Carey left his man on the wing and Eller didn't realize it until too late. Alternately, maybe Eller would be responsible for dropping back when Alzner pinches. Don't know.

 

[hockeyfan88]

Well, that's not a promissing start.