Post-Game Talk: Caps/Sabres, 12/9/16, 7pm ET, KeyBank Center

[Ovechkins Wodka]

I think more so the teaching and training of his goalie coach than the system or style the team plays.

Yes, they did it in Nashville as well. Also makes sense why they draft so many goalies high.

 

[Hivemind]

Outside of Dominek Hasek, virtually all elite goalies are helped a great deal by the system they play in. Even Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur benefited from their coaches and system. It's a symbiotic relationship.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

Been too long since we've seen this.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

Sabres are a garbage team. They had tons of opportunities to make us pay in the 3rd period and they got one lousy goal.

Sabres were 5-2-2 heading into this game. They've played solid hockey since Jack returned.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

Also, 3 in a row and 3-0 overall when I start the GDT. Save some magic for the playoffs or keep it going?

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

Top 5 in the Metro have won 2, 4, 5, 3, and 7 in a row. The 5th place in the Metro would be 2nd in the Atlantic and 1st in the Pacific. Tough crowd.

 

[Hivemind]

The Metro has really stepped up this year. Still not as tough as the Central division, fortunately for the Caps.

 

[Holtbyisms]

Sabres were 5-2-2 heading into this game. They've played solid hockey since Jack returned.

Don't tell them that they want to find negatives in every single good thing the team does. Don't kill their shtick!

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Sabres were 5-2-2 heading into this game. They've played solid hockey since Jack returned.

Don't tell them that they want to find negatives in every single good thing the team does. Don't kill their shtick!

If the Caps produced the kind of effort the Sabres produced tonight, they'd be burnt at the stake.

 

[ovikovy817]

"John Carlson, looks like he has a new lease on life away from Orlov". - Alan May

Is here a good defensive partner in the NHL for Orlov?

Niskanen.

I think with 27-74 and 9-2 it's clear for all 4 guys (at least for 74 and 9 for sure) who does what.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

Good to see Oshie back and to score as well.

 

[trick9]

The Metro has really stepped up this year. Still not as tough as the Central division, fortunately for the Caps.

I would gladly move the Capitals to the Central if it were possible. Even if they replaced Avalanche in that division. Central is just not that good anymore because the Blackhawks lost so many key pieces already.

 

[g00n]

If the Caps produced the kind of effort the Sabres produced tonight, they'd be burnt at the stake.

And rightly so. If the Caps came out of that slump and followed up their player meeting with a bad showing then just about any coach or athlete from college level on up will tell you it's a bad sign.

As a general rule don't get too high or too low. If losing streaks don't mean the sky is falling then winning a few games doesn't mean the Cup parade is going through your neighborhood, either.

In one sense Oates was right: a loss is OK if you've done all the right things and done everything you can. But where people will differ is what those right things are. Trotz calls it "playing the right way", I think. Maybe I'm misremembering. But wins and losses rarely ever tell the whole story. There are bad wins and good losses in the context of a larger plan/goal.

 

[chilimac]

Beagle 16/20 in the dot last night. He was the only Cap to be in the plus
column for f/o's last night...

 

[Hivemind]

I would gladly move the Capitals to the Central if it were possible. Even if they replaced Avalanche in that division. Central is just not that good anymore because the Blackhawks lost so many key pieces already.

Chicago may have lost plenty of pieces, but they'd still be second only to Pittsburgh in the Metro. Not to mention the central has a resurgent Minnesota, St. Louis, Nashville, Dallas, and Winnipeg. Dallas is off to a slower start than expected, but the depth in that division is second to none. If Dallas regroups, each of those teams has a legitimate argument for being capable of reaching the Western Conference finals, if not further.

 

[trick9]

Chicago may have lost plenty of pieces, but they'd still be second only to Pittsburgh in the Metro. Not to mention the central has a resurgent Minnesota, St. Louis, Nashville, Dallas, and Winnipeg. Dallas is off to a slower start than expected, but the depth in that division is second to none. If Dallas regroups, each of those teams has a legitimate argument for being capable of reaching the Western Conference finals, if not further.

The bolded is exactly the reason why i would do that swap in a heartbeat. Bunch of solid teams but besides Chicago i'd face any of those rather than the Penguins or the Rangers. Not to mention that Pacific division is absolutely brutal this season again.

Minnesota is a solid team but they are not better than either Columbus or Philly. Winnipeg is crippled by injuries and even when fully healthy their teams isn't that good this season. Nashville is already riding on the performances of Rinne this season and even then they only have 28 points which would be tied with Carolina for 7th in Metro. Dallas on the other hand have serious defensive problems and they don't have a goalie to cover that. Last year was a fluke now that Klingberg has come back to earth.

 

[txpd]

Top 5 in the Metro have won 2, 4, 5, 3, and 7 in a row. The 5th place in the Metro would be 2nd in the Atlantic and 1st in the Pacific. Tough crowd.

If you even the games out and assume that teams win their games in hand(which usually means winning both ends of a back to back) Columbus has a slight lead with a the way wad at 2nd.

Didn't someone say that Torts can't coach?

 

[txpd]

Trotz calls it "playing the right way", I think. Maybe I'm misremembering. But wins and losses rarely ever tell the whole story. There are bad wins and good losses in the context of a larger plan/goal.

no...that's what he says.

 

[Hivemind]

The bolded is exactly the reason why i would do that swap in a heartbeat. Bunch of solid teams but besides Chicago i'd face any of those rather than the Penguins or the Rangers. Not to mention that Pacific division is absolutely brutal this season again.

Minnesota is a solid team but they are not better than either Columbus or Philly. Winnipeg is crippled by injuries and even when fully healthy their teams isn't that good this season. Nashville is already riding on the performances of Rinne this season and even then they only have 28 points which would be tied with Carolina for 7th in Metro. Dallas on the other hand have serious defensive problems and they don't have a goalie to cover that. Last year was a fluke now that Klingberg has come back to earth.

I'd take Minnesota over Philadelphia and definitely over Columbus. I'd also take Nashville over those teams, and St. Louis I'd take over the Rangers as well. A healthy Winnipeg has two budding superstars in Schiefele and Laine and some underrated depth. If their goaltending holds up, they're legitimate. Dallas' defensive woes are overblown, and is being held back by atrocious goaltending. If they get a goaltender, they're a legitimate Stanley Cup threat.