GDT: Caps @ Bruins, 6:30PM

[Melkor]

I would be shocked if he was not in net. Imagine the message that sends to the team.

Just curious: what exactly is this message you're talking about?

 

[Ovie's Neighbor]

Just curious: what exactly is this message you're talking about?

That you can play well all game and keep your team in the game but one mistake and you are benched. If that is your message as a coach then you better be consistent. If that was the case Dillon should have been benched after game 2.

 

[tenken00]

You haven't been kind to us the past few years... but f*** it.

Light our darkest hour. REDRUM.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

 

[SpinningEdge]

At this point we need to be up by 2 at least after 2 or tbjs team isn’t winning anything.

something besides being old is happening. Not sure if it’s being out of shape - or what - but the team has been slow, lost most board battles, getting out chances big time, etc.

best thing for caps to do is come out hitting the bruins very, very hard. The only thing they can do to make up for their lack of speed/stamina is by being a physical presence - which is what bmac built this team to be.

remember, we won the cup - but a loss against Boston would be 3 straight series losing in our first round. Very bad.

biggest game in a long time tonifht.

 

[Misery74]

Ugh. If Oshie is out, put CMM on wing in top 6.

Reunite Sheary, Eller and Sprong.

Sit Raffl and Carr.

History favors the bold Lavi.

 

[tenken00]

Ugh. If Oshie is out, put CMM on wing in top 6.

Reunite Sheary, Eller and Sprong.

Sit Raffl and Carr.

History favors the bold Lavi.

If we are having trouble scoring, put in guys that can score.

We know that we might get burned defensively, but playing better defensive guys who can't score hasn't really worked for us either at the moment.

The fourth line can't do all the scoring, pffttttt.

 

[notDkristich]

What's was Sprong's sin to be benched last game? Our 4th line needs 1st line ice time.

 

[895]

I think Lavi is a good coach but if Sprong is scratched again considering how shit our offense is...

Sometimes you can outsmart yourself. Having trouble scoring? Put in the guy with the best ESG/60 not named Auston Matthews.

 

[Baszie]

I think Lavi is a good coach but if Sprong is scratched again considering how shit our offense is...

Sometimes you can outsmart yourself. Having trouble scoring? Put in the guy with the best ESG/60 not named Auston Matthews.

And also:

 

[Baszie]

Sprong scratched again.

 

[crab]

Sprong scratched again.

Based on that expected that Eller and Oshie are playing.

 

[tenken00]

Based on that expected that Eller and Oshie are playing.

Welcome back Eller. Join the land of the walking injured.

 

[SpinningEdge]

And also:

Look at what we did last year in playoffs too. Same thing.

Caps have 8 goals in 11 periods so far. So the math is barely 2 goals per 60 minutes right now... which makes sense when you have Carlson, Backstrom, etc aren't producing at all.

We need Ovi, Carlson, Kuznetsov (only one game so far), and Backstrom to score more than 1 goal in the whole series so far... Those are our best 4 players and they just haven't been good enough.

 

[Hivemind]

And also:

Further evidence that benching Sprong is lunacy. He's playing well in his limited shifts, and the team as a whole clearly needs some more scoring sparks considering the big guns aren't bringing it.

 

[BiPolar Caps]

Sprong scratched again.

That means Eller is in. Third line will probably be Rafl-Eller-Sheary. Which looks good to me. The only issue I have is TVR sitting. I thought he paired with Dillon was a nice steady d-corps. The Schultz-Dillon pairing has been responsible for the two OT goals. I'd sit Schultz but I'm sure Lavy's looking at the offensive side of things with the d-corps.

 

[marcel snapshot]

Can't sit Raffl. One of the few forwards to match the Bs legs and tenacity

 

[crab]

Ya I would consider scratching Sheary for Sprong but I know Lavi would never do that. I liked Sheary during the regular season but he had been invisible during the playoffs and can’t even skate for some reason now

 

[IafrateOvie34]

Caps better want this game. Quit the BS and focus while giving a full effort. The role players are doing their job, time for the stars to do theirs. I don't care if it's injuries either. Every team goes through injuries.

 

[IafrateOvie34]

Can't sit Raffl. One of the few forwards to match the Bs legs and tenacity

He's had more scoring chances than some top 6 players.

 

[TheLegendOfPatPeake]

Lavi is trying to outsmart himself by putting an AHL player on the third line. Jesus Christ.

 

[TheLegendOfPatPeake]

Caps better want this game. Quit the BS and focus while giving a full effort. The role players are doing their job, time for the stars to do theirs. I don't care if it's injuries either. Every team goes through injuries.

This. People keep saying “well, they’re old and injured”....your point? First of all, we don’t know how injured they are or not so let’s take that out of the equation. To the second point , there are plenty of old players we’ve seen have great playoff runs. Winners find a way.

 

[capsdom86]

Basically all must win games from here on out. Remember our Game 7 record on home ice. And I'm calling 4th straight OT game.

 

[BiPolar Caps]

If Sprong was to be put back in the line up you'd have to sit Sheary and move Wilson down to the third line. Lines would then look something like this:
Ovechkin - Kuznetsov - Sprong
Mantha - Backstrom - Oshie
Rafl - Eller - Wilson
Hagelin - Dowd - Hathaway

 

[EroCaps]

Lavi is trying to outsmart himself by putting an AHL player on the third line. Jesus Christ.

If Sprong wasn't garbage defensively this wouldn't be an issue.