Series Discussion: (M1) Washington Capitals vs (WC1) Columbus Blue Jackets

[hockeykicker]

 

[txpd]

Agreed.

I’ve not been the biggest Holtby supporter but to compare him to Carey is silly. His body of work is much larger already.

That being said, Grubauer deserves the start.

Holtby has not allowed less than 2 goals in a game since Nov 18. He has allowed 2 goals in only 3 of his last 14 starts. With Grubauer carry about the best stats in the league over the second half of the season, I don know how you start Holtby.

 

[McVechkin]

Guess the caps have not learned anything about optional practices during the playoffs over the last couple years. Incredible.

 

[Corby78]

something tells me this is going to be a long couple of days on this board.

 

[Skrudland2Lomakin]

A all established track record is going to win out over a short sample size. I don think the Holtby of this season is the new Holtby.

"Short" sample size is relative. We're not judging him over 5-10 games, he's being judged over an aggregate of the season and last playoffs and compared to someone with the same sample size (excluding last playoffs).

 

[McVechkin]

The problem with Holtby is when we need a big save from him, we cannot get one from him. This was evident so many times the past 2 years against Pitt. Meanwhile other goalies would pull out big saves from breakways all the time against us. That and he consistently lets in the softest goals known to man

Gruby has been hot. Go with him

More playing devils advocate.. but why arent we bashing the forwards who don't score timely goals.. bury their breakaways... or cause traffic in front of the net.... look at the other goalies around the playoffs.. they all let in soft... untimely goals. EVERY one. the successful teams can just overcome it.

 

[Skrudland2Lomakin]

If it goes over 5 games and we've decided to play meat head hockey and go heavy vs. heavy we're likely toast with whatever frankenstein team we ice the next round. If it goes over 5 and we're playing fast hockey and not trying to out hit them then I'd feel pretty good about our chances next round.

We're already limping into the playoffs with several guys who seem to be held together by spit and wishes, we'd be moronic to try and go in and bang with CBJ..... so look for the gameplan to be us going in and trying to bang with CBJ.

 

[Skrudland2Lomakin]

More playing devils advocate.. but why arent we bashing the forwards who don't score timely goals.. bury their breakaways... or cause traffic in front of the net.... look at the other goalies around the playoffs.. they all let in soft... untimely goals. EVERY one. the successful teams can just overcome it.

Because while the forwards shouldn't be given a pass on their mistakes, every successful playoff team has a goalie that is able to overcome that and steal a game here and there.

Last playoffs Holtby was exactly what you described, he was fine, he made most of the saves he should have but he stole nothing. He could never bail out the team when they flubbed up. That's good enough for a game 7 exit in the second round, that won't get you further. In previous years he was not that guy, he was typically good to bail out the team with the screwed up. Every team will make errors, the successful ones are the ones that have guys who pick up the slack when that happens.

 

[twabby]

Another model favoring the Caps, this time from Corsica:

 

[Jacoby4HOF66]

 

[trick9]

Talk about pressure on the starting goalie. Whoever starts in goal for G1 will be on an extremely short leash.

 

[Skrudland2Lomakin]

I wouldn't rush Beagle. I don't think he's essential for success, I also would see how the series plays out before rushing him back for his faceoff specialty.

 

[Skrudland2Lomakin]

Talk about pressure on the starting goalie. Whoever starts in goal for G1 will be on an extremely short leash.

Great goalies live for that moment.

A great goalie will look at it as an opportunity to finally seize G1 once and for all. A mediocre goalie will look at it as just that, an opportunity with a short leash where the slightest mistake ruins him.

 

[hockeykicker]

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Guess the caps have not learned anything about optional practices during the playoffs over the last couple years. Incredible.

What's the problem with guys not showing up to optional practice in the playoffs?

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

That means 70 is on the pine and he doesn't want a media storm early.

 

[twabby]

I don't really care what type of gamesmanship Trotz ends up doing to Columbus with his starting goaltender decision as long as it's Grubauer starting Game 1.

 

[Lindemann]

That means 70 is on the pine and he doesn't want a media storm early.

Would be the Trotz thing to do. However, I still feel he goes with Gruby. How can you not?

 

[Skrudland2Lomakin]

Guess the caps have not learned anything about optional practices during the playoffs over the last couple years. Incredible.

I really suggest you go an watch one of these "optional" practices if you think it's anything that's going to a make or break the team. It's a glorified skate around with some light drills. I trust that if guys feel there time is better spent rehabbing or watching film they're right.

Just because they're not on the ice does not mean they're at home, they still have to show up.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

I'll be pretty shocked if it's Grubauer. I think Trotz goes Holtby, heavy, and safe in G1.

8-92-43
65-19-77
10-20-25
18-83-39

9-2
6-74
44-28

70

 

[Skrudland2Lomakin]

In the end being a life long fan has taught me one thing, I know nothing about hockey when it comes to the playoffs. Spinning our wheels with statistical analysis that predicts the outcome of each series is such a waste of time, I have a decade of hockey to show you if you think any of that twitter analytics means a thing.

 

[Skrudland2Lomakin]

Would be the Trotz thing to do. However, I still feel he goes with Gruby. How can you not?

On the pine means on the bench. The above poster was insinuating that Grubs gets the nod.

 

[bur and 666 others]

I swear to god it wasn't me!

Also Micah is high.

he's a mathematician which means he is faraway from real life but hope the caps see that and start believing in themselves or whatever the winning teams do and follow his lead

 

[g00n]

That means 70 is on the pine and he doesn't want a media storm early.

Last time he did this was before the stadium game and he started Holtby so who knows

 

[bur and 666 others]

Gem from the mainboards “Jackets are the second best team in the Metro behind Pens”.

that's the pens fans pumping the tire whoever we play against