GDT: Caps vs Flyers (Round Robin #2) - 4pm

[hb12xchamps]

We need Carlson back ASAP. Gudas should not sniff the lineup. If it wasn’t for handedness I think we’d see Fever. Don’t think the staff wants to roll with 5 LD and Jensen if Carlson is out

 

[Portable Mink]

Gudas was the flyers No.1 when we played them in the playoffs a while back. No.1 in terms of impact on the game. He is so scared of making mistakes now that he makes mistakes. took him till the last 4 minutes of the game to actually try and hit people.

 

[maacoshark]

I think it's fair to say that everyone is concerned lol

I think we should be concerned. Our strength is obviously more in the offensive zone than the d zone. Maybe not having Carlson in the lineup hurts more than people think. Alot of the so called experts say that Carlsons offensive production is directly related to the talent around him. Maybe it's the other way around. Maybe it's Carlson that makes everyone else better.

 

[maacoshark]

Wait, I thought TR didn’t have any balls and wasn’t a competent coach?

Kuznetsov didn’t come to play today, which is sad considering they had a few days in between games.

I don't think that move makes him look like a competent coach. It makes it look like he is singling out one player as the scapegoat.
I have noticed over the past 2 seasons that Reirden doesn't like to take responsibility for the teams failures. He puts everything on the players.
Sorry if this offends anyone but I think Reirden is a terrible coach. He just happened to inherit a Stanley Cup winning team.

 

[Calicaps]

That’s all well and good but he needs to produce offense also at his salary slot...been kinda crappy there no?

Yeah, but if he's playing PK all game, that's tough. Not to mention if his wingers are bringing zilch.

 

[tenken00]

Gudas was the flyers No.1 when we played them in the playoffs a while back. No.1 in terms of impact on the game. He is so scared of making mistakes now that he makes mistakes. took him till the last 4 minutes of the game to actually try and hit people.

That first Laughton goal was especially egregious because Gudas wasn't even pressured by anyone. Gudas had all the time in the world and just fires it straight to Hayes who was just holding back lol.. like whaaaaat? Made me laugh more than anything else really.

 

[Midnight Judges]

I am convinced nobody cares about these games. Even with the game o the line in the 3rd period against TB, neither team was skating all that hard.

 

[bur and 666 others]

oh, wanted to beat the Flyers badly. Okey, will have to wait till the playoffs.

 

[maacoshark]

I am convinced nobody cares about these games. Even with the game o the line in the 3rd period against TB, neither team was skating all that hard.

I was hoping we would care a little more. Now our best possible seed is 3rd.

 

[AtNightWeFly]

Gudas was the flyers No.1 when we played them in the playoffs a while back. No.1 in terms of impact on the game. He is so scared of making mistakes now that he makes mistakes. took him till the last 4 minutes of the game to actually try and hit people.

He was fined like 300k a while back so ever since then he's been playing pretty soft. A soft Gudas is useless but its understandable.

 

[Silky mitts]

The absolutely aren't and IMO it's a real disadvantage. The format stinks. The "qualifying" teams are playing real playoff hockey while the actual qualified teams are playing the largely meaningless end of the regular season. I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of the round robin team was out early as a consequence.

If nothing else a week off for Carlson and Eller is a gift

 

[bur and 666 others]

I was hoping we would care a little more. Now our best possible seed is 3rd.

That's a plan to get Montreal, Pitts or Carolina... you know to exorcize the demons.

 

[alphabetical]

I am convinced nobody cares about these games. Even with the game o the line in the 3rd period against TB, neither team was skating all that hard.

this is the preseason. it sure isn't the playoffs. there is no way to be eliminated from this round of play.

 

[Skrudland2Lomakin]

In defense of Gudas:

the weird disconnect between typical playoff officiating and the pre-season soft calls against the Caps we saw today really neuter his strengths (Kempny too). Like Orpik, some guys are liabilities during the open ice Charmin reffing days of the regular season, but MVPs during the small ice/clutch city days of the playoffs. I’ve beaten this horse to death, but today’s calls were not consistent with the other officiating in the bubble of general playoffs.


In prosecution of Gudas:

He basically already admitted he’s gone after this season, he doesn’t think we should be playing, and he’s looking towards his next contract.

 

[g00n]

Seeding high may not matter when nobody has momentum or clear home ice advantage. Play these RR games to stay healthy and get up to game speed.

 

[Jarias2311]

That's a plan to get Montreal, Pitts or Carolina... you know to exorcize the demons.

We’re not going to play Montreal bc of reseeding. Pretty much if Montreal wins we’ll play either Carolina/NYI

If Pitt comes back and wins the series which we all expect to be the case we will play either Pitt or Carolina.

 

[txpd]

I think we should be concerned. Our strength is obviously more in the offensive zone than the d zone. Maybe not having Carlson in the lineup hurts more than people think. Alot of the so called experts say that Carlsons offensive production is directly related to the talent around him. Maybe it's the other way around. Maybe it's Carlson that makes everyone else better.

Offensive defensemen never get the credit they deserve and carry more criticism than they earn. People around the league dont think Carlson is even that good and there are even some here that agree with that.

Kempny Gudas is not an NHL 2nd pair. Kempny got burned in the first game and Gudas in this game. Thats without subtracting all of the quality breakouts, exit passes, offensive chances, offensive zone keeps and other things that Carlson does without flash. The Caps dont really have another defenseman that does those things beyond Orlov who is limited due to his shutdown assignments.

Come game 1 of round 1 if Carlson is out, I expect Jensen to move up to the spot with Kempny and for Gudas and Siegy to play more managed minutes. My only optimism here is that Gudas is with Kempny so to not disrupt the 3rd pair and that would suggest the team expects Carlson to play

 

[txpd]

Seeding high may not matter when nobody has momentum or clear home ice advantage. Play these RR games to stay healthy and get up to game speed.

I cant see how they are doing that by skating Orlov and Backstrom into dust today.

 

[tenken00]

I cant see how they are doing that by skating Orlov and Backstrom into dust today.

No choice. Eller Carlson out. Kuzy Gudas rough.

 

[Corby78]

They ARE NOT PLAYOFF GAMES. PLAYOFF = GO HOME. Even the NHL considers the play in games not playoff games. Stop lying

This is true

 

[Raikkonen]

Didnt watch because of traveling. Sounds like a good decision. And my comment of possible Caps fate wasnt appreciated, mind you.

Lets be reality. Caps can get on a long sucking streak. Maybe they already are unfortunately.

 

[AussieCapsFan]

Toward the end of the regular season, teams make a point of being on their game the last 5-10 contests. And oftentimes those games aren't for seeding.

The exhibition/round-robin apologetics are lame.

They look like doo-doo, and Reirden is a quick exit from being doneso.

Totally agree. There are so many apologists around here and so many damned excuses.

Go ask the Bolts if these games are meaningless. Go ask the Flyers. Or Vegas. Or Colorado. You know what the difference is? The Caps won their Cup and they just aren't hungry enough to win another.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Atleast he is contributing defensively. I'm curious why no one is complaining about our other top 6 players that are producing nothing.

someone brought up 19.....not me, so do your thing if you have someone to critique.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Yeah, but if he's playing PK all game, that's tough. Not to mention if his wingers are bringing zilch.

excuses are for the eliminated.

but sure....still need our best to play like it at some point.

 

[Calicaps]

excuses are for the eliminated.

I'm not making excuses. The team was terrible today outside of 70 and the PK. I just think all the singling out of 19 is kinda weird given that he played like 8 minutes on the kill and all game against the Flyers top line and was perfect in that role, but Vrana, Kuzy, Wilson, and Ovie did squat and get a pass.