Post-Game Talk: Washington vs tb

[CapitalsCupReality]

Yeah this. That whole "desperation" thing just wreaks like garbage to me. The Caps had a chance to stomp on the necks and came out flat at home twice. So what this all says is that winning a Cup is less a motivation than losing a Cup. If they play harder only when they have to, what does that really say about their desire to win, vs their desire to not lose?

I dunno. You're right, they could have used this effort in games 3 or 4. Or 5. Why save it til now?

No room here for your pissy misery today.

 

[Midnight Judges]

did anyone else feel like the best defender on the ice was Orpik? dude gave it up once and immediately crushed the kid to get the puck back. Great game caps

What a bizarre thing to say.

What a bizarre thing to agree with. haha

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Ovi was a monster last night. You can tell he wants it so bad, and the team followed suit on his intensity hitting everything and skating hard in game 6. Lead by example, as a captain should. If he brings that same mentality to game 7 which I'm very certain he will, and holtby is simply his solid self, we'll be going to our first final in 20 years

I think he’s smart enough to realize the field is wide open and the window is closing.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Maybe be desperate in game 3-5 kthx

Stop living in the past.

 

[442]

Little man feels good about tonight.

In case everyone was concerned, washed the lucky PJ's last night so we'll be good for Game 7.

 

[Midnight Judges]

Best year for Orpik as a Cap. At least in terms of postseason performance. Batya.

Not close. He was outstanding yesterday. Crushing people with clean hits that created turnovers.

What was different about last night that made it so he could play like that? Just thinking back to his idiotic hit on Maatta from two years ago, and it's hard to think the same player could be this smart, and that stupid.

 

[Blades of Steel]

Not close. He was outstanding yesterday. Crushing people with clean hits that created turnovers.

What was different about last night that made it so he could play like that? Just thinking back to his idiotic hit on Maatta from two years ago, and it's hard to think the same player could be this smart, and that stupid.

The difference is the entire team was playing a smothering game again, the same thing that won 4 in a row against columbus, the series against the pens and the first two games vs the lightning. When the game gets speedy Orpik struggles. When we smother and slow them down Orpik can play his game which he excels at.

 

[marcel snapshot]

Nice little twitter thread here on Backstrom's pass to Oshie:

 

[HunterSThompson]

Nice little twitter thread here on Backstrom's pass to Oshie:

He looked off both sticks so quickly, then had the perfect pass to the tape.

 

[g00n]

He looked off both sticks so quickly, then had the perfect pass to the tape.

Do not undersell Oshie's ability to float perfectly in that box of Pkers and get open, and then one-time the pass short side knowing Vasi would be moving the other way. He's done that before and it's clearly a set play. Pretty awesome.

 

[Corby78]

Yeah this. That whole "desperation" thing just wreaks like garbage to me. The Caps had a chance to stomp on the necks and came out flat at home twice. So what this all says is that winning a Cup is less a motivation than losing a Cup. If they play harder only when they have to, what does that really say about their desire to win, vs their desire to not lose?

I dunno. You're right, they could have used this effort in games 3 or 4. Or 5. Why save it til now?

You can't fake desperation. And the desire to win is the same as not losing, so I think your creating a bit of a strawman.

 

[Devil Dancer]

IDK how I'm even going to handle Wednesday. I mean, Bourbon of course but that may not be enough.

 

[aonb]

they better win G7. but honestly i dont know what to think about it. if tampa scores early, i can see caps in full panic mode, known from G7 against penguins last year. instant lose. if caps scores first and continue to dominate 5 on 5, well.. bring it on vegas

 

[Bananas]

Do not undersell Oshie's ability to float perfectly in that box of Pkers and get open, and then one-time the pass short side knowing Vasi would be moving the other way. He's done that before and it's clearly a set play. Pretty awesome.

Or subtle Kuznetsov who steps in front of goal and then jumps out of the way just in time. You could tell Kuzy’s presence in front caused a quick adjustment from Vasi which disrupts his timing on the shot. The whole play looks simple but there’s a symphonic quality to it all. And, man, talk about a much needed goal...

 

[Calicaps]

The physical game last night made a huge difference. Hit Tampa early and often in G7. Those guys don’t want any more of that. You could see it as the game wore on that they were avoiding checks. Get them worried about it early on Wednesday.

 

[Ridley Simon]

Yes, it's been a great season. I've seen them get up and answer the bell all season. Nothing has come easy for them unlike previous Caps iterations. They may be the ones to get it done but even if it goes sideways Wednesday I hope everyone can still recognize through the frustration what a team this has been.

Would hope so. This is the 2nd most succesful season ever, behind 1998. If one wants to nitpick, sure...the '90 team also made it to the ECF. But they got swept. So, these 3 wins represent a larger accomplishment, IMO.

One More Game.

And again.....we all need to Stand Down and allow @AlexBrovechkin8 start the game day thread. It's ordained. And YES, I am highly superstitious.

 

[Ridley Simon]

Yeah this. That whole "desperation" thing just wreaks like garbage to me. The Caps had a chance to stomp on the necks and came out flat at home twice. So what this all says is that winning a Cup is less a motivation than losing a Cup. If they play harder only when they have to, what does that really say about their desire to win, vs their desire to not lose?

I dunno. You're right, they could have used this effort in games 3 or 4. Or 5. Why save it til now?

Honestly? Because there are 2 teams here. I think Tampa came out flat in games 1 & 2, and ratcheted it up. We were hard pressed to match their play. It took 3 games for them to figure out what to do.

Your statements make it seem like you think they werent trying as hard as they could. I dont buy that. At all. Plus Tampa is really really really good.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

Would hope so. This is the 2nd most succesful season ever, behind 1998. If one wants to nitpick, sure...the '90 team also made it to the ECF. But they got swept. So, these 3 wins represent a larger accomplishment, IMO.

One More Game.

And again.....we all need to Stand Down and allow @AlexBrovechkin8 start the game day thread. It's ordained. And YES, I am highly superstitious.

I accept.

 

[chilimac]

Do not undersell Oshie's ability to float perfectly in that box of Pkers and get open, and then one-time the pass short side knowing Vasi would be moving the other way. He's done that before and it's clearly a set play. Pretty awesome.

Trotz mentioned much earlier this season, that the Caps had a shot location where they had a 30% success rate. I was pretty sure then,and still am, that is indeed 'Oshie's House'.

 

[g00n]

Trotz mentioned much earlier this season, that the Caps had a shot location where they had a 30% success rate. I was pretty sure then,and still am, that is indeed 'Oshie's House'.

I think we talked about it, yeah. There really isn't anywhere else on the ice that's going to be that high.

The problem is it seemed like they were trying to get all their shots from that area instead of realizing that the high numbers are due in part to the fact that a lot of those come from defensive breakdowns or rushes. If you just keep trying to feed the slot over and over then the other team will eventually stop you.

 

[superglove39]

The physical game last night made a huge difference. Hit Tampa early and often in G7. Those guys don’t want any more of that. You could see it as the game wore on that they were avoiding checks. Get them worried about it early on Wednesday.

Bingo! YUGE difference! Giving Tampa any time and space has shown to be a costly mistake. 39 to 19 hits last night in the Caps favor, was key. To see the head-down and vacant stare on Kucherov's face towards the end of the game was priceless. No Mas! (or however you say it in Russian).

Tampa will be all in and desperate in Game 7. Vasilevskiy will stand on his head. The Caps need to play as hard and as structured as they did in Game 6, and they have an equal chance of winning. Then, however the puck bounces--so be it.

 

[Blitzkrieg365]

If they play like that again game 7 will be another blow out. Vasi played great but also got incredibly lucky last night. I don't see that happening two games in a row.

 

[HunterSThompson]

Trotz mentioned much earlier this season, that the Caps had a shot location where they had a 30% success rate. I was pretty sure then,and still am, that is indeed 'Oshie's House'.

He shot 26% on the PP this season, so the math checks out.

 

[HandsomeTom43]

 

[RandyHolt]

I would love a hit comp from last night. One my favorites hits was Orpik who rudely sat down a floridian villager near the blue who lost a glove. But seriously that may have been one of our best hit fests in many years. Usually it's first period only, but not last night.