GDT: Caps at Blues 8pm

[Roshi]

Im not sure i watched the same game as our board seemed to watch.

Caps was rolling early on, then got a stinker 0-3 lol, but kept pushing on got back to the game. Totally would have deserved the 2 points.. but as Clint Eastwood said, ”deserves got nothing to do with this”.

First game this season where unsteady goalkeeping costed us. Lindgren has been great but this time he looked a lot like last years Samsonov. Fine for the most of the game, but couldnt keep the castle at key moments.

Last 2 have been good hockey. Getting out with 1 point out of them is infuriating as we really needed the points that got away. We are in a hole, but if they keep up playing like this they might just make it out from the hole.

Lets see what we can do with the Avs..

 

[HTFN]

this carlson quote seems so booty:

Obviously, [the starts] have been [a problem] the last a few games. That’s not something we don’t talk about and harp on and try to get better at. Yeah, here we are again, coming down 3 goals in the first period. It’s not a recipe for success.


I think we played a little bit better than the last first period, but still, the way things are going, we have to play perfect the way we are going. Keep it mistake-free all around. Just wait and wait and wait. It doesn’t seem to be going our way no matter if we deserve it or not. We’ve got to play better and give ourselves a better chance. Obviously that’s the biggest thing that we can harp on and get better at is the first period. I think that’s just the way it’s going right now.

where the f*** is his mind at?

and also who the f*** is he talking about because nobody's doofing it up out there more than he is

 

[tycoonheart]

I stopped watching after 0-3. Defensively, Carlson is a shell of his former self. I'm happy he scored a couple of goals but dude can't keep up with average skaters.

 

[RedRocking]

this carlson quote seems so booty:

where the f*** is his mind at?

and also who the f*** is he talking about because nobody's doofing it up out there more than he is

I dunno, that seems like a reasonable take. I saw this interview, he was asked specifically about these terrible first periods the past few games and what they need to do to be better. The team is struggling, getting into early holes and as a result are chasing the game. He’s a leader on the team, so he’s addressing everyone. The royal “we” doesn’t mean he’s hiding from the blame imho.

Tonight wasn’t really a night to pile on Carlson, either. He basically got them the one point with his shorty and PPG. Plus, on that first goal, it was Kuzy that f’ed up on the back check and just left his man.

Is it you’d rather he just phrase it more personally, like “I need to be better. My defensive effort hasn’t been good enough” yada yada. Sure, that’s fine.

Despite what people would like, Carlson isn’t going anywhere while Ovi chases 895. The best that can be done with him is to figure out a solid, stay-at home LD to pair with him, so his shitty defensive play can be mitigated, and he can attack on the offensive end, where he is still very elite.

 

[StrikingDistance]

'Caps overcome Carlson's suck to get a point.'

 

[animositynow]

had to log in for the first time in a while to post.
1. I felt like there was too much kuzy in OT and not enough Strome.
2. caps are playing decently overall and keeping games close, and I feel like they could win some of these games if they had a healthy Oshie and a healthy Wilson. They are really missing them out there. I think that top 6 talent is enough to move the needle a little so that they could be a playoff team.
I think honestly if Wilson didn't get injured in the playoffs last year they would have beaten the panthers.

either way, just enjoying the ovechkin moments. And in the chase to be #1, I hope he has at least one more insane highlight reel goal again like the old days. He has come somewhat close to having some great individual effort plays and highlight reel goals recently but just hasn't been able to finish.

 

[tycoonheart]

We're not playing decently. At one point we had 2 shots on goal and they had 3 goals.

 

[g00n]

I'd be careful about the shot total and the mirage of "dominating the 2nd half of the game".

It's score effects. After going up 3-0 in the first period you could see STL lower their intensity. It happens in every sport and once you let down it's hard to get back, especially if the other team tries to mount a charge and gets some momentum. How many times have we seen the Caps do the same thing when up 2 or 3 goals?

Can the Caps play with that kind of fire from the start and keep it up for 60 min vs any given team, no matter the score?

That's the real question.

 

[DWGie26]

I know this. Losing sucks. Watching our stretches of terrible play sucks. Frustrating as hell.

But when wiping away the emotion of that, we also play good stretches. We dig holes for ourselves, but show a lot of resiliency in not quilting and fighting through it as we did last night to get a point.

NAK is back on Saturday… best part of that is we have a healthy 14th forward and we can send McMichael down to Hershey. I was surprised that CMM got in the lineup over Snively because i thought he played well on Tuesday. Probably giving CMM one more game before sending him down. He is getting his chances, but it just isn’t clicking.

I suspect Orlov is back on Saturday as well and we’ll need to send Alexyev down to Hershey as well (needs to clear waivers but that will be a non-event).

 

[hb12xchamps]

I know this. Losing sucks. Watching our stretches of terrible play sucks. Frustrating as hell.

But when wiping away the emotion of that, we also play good stretches. We dig holes for ourselves, but show a lot of resiliency in not quilting and fighting through it as we did last night to get a point.

NAK is back on Saturday… best part of that is we have a healthy 14th forward and we can send McMichael down to Hershey. I was surprised that CMM got in the lineup over Snively because i thought he played well on Tuesday. Probably giving CMM one more game before sending him down. He is getting his chances, but it just isn’t clicking.

I suspect Orlov is back on Saturday as well and we’ll need to send Alexyev down to Hershey as well (needs to clear waivers but that will be a non-event).

I actually think a team would take a flyer on Alexeyev if he’s put on waivers over the weekend. All the big journalists are talking about defense being a huge need right now with teams battling injuries. I would hope they would put Irwin on waivers (we know that won’t happen) or explore the trade market so they don’t lose a former 1st rounder for nothing.

 

[Roshi]

I'd be careful about the shot total and the mirage of "dominating the 2nd half of the game".

It's score effects. After going up 3-0 in the first period you could see STL lower their intensity. It happens in every sport and once you let down it's hard to get back, especially if the other team tries to mount a charge and gets some momentum. How many times have we seen the Caps do the same thing when up 2 or 3 goals?

Can the Caps play with that kind of fire from the start and keep it up for 60 min vs any given team, no matter the score?

That's the real question.

Rewind the first five minutes of the game. Caps were up to a solid start and had couple early chances, then Blues pretty much scored every time they got over the blueline. I didnt see the intensity for Blues, they just were overly effective in the first period.

Overally i agree, but i dont think this game was about Blues letting off the pedal. Blues just werent really good and Caps were dictating the play.

 

[Capsman]

I'd be careful about the shot total and the mirage of "dominating the 2nd half of the game".

It's score effects. After going up 3-0 in the first period you could see STL lower their intensity. It happens in every sport and once you let down it's hard to get back, especially if the other team tries to mount a charge and gets some momentum. How many times have we seen the Caps do the same thing when up 2 or 3 goals?

Can the Caps play with that kind of fire from the start and keep it up for 60 min vs any given team, no matter the score?

That's the real question.

They dominated the first few minutes, despite the lack of official shots. It's just that once the Blues scored the first goal (which was kind of fluky, starting with a bad bounce at Carlson's skates) things snowballed.

 

[Capsman]

I know this. Losing sucks. Watching our stretches of terrible play sucks. Frustrating as hell.

But when wiping away the emotion of that, we also play good stretches. We dig holes for ourselves, but show a lot of resiliency in not quilting and fighting through it as we did last night to get a point.

NAK is back on Saturday… best part of that is we have a healthy 14th forward and we can send McMichael down to Hershey. I was surprised that CMM got in the lineup over Snively because i thought he played well on Tuesday. Probably giving CMM one more game before sending him down. He is getting his chances, but it just isn’t clicking.

I suspect Orlov is back on Saturday as well and we’ll need to send Alexyev down to Hershey as well (needs to clear waivers but that will be a non-event).

Are we at the point where that little is thought of Alexiev? He's coming off an injury, not sure I want another D-man to shine elsewhere. I didn't think he looked bad in his last start.

 

[Jags]

I feel like the end of overtime was a microcosm of where we are right now. All that circling, retreating, and starting over. Like they were trying to execute a set play and they reset every time something went wrong. Same way I felt the couple playoff years before the Cup win; a coach prioritizing systems, accountability, and "playing the right way" over just letting them get comfortable and play.

All the changes to lines, zero continuity from game to game, even within games sometimes. When things go wrong, athletes have a tendency to white-knuckle everything, like the old quicksand analogy. But coaches do the same thing, and it seems like that's where we are now. He's tinkering too much.

Someone needs to give Lavi 2 minutes for interference...

 

[DWGie26]

I know everyone wants to bang me up about Alexyev, but this is a classic example of us (fans) overvaluing a player we know much better than others.

but here is the thing. He has played 5 games in the NHL and hasn’t looked good. He is coming off shoulder surgery and needs to play, but he isn’t NHL ready. On waivers, you have to put that player on your active 23 man roster. At THIS POINT, he is no more than an 8th defenseman on any roster and the only way he moves up From there is getting his game conditioning in the AHL. No other team can do that because we’ll just claim him right back.

The players that get claimed on waivers typically have at least 20 NHL games played. So with no NHL book on him, coming off injury, and readiness, I think it is highly unlikely he gets claimed. Maybe not zero but less than 5%.

 

[traparatus]

I know everyone wants to bang me up about Alexyev, but this is a classic example of us (fans) overvaluing a player we know much better than others.

but here is the thing. He has played 5 games in the NHL and hasn’t looked good. He is coming off shoulder surgery and needs to play, but he isn’t NHL ready. On waivers, you have to put that player on your active 23 man roster. At THIS POINT, he is no more than an 8th defenseman on any roster and the only way he moves up From there is getting his game conditioning in the AHL. No other team can do that because we’ll just claim him right back.

The players that get claimed on waivers typically have at least 20 NHL games played. So with no NHL book on him, coming off injury, and readiness, I think it is highly unlikely he gets claimed. Maybe not zero but less than 5%.

I think a team like Montreal that is carrying three waiver exempt defensemen would claim Alexyev without giving it much of a thought. Why wouldn't they? You gotta look at the bottom of the league. Have you seen the D lineup that Columbus is icing?

 

[msrulo]

Caps are slacking. Time to rebuild.

 

[g00n]

Rewind the first five minutes of the game. Caps were up to a solid start and had couple early chances, then Blues pretty much scored every time they got over the blueline. I didnt see the intensity for Blues, they just were overly effective in the first period.

Overally i agree, but i dont think this game was about Blues letting off the pedal. Blues just werent really good and Caps were dictating the play.

They dominated the first few minutes, despite the lack of official shots. It's just that once the Blues scored the first goal (which was kind of fluky, starting with a bad bounce at Carlson's skates) things snowballed.

This is a mirage, too.

The first few minutes of the game are a rope-a-dope.

I'm watching it again right now and I see possession time but few real threats. It's all perimeter play while STL keep their formation and barely work up a sweat defending. They break up most shot attempts easily and allow the Caps to expend a lot of energy along the boards.

STL were looking to counter-attack after baiting the Caps into a low percentage shot. And that's exactly what happened 5 min in with the Schenn shot on the 3 on 2.

Their strategy worked. They got up by 3 goals. Then they relaxed.

 

[RedRocking]

This is a mirage, too.

The first few minutes of the game are a rope-a-dope.

I'm watching it again right now and I see possession time but few real threats. It's all perimeter play while STL keep their formation and barely work up a sweat defending. They break up most shot attempts easily and allow the Caps to expend a lot of energy along the boards.

STL were looking to counter-attack after baiting the Caps into a low percentage shot. And that's exactly what happened 5 min in with the Schenn shot on the 3 on 2.

Their strategy worked. They got up by 3 goals. Then they relaxed.

Yup this continual, endless cycling on the perimeter leading to confused, rushed shots from the outside or the point with no one screening, or in good position for a rebound, is the entire offensive system at this point.

The system has failed.

 

[trick9]

Yikes, people actually want Hunter Hockey back with a roster like this? I'd much rather watch an exciting high-scoring team with Ovi leading the line rather than watch Dowd and Hathaway playing 20+ minutes to protect 0-0 tie to get a loser point. We aren't making the Playoffs either way.

Good game. Should have won but atleast there are some trade value rising points for commanders Carlson, Sheary and Jensen. Ovi goal and 3 points always great too.

On to the next one. Should be easy, it's only the Avs.

 

[g00n]

Yikes, people actually want Hunter Hockey back with a roster like this? I'd much rather watch an exciting high-scoring team with Ovi leading the line rather than watch Dowd and Hathaway playing 20+ minutes to protect 0-0 tie to get a loser point. We aren't making the Playoffs either way.

Good game. Should have won but atleast there are some trade value rising points for commanders Carlson, Sheary and Jensen. Ovi goal and 3 points always great too.

On to the next one. Should be easy, it's only the Avs.

Yeah I don't get the reaction.

Unless they fire Lavi and bring in some grinders there won't be any Hunter Hockey.

What they need is better play from the defensemen (or better defensemen), better defensive responsibility from the forwards, and more play in the middle of the ice whenever possible.

They're too easy to play against right now because all you have to do is wait for the cycle to break down and you instantly have a 2 on 2 or better going the other way, usually with Carlson or someone else as an escort to the crease.

 

[PlushMinus]

this carlson quote seems so booty:

where the f*** is his mind at?

and also who the f*** is he talking about because nobody's doofing it up out there more than he is

I don't put much stock into what hockey players say. Often it's watered down, or repetitive, or just some standard answer.

And he DID score two goals so in his mind (which admittedly seems like a simple one) he probably felt like that helped to erase his screw ups.

But yeah, Carlson is definitely not the guy I'd expect to solve the riddles of the Universe.