GDT: Caps @ Bruins, 6:30PM

[895]

Can anyone point to a goal caused by Sprong's defensive deficiencies? I'm genuinely asking.

 

[g00n]

Nobody panic, this is an OLD TWEET. It's from what I think was the peak of playoff form from this team, about 3 weeks ago vs NYI:

Ok, so do THAT, just with Ovechkin. Drop Sprong to Sheary's spot and scratch Sheary. Sit Schultz for TVR.

Profit.

 

[marcel snapshot]

Our puck retrieval in the top 6 sucks right now. Kuzy, Nick and Ovie do absolutely nothing on retrieval. Mantha has to do more than he's used to. Wilson is good at it, and so is Oshie - but he seems compromised at the moment. Sprong is not a puck retriever - he's a puck receiver like Ovie. There's got to be better puck retrieval in the top 6, or we're not going to be successful

 

[txpd]

It sucks that all the ex Pens that played well for much of the season are now playing poorly

I hate that has to be me that says this......ugh......Hagelin has been good.

 

[txpd]

Nobody panic, this is an OLD TWEET. It's from what I think was the peak of playoff form from this team, about 3 weeks ago vs NYI:

View attachment 436907

Ok, so do THAT, just with Ovechkin. Drop Sprong to Sheary's spot and scratch Sheary. Sit Schultz for TVR.

Profit.

Care to venture an explanation why Laviolette wouldn't do that?

 

[Corby78]

I hate that has to be me that says this......ugh......Hagelin has been good.

He has, still doesn’t have a finishing touch but he is a beast defensively and creates chances offensively

 

[g00n]

Care to venture an explanation why Laviolette wouldn't do that?

I'm not Lavi so I don't know. He loves Sheary and I can see why. But this is my opinion not Lavi's.

 

[max21]

Wasn’t Oshie not at AM skate Wednesday but still played? Or am I making that up

 

[g00n]

Wasn’t Oshie not at AM skate Wednesday but still played? Or am I making that up

My first thought also. Not worried.

 

[Baszie]

Can anyone point to a goal caused by Sprong's defensive deficiencies? I'm genuinely asking.

He had 1 failed D clearance in the first half of the regular season that directly resulted goal against. That’s it. He was even the best forward in +/- over the regular season.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

Play to win the game. Don't play the guys you think will make the fewest mistakes. If you play not to lose you will likely lose... this was my biggest issue with Trotz during the playoffs and I don't want to see Lavi go down that same path. Playing to achieve coin flip hockey is why we are far and away the leader in OT playoff games the past decade.

 

[txpd]

I'm not Lavi so I don't know. He loves Sheary and I can see why. But this is my opinion not Lavi's.

Posting board conversation. Thats all.

 

[txpd]

He had 1 failed D clearance in the first half of the regular season that directly resulted goal against. That’s it. He was even the best forward in +/- over the regular season.

Apparantly those are not the details of his game that Lavy wants cleaned up. Its just a guess but hear me/read me out. Lavy's game relies on a 5 man attack and offense from the defense. For that to work the forwards have to provide the defense. I would suggest that Sprong is not reliable in those reads and interactions. Thats just a guess

 

[Ovie's Neighbor]

Play to win the game. Don't play the guys you think will make the fewest mistakes. If you play not to lose you will likely lose... this was my biggest issue with Trotz during the playoffs and I don't want to see Lavi go down that same path. Playing to achieve coin flip hockey is why we are far and away the leader in OT playoff games the past decade.

The only answer I have is that he knows our players are not 100% and that if we open it up we will get demolished. He doesn’t trust our goaltending to steal games for us so I’m thinking he wants low scoring and tight checking hockey.

 

[txpd]

Play to win the game. Don't play the guys you think will make the fewest mistakes. If you play not to lose you will likely lose... this was my biggest issue with Trotz during the playoffs and I don't want to see Lavi go down that same path. Playing to achieve coin flip hockey is why we are far and away the leader in OT playoff games the past decade.

And the difference between dont lose first and go for it hockey is 10 instead of 73?

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

The only answer I have is that he knows our players are not 100% and that if we open it up we will get demolished. He doesn’t trust our goaltending to steal games for us so I’m thinking he wants low scoring and tight checking hockey.

I disagree. We have played a certain way all season long and changing it now does more harm than good.

 

[illicit]

And the difference between dont lose first and go for it hockey is 10 instead of 73?

What has Sheary done to warrant a jersey so far in the playoffs? He's no Selke candidate and he isn't bringing anything offensively, G3 was particularly bad for him.

8-92-43
39-19-10
17-20-77
62-26-21

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Being down 2-1 in the first round of the playoffs with all the games going to overtime… I think we’ve been here before and we know how it ended

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

And the difference between dont lose first and go for it hockey is 10 instead of 73?

Over simplifying things but yes, playing the guy who has one of the best shots on the team, creates scoring chances better than most people on the team, and had the third highest goals per game rate on the team -- which included zero PP time -- is one way to play don't lose hockey. Scratching him for a guy who has scored two total NHL goals since 2018 and who offers nothing offensively because he may help more defensively is the definition of a don't-lose move. Don't see why that's a controversial point.

Another way is to play the guys more who deserve to play more and not based on how much they make.

 

[crab]

Over simplifying things but yes, playing the guy who has one of the best shots on the team, creates scoring chances better than most people on the team, and had the third highest goals per game rate on the team -- which included zero PP time -- is one way to play don't lose hockey. Scratching him for a guy who has scored two total NHL goals since 2018 and who offers nothing offensively because he may help more defensively is the definition of a don't-lose move. Don't see why that's a controversial point.

Another way is to play the guys more who deserve to play more and not based on how much they make.

Flip that coin Dale Hunter. I’m feeling a heads tonight anyway, we are good to go.

 

[tenken00]

Flip that coin Dale Hunter. I’m feeling a heads tonight anyway, we are good to go.

I'll take 50/50 odds right now.

 

[Misery74]

FFS, what are the lines?

 

[txpd]

Over simplifying things but yes, playing the guy who has one of the best shots on the team, creates scoring chances better than most people on the team, and had the third highest goals per game rate on the team -- which included zero PP time -- is one way to play don't lose hockey. Scratching him for a guy who has scored two total NHL goals since 2018 and who offers nothing offensively because he may help more defensively is the definition of a don't-lose move. Don't see why that's a controversial point.

Another way is to play the guys more who deserve to play more and not based on how much they make.

I guess, I can agree with this. Dress Sprong and just keep him on the bench until a spot opens up. Carr didnt play a lot more

 

[Ovie's Neighbor]

I guess, I can agree with this. Dress Sprong and just keep him on the bench until a spot opens up. Carr didnt play a lot more

Exactly. Carr played only 10:30 in a double OT game. The next lowest forward was Hathaway at 16:30. Our team looks old and tired and he is shortening the bench. Don’t dress a guy if you aren’t going to play him. Sprong can contribute much more.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Can we have her in nets instead of Samsonov?