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

[StrikingDistance]

Our killer instinct sucks, our coach insists on using the wrong personnel, Willy hasn't been a positive factor, and our goalies can't make a crucial save when needed. I stand by my original avatar idea.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

Makes sense.

The Washington Capitals Have to be Doing This on Purpose - VICE Sports

You’ll tell yourself you need to see how it ends already knowing full well how it ends. At this point, you have no one to blame but yourself. The Capitals exist to punish you and you exist to be punished by the Capitals. You’ll talk yourself into watching the reboot a few years down the road with a newer, younger cast in the hopes things will be different.
They won’t. This is your fate—to be furious.

 

[Langway]

You should be able to coach stupid out of a player. Either Trotz isn’t up to it, or Wilson is too dumb to get it.

This is the problem with a focus that's predominantly effort-based. You end up with players trying to do too much all over the ice basically playing on adrenaline and little grasp that it's intelligence, cohesion, poise and decision-making that are crucial. Their mental game continues to be horrifically inadequate. Better coaching can shift the emphasis in a new and ideally more intelligent direction but these pupils are none too bright. It's going to be a tall task for any coach to come in and fix all of their shortcomings, particularly as cap constraints and age continue to be factors.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

It's time for Braden to put this team on his back. He needs to calm things down, lead them to a win in G3, and get things back on track. It's his turn to carry the team and be the leader he's capable of being.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

Confirmed my suspicions... when the Caps score they can't get a save, and when their goalie is on they can't buy a goal. One of these years they'll get both, right? Right!?

 

[trick9]

Or maybe they are sacrificing defense to add to the offense?

 

[Calicaps]

Bob hasn't been great. They've put 7 goals on him in 2 games. He's not the problem. In fact, the Caps haven't struggled much to score on him in general over the past few seasons, even while he was winning Vezinas. The issue is at D and G. Starting Grubi was the right call given how he and 70 ended the season. But that's often the kind of motivation guys need to elevate their game. Hopefully, Holtby is ready now to prove he's still the guy and can, finally, really be a difference-maker.

 

[Bieronymus Trotz]

The avatars cursed Wilson. They're still awesome though.

 

[capsfan528]

this series is not even close to over. Caps win both in columbus. you heard it here first!

 

[VaCaps Fan]

Road trip to Columbus?

 

[Ridley Simon]

These 2 games have left me at a loss. Something needs to spark the roll. Maybe its Holtby. Maybe its a guy like Gersich (it sure as hell aint Connolly or Chiasson...sit them forver please). But I think it will happen.

How many times have the Caps take 2-0 leads and boofed it? Good lord, too many. So while CBus has played ok, they arent immune from their own case of "Capsitis".

Need the one break, and then it turns. I think it will happen still. I really do.

Plug in speed, and plug in the wins. It's coming....Gersich style!

 

[peterthegreat12]

The series:

 

[Lindemann]

The series:

God I wish we had him back at this point

 

[AtNightWeFly]

God I wish we had him back at this point

I would take Mr. Potato Head as a coach right now.
No wonder Radulov left...twice! It was either that or Trotzy getting slapped.

 

[txpd]

God I wish we had him back at this point

no....just no

 

[Dr John Carlson]

Hunter Hockey was boring and awful but at least there was some charm in watching a roster built for all-out offense play in a completely suffocating defensive system.

 

[Raikkonen]

Btw, is Lars Eller doing anything? I think not. Kinda lost in all conversations that secondary scoring is lost. Only Orpik and Beagle (whom many here want to see wasted in the offseason) provided something.

I mean, Eller better step up too.

 

[Empty Goal Net]

Btw, is Lars Eller doing anything? I think not. /// I mean, Eller better step up too.

He's been average imo, a few inexplicable moves but no points and you'd expect more from our fifth-highest-paid forward.

 

[VaCaps Fan]

Dale Hunter as coach was a strange choice....

 

[IafrateOvie34]

this series is not even close to over. Caps win both in columbus. you heard it here first!

That's just it, the Caps will probably tie the series up and make it interesting just to get to game 7 . Same old script.

 

[IafrateOvie34]

Dale Hunter as coach was a strange choice....

GMGM claimed he hired Hunter due to his record with London and of course we know another Cap alumni. People can say what they want though, Hunter instilled playoff hockey and the Caps almost made the ECF until Ward's penalty in Game 6.

 

[txpd]

Dale Hunter as coach was a strange choice....

\
He was a logical choice

 

[Calicaps]

I will always hate McPhee, but watching the Golden Knights makes me wonder again just how much autonomy he had and how much of his tenure was really Patrick and Ted.

 

[peterthegreat12]

 

[The Instigator]

Btw, is Lars Eller doing anything? I think not. Kinda lost in all conversations that secondary scoring is lost. Only Orpik and Beagle (whom many here want to see wasted in the offseason) provided something.

I mean, Eller better step up too.

I think Lars will come around soon. He seems to be in the right places and grinding it out in the busy areas.