Post-Game Talk: Capitals @ Lightning 12/9/14 Caps Win 5-3

[RandyHolt]

Is that what is holding him together at this point? Just like my kids' art projects, the popsicle sticks and cotton balls will start falling off again at some point.

Post of the Week!

I think Laich is valuable to the team because he gets dirty. He is the original baker, after all. The rest of the team has to be told daily to go to the net.

 

[Blades of Steel]

Is that what is holding him together at this point? Just like my kids' art projects, the popsicle sticks and cotton balls will start falling off again at some point.

Another perspective on the Caps' record with and without Elmer.

Caps SV%
With Elmer: .927
Without Elmer: .894

Not only does he hold everything together, he turns the goaltending from bottom 3 to top 4. Impressive work all around.

@AdamVingan: The amount of time the #Caps trailed during their three-game road trip -- 0:00.

We need to make sure he stays together.

 

[Vladiator16*]

We are going streaking

"I like our guys..."

-Buck

 

[marcel snapshot]

Really enjoyable game to watch - nice to be able to say that.

Ovie, Wilson, T-Bro, Laich all played well - Carlson was a stud and Holtby just kept making big saves. The team that played last night was a good, solid hockey team.

Puzzled as to why Ward, and not Fehr, gets the assist on the Laich goal.

 

[Chokingdogs]

5-2 Caps.

lol

 

[tycoonheart]

Ovi did a great job setting the tone of the game last night. Right off the bat, he was hitting everything and that 1st line worked hard and scored a goal. Everything was buttery smooth all night.

Carlson has been a beast the last 10-15 games. Holtby looks confident and has been awesome lately. Kuz I thought had a really good game. Latta struggled a little bit. Would like to see Bura back in. Is he injured?

That 3rd line with Laich is awesome. And he looks fast out there, looks to have his legs back. This Laich is a very helpful Liach. Hope he can stay healthy and contribute.

And Beagle was beasting all night. Par for the course though.

 

[Dr John Carlson]

Brooks "Elmer" Laich. What a nickname.

 

[BrooklynCapsFan]

What should we call Green?

6-1-1 without him

 

[Blades of Steel]

What should we call Green?

6-1-1 without him

I thought he already had one?

Game over.

 

[BrooklynCapsFan]

I thought he already had one?

Game over.

Capitals career over

 

[Blades of Steel]

Capitals career over

Kinda what I meant

Seriously though, he's not needed here, get on it GMBM. When the time is right get your best value.

 

[Ridley Simon]

What should we call Green?

6-1-1 without him

Yeah, but.......

Just think what they'd have done with him? Probably won 10 games in that same span!!

 

[g00n]

What should we call Green?

6-1-1 without him

The glitter?

 

[BiPolar Caps]

8-2-2 with Laich in the lineup.

5-8-2 without him.

I see him more as the

 

[Blades of Steel]

The glitter?

 

[Mickstix]

Brooks "Elmer" Laich. What a nickname.

I was getting used to calling him "Sore nuts & shoulders", but Elmer is much easier!

On the TB announcers.. It was funny listening to them ***** about Laich and Brouwer.. "You can't just stick check that guy, you have to knock him down... See what happens.." and "You've got to be kidding me" on Brouwers goal.. lol They were legit mad at the Lightning. It was fun!

On Bura being injured.. Someone on another board reminded that he took a hit in game 8 or 9? He was on a tear up to that point, then after went on like a 15 game w/ only 3 assist streak? So yea, maybe he did get nicked in an arm/hand or something that boinged his production.. Whatever the case they need to get him back on the ice, if he's able.. AHL, WJC, NHL whatever.. He's not developing anything sitting in the skybox..

 

[ChibiPooky]

Brouwer called himself out and then went and had a great game. Laich is good again (can he stay that way?). Ovechkin almost had another one of those ridiculous backward from the ground goals. Easily the best game I've seen from the Caps in years.

 

[ChibiPooky]

Joel Ward's stats:

With|TOI|GF20|GA20|GF%|CF20|CA20|CF%
Chimera|183:54|.870|.652|57.1|14.68|17.18|46.1
Laich|66:23|.603|.000|1.000|19.88|15.37|56.4

Eric Fehr's stats:

With|TOI|GF20|GA20|GF%|CF20|CA20|CF%
Chimera|104:12|.960|.576|62.5|15.36|14.78|51.0
Laich|36:57|.541|.000|1.000|24.36|16.24|60.0

Small samples, but...
(stats courtesy stats.hockeyanalysis.com)

 

[BrooklynCapsFan]

Joel Ward's stats:

With|TOI|GF20|GA20|GF%|CF20|CA20|CF%
Chimera|183:54|.870|.652|57.1|14.68|17.18|46.1
Laich|66:23|.603|.000|1.000|19.88|15.37|56.4

Eric Fehr's stats:

With|TOI|GF20|GA20|GF%|CF20|CA20|CF%
Chimera|104:12|.960|.576|62.5|15.36|14.78|51.0
Laich|36:57|.541|.000|1.000|24.36|16.24|60.0

Small samples, but...
(stats courtesy stats.hockeyanalysis.com)

The bones of a competent forward group are emerging:

1st line
Johansson-A Real Center-Kuznetsov
Fehr-Laich-Brouwer
Whatever

 

[ChibiPooky]

The bones of a competent forward group are emerging:

1st line
Johansson-A Real Center-Kuznetsov
Fehr-Laich-Brouwer
Whatever

The Brouwer from last night is the 2RW we've been begging for, and Kuznetsov looked almost unstoppable. Johansson was the weak link on that line yesterday.

What I liked best, though, is the first line was deployed in power on power situations early and was so dominant that Cooper used the last change to get away from it. If they can take power on power matchups, that means the second line can be deployed as a soft matchup scoring line, and I'm fine with 92 centering a soft matchup line. And Tampa couldn't get out of their zone when Laich - Fehr - Ward was on the ice.

 

[BrooklynCapsFan]

The Brouwer from last night is the 2RW we've been begging for, and Kuznetsov looked almost unstoppable. Johansson was the weak link on that line yesterday.

What I liked best, though, is the first line was deployed in power on power situations early and was so dominant that Cooper used the last change to get away from it. If they can take power on power matchups, that means the second line can be deployed as a soft matchup scoring line, and I'm fine with 92 centering a soft matchup line. And Tampa couldn't get out of their zone when Laich - Fehr - Ward was on the ice.

I don't disagree about Brouwer's game last night, but I really think we need more skill in the top 6. And I that it should be a priority to get that skill.

 

[txpd]

more skill as in 8. 19. 90 and 92 each don't have enough skill and require upgrade or 43 and 20 don't have enough skill for the top 2 lines and should be replaced by skill players?

 

[txpd]

IOn the TB announcers.. It was funny listening to them ***** about Laich and Brouwer.. "You can't just stick check that guy, you have to knock him down... See what happens.." and "You've got to be kidding me" on Brouwers goal.. lol They were legit mad at the Lightning. It was fun!..

interesting. after that game Bobby Taylor, the long time analyst and the guy that said "you've got to be kidding me", announces his retirement at the end of the season.

so....he was fired. wondering if last night was the last straw

 

[BrooklynCapsFan]

more skill as in 8. 19. 90 and 92 each don't have enough skill and require upgrade or 43 and 20 don't have enough skill for the top 2 lines and should be replaced by skill players?

Kuznetsov does not have the skill or experience to be a competitive 2nd line center. Brouwer does not have the skill to be a difference maker on 2RW.

 

[txpd]

I guess I wouldn't agree that kuznentsov is lacking in skill. I would agree on the experience part but experience wasn't part of the quote I was asking about.