ECQF: (1) Washington Capitals vs. (WC1) Columbus Blue Jackets | Caps Lead Series 3-2

[Grub]

As an outsider looking in, it's always fun cheering for the Blue Jackets, but you also want Ovy to win.

 

[illpucks]

Still don't get why the Caps didn't start Holtby to begin with. I know he had a ****ty season but he's a great playoffs goalie. Seems stupid not to at least give him the start and then pull him if you have to.

Well Go Caps!

Because they wanted to avoid Holtby vs Pens at all costs

 

[ujju2]

I know, I know. Just poking fun at my own unrelenting, un-explainable devotion to this heart-breaking franchise.

Columbus is just an innocent bystander in all of this. They better make like a bunny and get the **** out of the way.

Hey, I'm a 17 year-old Oilers fan who decided like 9 years ago that his second team would be the Caps and has supported the regular season Oilers and playoff Caps since.

While you may have me beat on pure length, I think I've got you beat in terms of being devoted to heart-breaking franchises. I missed the Oilers cup final run by just a couple years (wasn't living in Edmonton and wasn't a hockey fan).

 

[Scotty Pucks]

Hey CBJ: it’s OVAH! You poked the bear.

If it can’t be my dream Philly-Boston ECF, id gladly take Washington-Boston.

 

[traparatus]

Hey, I'm a 17 year-old Oilers fan who decided like 9 years ago that his second team would be the Caps and has supported the regular season Oilers and playoff Caps since.

While you may have me beat on pure length, I think I've got you beat in terms of being devoted to heart-breaking franchises. I missed the Oilers cup final run by just a couple years (wasn't living in Edmonton and wasn't a hockey fan).

I hope you don't ask for an official measurement. Hey, at least 9 years ago neither one of us randomly decided to support the BJs. Talk about disappointment, 'm I right?

 

[illpucks]

 

[tntkid]

I want to see to see either Columbus or Washington knock Pittsburgh out.

It would however be nice to see Washington finally get that monkey off their back.

 

[HTFN]

Still don't get why the Caps didn't start Holtby to begin with. I know he had a ****ty season but he's a great playoffs goalie. Seems stupid not to at least give him the start and then pull him if you have to.

Well Go Caps!

a.) Grubauer deserved his shot, I think, I don't know that you could have predicted that his glove would implode.
b.) the alternative (above) is worse if Holtby started and needed to be pulled. Then you either let Grubauer go down with the ship, or risk a blow to Holtby's confidence and then try to go back after a reset.

Letting Holtby come in the way he did let the expectations stay a little lower, I think, which helped him settle in.

 

[3074326]

I don't have any problem with Trotz starting Grubauer. He was the hot goalie. Hot goalies can do a lot for a team in the playoffs.

Now it looks like Holtby is the hot goalie, so they'll ride him until they need to switch it up.

 

[Dirtfloor]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. A series pitting the two very best teams at choking in the playoffs. The "winner" gets the privilege of being spanked by the penguins.

The really sad ones can't just be happy with success. They have to sh*t on someone else to make themselves feel better.

 

[Beige Van]

Safe to say Holtby has the net barring a disaster in game 5..

 

[Bladerunner]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. A series pitting the two very best teams at choking in the playoffs. The "winner" gets the privilege of being spanked by the penguins.

Pitt is playing a Philly team with bad goal tending, maybe the worst in the playoffs.

If Holtby plays like he's playing now, I wouldn't be so haughty. Of course you can count on the refs as a backup, I understand

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Yes, the series is tied! Go Ovechkin's team!

 

[Drakon]

You mentioning the caps making a mistake by letting alzner go shows what you know about hockey. Game day thread locked so cant quote it. Alzner will be orpik for the habs. He was a great dman here but his body is used up. No way they could give him a contract. One of smartest moves the caps made in a while.

Yeah, I really liked Alzner, but between the sports hernia and the nerve damage where his hands shake when he's at rest from all the shot blocking, he's in a bad way. I'm surprised he passed a physical to be honest.

 

[Brian23]

You mentioning the caps making a mistake by letting alzner go shows what you know about hockey. Game day thread locked so cant quote it. Alzner will be orpik for the habs. He was a great dman here but his body is used up. No way they could give him a contract. One of smartest moves the caps made in a while.

Not a chance, Orpik is at least servicable in sheltered minutes. Alzner couldn't even do that by the end of his tenure.

He's essentially Brooks Laich 2.0 now.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Washington would have likely swept if Trotz hadn't started Grubauer two games.

I still maintain it was a foolish thing to do. Holtby's a playoff beast. I don't care how much he struggled in the regular season, you ride your proven guys in the playoffs. Trotz going with the "hot hand" put his team in a 0-2 hole, which Holtby has since dug them out of.

 

[ovikovy817]

Washington would have likely swept if Trotz hadn't started Grubauer two games.

I still maintain it was a foolish thing to do. Holtby's a playoff beast. I don't care how much he struggled in the regular season, you ride your proven guys in the playoffs. Trotz going with the "hot hand" put his team in a 0-2 hole, which Holtby has since dug them out of.

Yep.

Maybe not a sweep, but a 3-1 lead for sure. G2 Gruby was not very good.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Holtby has been the difference. MVP for the Caps so far. They are night and day with an elite goalie back there.

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Holtby has been the difference. MVP for the Caps so far. They are night and day with an elite goalie back there.

So, whose idea was it to start Grubauer in Games 1 and 2?

 

[txpd]

Orpik has provided what the Caps hired him for. Holtby has been great. Let's not forget Carlson and Ov and Backstrom

 

[Bananas]

Washington would have likely swept if Trotz hadn't started Grubauer two games.

I still maintain it was a foolish thing to do. Holtby's a playoff beast. I don't care how much he struggled in the regular season, you ride your proven guys in the playoffs. Trotz going with the "hot hand" put his team in a 0-2 hole, which Holtby has since dug them out of.

Revisionist History 101 is in session...

Who’s to say that the elite Holtby would have been there game one? What if he wasn’t and we were already back to Grubauer and then back to Holtby at this point? Maybe the Caps would have already been swept? Guess what? We’ll never know.

Also, what message does that send to the team if Trotz does that? “Yeah, Grubauer’s clearly earned it but we’re going with Holtby because I’m scared about my job and, oh yeah, prior season’s successes?” Maybe the team in front of the goaltender loses a little buy-in if they see their coach make that call.

Not to mention that Holtby essentially melted down early in the Pens series last playoffs and was never really right again since.

Starting with Grubauer was the right call at the time. The results started playing out and Holtby was fairly given a shot to take over. He’s responded marvelously. Now he’s gotta keep doing it.

The situation is fluid in the playoffs. Perhaps Trotz and the Caps are finally figuring that out...perhaps not. The team would be wise to keep rolling with the punches as they come and stay on top of the curve - something they’ve failed to do in the past. I think the Grubauer/Holtby situation is actually indicative of a coach who’s finally warming up to thinking on his toes come playoff time. I see it as a positive, but who knows?

I guess we’re about to find out.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Orpik has provided what the Caps hired him for. Holtby has been great. Let's not forget Carlson and Ov and Backstrom

Orpik is a shadow of his former self. Better than expected the last 2 games I grant you, but he’ll revert to his “old” (broken down) form sooner rather than later.

 

[g00n]

Revisionist History 101 is in session...

Who’s to say that the elite Holtby would have been there game one? What if he wasn’t and we were already back to Grubauer and then back to Holtby at this point? Maybe the Caps would have already been swept? Guess what? We’ll never know.

Also, what message does that send to the team if Trotz does that? “Yeah, Grubauer’s clearly earned it but we’re going with Holtby because I’m scared about my job and, oh yeah, prior season’s successes?” Maybe the team in front of the goaltender loses a little buy-in if they see their coach make that call.

Not to mention that Holtby essentially melted down early in the Pens series last playoffs and was never really right again since.

Starting with Grubauer was the right call at the time. The results started playing out and Holtby was fairly given a shot to take over. He’s responded marvelously. Now he’s gotta keep doing it.

The situation is fluid in the playoffs. Perhaps Trotz and the Caps are finally figuring that out...perhaps not. The team would be wise to keep rolling with the punches as they come and stay on top of the curve - something they’ve failed to do in the past. I think the Grubauer/Holtby situation is actually indicative of a coach who’s finally warming up to thinking on his toes come playoff time. I see it as a positive, but who knows?

I guess we’re about to find out.

Every word of this. Saved me a lot of time

 

[txpd]

Orpik is a shadow of his former self. Better than expected the last 2 games I grant you, but he’ll revert to his “old” (broken down) form sooner rather than later.

If you insist. Facts remain that Orpik has provided what MacLellan signed him to do successfully.

 

[winnipegger]

Caps look good tonight....real good