Post-Game Talk: Capitals @ Devils - 4/4/14 7:00 PM Caps Lose 2-1

[The Deadly Pook Gas]

@kcarrera #Caps lines in NJ morning skate: Grabovski-Backstrom-Ovi; Johansson-Beagle-Brouwer; Chimera-Fehr-Ward; Penner-Kuznetsov-Wilson.

@kcarrera #Caps D pairs in skate: Alzner-Carlson; Brouillette-Green; Orlov-Strachan; Erskine-Carrick.

@kcarrera Erskine and Carrick appear to be the scratches on D.

@ChuckGormleyCSN Jaro Halak first off. Expected to face Devils. #CapitalsTalk

Click to read more...

 

[Blades of Steel]

4% chance of making playoffs I hear?

 

[Devil Dancer]

Beagle is STILL in the top 6?!?

 

[strungout]

Beagle is STILL in the top 6?!?

 

[Acallabeth]

Scoring a goal would be nice.

 

[SimplySensational]

Go away Oates.

 

[itsjustsurvival]

Make it stop.

 

[RandyHolt]

Tyson recalled

Good thing we didn't paper down Carrick!

George is just dominating.

 

[BiPolar Caps]

Which will occur tonight:
a) Ovechkin scores ES goal
b) Marcus Johansson opts not to drop pass
c) Defense does not allow the Devils any 2 on 1 break aways
d) none of the above

 

[g00n]

The death rattle continues. 2-1 Debils.

 

[swimmer77]

Oates is a former Devil now deviling the Caps.



Go Caps.

Score a goal.

Prevent odd man rushes.

Beat the snot out of the guy that beats the snot out of a Cap.

Play desperate.

Is any of this possible?

 

[Backstrom #19]

Meh, maybe I'll check the score on my phone.

 

[QuadrupleDeke]

Whatever. Blow it up.

GMGM, Oates, Ovechkin, Green, Laich out. Backstrom, Kuznetsov, Carlson, Alzner, Orlov, Wilson, Burakovsky are the new core. Get McDavid next year, add whoever they get this year plus whoever they get for the old young guns, and target 2016 as the opening of the new window.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

going to be interesting to see if this team has any fight left in them or if they all just gonna quit on Oates and mail these last games in

 

[BlockJockHalak]

Now Oates can present to his former team what remarkable progress he's made

Just 6 more torturous games left...we can do this

 

[foundhockey]

going to be interesting to see if this team has any fight left in them or if they all just gonna quit on Oates and mail these last games in

Yeah, I was wondering that as well. I hope they don't mail it in though. I want Ovie to hit 50. That's what's left to root for beyond the teeny chance the Caps will get in the playoffs.

 

[BobRouse]

We win or play well then it shows some heart.

If we lose we improve our draft position and help usher Oates/GMGM out.

Win win

 

[um]

Whatever. Blow it up.

GMGM, Oates, Ovechkin, Green, Laich out. Backstrom, Kuznetsov, Carlson, Alzner, Orlov, Wilson, Burakovsky are the new core. Get McDavid next year, add whoever they get this year plus whoever they get for the old young guns, and target 2016 as the opening of the new window.

much rather trade backstrom than ovechkin. he has declined so much since that concusion (or wife+baby) to the point where the only thing he is elite at is making soft flat passes. his defensive game has regressed as he doesnt engage/battle players in the defensive zone as much anymore, he cant score and usually shoots right at the goalies chest, and hes becoming as lazy and soft as green. if you trade ovechkin our best goal scorers would be ward and brouwer, who im not sure will ever hit 20 goals again. if you trade backstrom kuznetsov or grabo would take his spot on the PP and well his even strength production isn't even that impressive anymore. and by that i mean a guy like kesler could replace that much better than any forward could replace ovechkins goal scoring.

but really i dont think its a good idea to trade either of them unless you have a #1 defensemen like subban or seabrook coming back.

 

[Blades of Steel]

If caps want to have a chance to squeek in the playoffs by some miracle, they'll have to go 6-0 , any regulation loss and they are for sure done I believe. So, yeah snow balls chance in hell.

 

[SimplySensational]

I'm scared this team is going to win 6 straight and make the playoffs.

I'm also afraid that if they don't make the playoffs and win the draft lottery somehow this will be a good thing and a reason to keep McPhee, and then McPhee will decide Oates will be the best coach to develop whoever they pick.

Also, people who suggest trading Ovechkin should look at how many goals Backstrom has and then look at how many of assists are secondary assists. He can't even make a cross seam pass to Ovechkin on the PP anymore, whereas Ovechkin does it all the time.

 

[BobRouse]

If caps want to have a chance to squeek in the playoffs by some miracle, they'll have to go 6-0 , any regulation loss and they are for sure done I believe. So, yeah snow balls chance in hell.

I don't know...I mean they did it in 2007-2008. But there is definitely a different vibe about this team so I'd probably have to agree with your assessment unless something crazy happens and they get juiced up mentally.

 

[BlockJockHalak]

I'm scared this team is going to win 6 straight and make the playoffs.

I'm also afraid that if they don't make the playoffs and win the draft lottery somehow this will be a good thing and a reason to keep McPhee, and then McPhee will decide Oates will be the best coach to develop whoever they pick.

Well, it is the caps. This season.....

 

[g00n]

I don't know...I mean they did it in 2007-2008. But there is definitely a different vibe about this team so I'd probably have to agree with your assessment unless something crazy happens and they get juiced up mentally.

After the April Fool's Day Massacre I don't think this team has any fight left in them. Maybe one or two games MAX.

 

[BobRouse]

After the April Fool's Day Massacre I don't think this team has any fight left in them. Maybe one or two games MAX.

You never know. A single win can create a spark.

But either way something good will come out of tonights game.

 

[QuadrupleDeke]

much rather trade backstrom than ovechkin. he has declined so much since that concusion (or wife+baby) to the point where the only thing he is elite at is making soft flat passes. his defensive game has regressed as he doesnt engage/battle players in the defensive zone as much anymore, he cant score and usually shoots right at the goalies chest, and hes becoming as lazy and soft as green. if you trade ovechkin our best goal scorers would be ward and brouwer, who im not sure will ever hit 20 goals again. if you trade backstrom kuznetsov or grabo would take his spot on the PP and well his even strength production isn't even that impressive anymore. and by that i mean a guy like kesler could replace that much better than any forward could replace ovechkins goal scoring.

but really i dont think its a good idea to trade either of them unless you have a #1 defensemen like subban or seabrook coming back.

Trade em both.

This things gonna go way down before it starts going up. Ward, Brouwer, and Grabo will be long gone by then.