Post-Game Talk: Champs vs Ex Champs 7pm (Caps v Penguins)

[StrikingDistance]

Rutherford is probably going to go all Ricardo Montalban programming Reggie Jackson in Airplane, brain-washing Gudbranson to take out Wilson: "I must kill Tom Wilson".

Tsk tsk tsk.....that's Naked Gun. That said, there's a 50/50 chance of winning, though there's only a 10% chance at that.

 

[Jack Hammer]

I was at the Caps game in DC in November, where we had our only victory against Pittsburgh this year and the Caps were dominated the entire game. The pens have frankly been the better team in all 3 games this year. I think this Caps team is the best it's been all season and tonight should be even.

 

[RandyHolt]

Tsk tsk tsk.....that's Naked Gun. That said, there's a 50/50 chance of winning, though there's only a 10% chance at that.

Erik Gubrandson: Protecting the Queen’s safety is a task that is gladly accepted by the Gub Squad. No matter how silly the idea of having a queen might be to us, as Shitsburgians, we must be gracious and considerate hosts.’

 

[marcel snapshot]

Tsk tsk tsk.....that's Naked Gun. That said, there's a 50/50 chance of winning, though there's only a 10% chance at that./QUOTE]

Bah - a humiliating error. I am lower than beetle. Thank you for you fixing

 

[chilimac]

This could be round one preview quite easily.

Agree.

 

[zappa4ever]

If we get out of the 1st 10 minutes without taking a penalty (looking at you Kuz/Kempny) and being at worst 0-0, I like our chances

 

[Devil Dancer]

Rutherford is probably going to go all Ricardo Montalban programming Reggie Jackson in Airplane, brain-washing Gudbranson to take out Wilson: "I must kill Tom Wilson".

Wasn't that Naked Gun, not Airplane?

I must kill the queen.

 

[kicksavedave]

I was at the Caps game in DC in November, where we had our only victory against Pittsburgh this year and the Caps were dominated the entire game. The pens have frankly been the better team in all 3 games this year. I think this Caps team is the best it's been all season and tonight should be even.

Apart from the points they collected, nothing from November or December means diddley pooh today. And most likely, apart from the points, nothing from today means diddley pooh in the playoffs.

2 points, don't care how.

 

[StrikingDistance]

Erik Gubrandson: Protecting the Queen’s safety is a task that is gladly accepted by the Gub Squad. No matter how silly the idea of having a queen might be to us, as ****sburgians, we must be gracious and considerate hosts.’

I wish all the lurking Pens fans good luck tonight.

 

[Midnight Judges]

Rutherford is probably going to go all Ricardo Montalban programming Reggie Jackson in Naked Gun, brain-washing Gudbranson to take out Wilson: "I must kill Tom Wilson".

Caps would love nothing more than Gudbranson on the ice with the Ovechkin line.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

Seems to me the Pens have been playing more sound fundamental hockey since Letang went down and Gudbranson joined them. It seems from watching them that they're a bit tighter as a team defensively and are using their offensive talent more strategically. The Pens problem, from what I saw, was poor discipline and structure and playing too open a brand of hockey, and Murray wasn't bailing them out. They actually mirror the Caps in a lot of regards. I obviously don't watch every Pens game but those have been my observations.

It's almost like two of the best teams in the league and the two prior champions coasted through the regular season and are now getting back to the fundamentals that make them great as the regular season comes to a close.

 

[Jack Hammer]

Apart from the points they collected, nothing from November or December means diddley pooh today. And most likely, apart from the points, nothing from today means diddley pooh in the playoffs.

2 points, don't care how.

Making an assessment of previous matches this season is a reasonable observation to make in determining the mindset and goals of the Caps tonight. Do the players and coaches not watch film from previous matchups, or do they say, games earlier this season don't mean "diddly pooh"? They should feel the need to improve over their last 3 poor efforts. I already added the disclaimer of this team being better than it was earlier this year. You telling me it doesn't mean "diddly pooh" seems a lazy response to the point. Of course these games aren't critical and I'm not trying to make it sound that way. Just making small talk before the game.

 

[zappa4ever]

Making an assessment of previous matches this season is a reasonable observation to make in determining the mindset and goals of the Caps tonight. Do the players and coaches not watch film from previous matchups, or do they say, games earlier this season don't mean "diddly pooh"? They should feel the need to improve over their last 3 poor efforts. I already added the disclaimer of this team being better than it was earlier this year. You telling me it doesn't mean "diddly pooh" seems a lazy response to the point. Of course these games aren't critical and I'm not trying to make it sound that way. Just making small talk before the game.

Of course video from previous games will be reviewed, but both teams are quite different now, plus 2 of those games were in the first 15 of the season, not too far from "diddly pooh" I think
I'd hope they're doing video from the last few games since McCann, Bjugstad and Gudbrandson all joined (and Trotman/Blueger callups) since that's what the Pens are playing like now

 

[ovikovy817]

Already game number 70. Preseason is almost over.

 

[Sword]

I don't want to play them round 1, would rather face the Habs.

 

[txpd]

Have a bad feeling about this. We have been sleep walking the last few games.

They weren't sleeping walking against the Jets. That was the game plan. They wanted to lay back and trap and keep the Jets from scoring. They did that.

 

[marcel snapshot]

I don't want to play them round 1, would rather face the Habs.

I remember thinking that once. It was back in 2009-10, right before we got HalakED. I've often blamed myself

 

[Jack Hammer]

Of course video from previous games will be reviewed, but both teams are quite different now, plus 2 of those games were in the first 15 of the season, not too far from "diddly pooh" I think
I'd hope they're doing video from the last few games since McCann, Bjugstad and Gudbrandson all joined (and Trotman/Blueger callups) since that's what the Pens are playing like now

You're response is almost the exact same as the one I just defended myself against.. I've already made it clear that my assessment is a casual one and there is no need to to try and tell me that these game mean little, in the way of the playoffs, etc. That much is obvious. No need to point it out. I was making a simple point that the Caps should feel the need to improve over the last 3 meetings and you should hopefully notice it tonight. I'll drop it. We're getting into semantics..

 

[txpd]

On further reflection — this game may tell us a lot.

A regulation win for the Caps will more or less bury the Pens chances at the Metro. So it’s a huge game for them. Caps of old lose this game. Probably come out flat.

Caps of new? We will see

This game may not tell us anything. They have won 7 in a row. They are due to lose a game. Hopefully they wont, but they have the Flyers(?) and then Tampa Bay after. That means TB would be a ten game winning streak. That aint gonna happen. They are going to lose a game here.

 

[txpd]

what's wrong with y'all?

5-2 Caps

Dimension Doom. Sleep walking. Not moving their feet. Soft goaltending. Kuzy coasting. There has not been a single shot at Orpik or Eller yet. You guys are off your game

 

[zappa4ever]

You're response is almost the exact same as the one I just defended myself against.. I've already made it clear that my assessment is a casual one and there is no need to to try and tell me that these game mean little, in the way of the playoffs, etc. That much is obvious. No need to point it out. I was making a simple point that the Caps should feel the need to improve over the last 3 meetings and you should hopefully notice it tonight. I'll drop it. We're getting into semantics..

Well you made no reference to the several lineup changes on both teams, including more than 25% of the Pens roster being different from last time playing each other. Obviously the Caps want to have a better game 70 than earlier games in the season. I'll leave it at that

 

[Ridley Simon]

This game may not tell us anything. They have won 7 in a row. They are due to lose a game. Hopefully they wont, but they have the Flyers(?) and then Tampa Bay after. That means TB would be a ten game winning streak. That aint gonna happen. They are going to lose a game here.

Speak for yourself.

This is the exact type of game that — in sports — you see high level teams play well.

I’m not saying AT ALL that it’s a “must win” or “do or die” — it sure as hell isnt. But it certainly looks like a mental gut check type game. Caps are in a position to stamp out the Pens Metro division title hopes. I’m sure they know this.

So— current sports teams like the Warriors, or the Patriots, or the Red Sox would show up and play really well. They may lose — but it would take a terrific effort from their opponent to beat them.

So that’s what’s I am talking about.

I understand if you see it differently.

 

[Melkor]

I hope it's not the game when Malkin gets his 1000th point.

 

[kicksavedave]

You're response is almost the exact same as the one I just defended myself against.. I've already made it clear that my assessment is a casual one and there is no need to to try and tell me that these game mean little, in the way of the playoffs, etc. That much is obvious. No need to point it out. I was making a simple point that the Caps should feel the need to improve over the last 3 meetings and you should hopefully notice it tonight. I'll drop it. We're getting into semantics..

I certainly wasn't trying to attack your observation so no need to defend it. My main reason for posting what I did is that fan bases tend to make way too much of early season games and of regular season games when there is little correlation there. If we get blown out tonight, some folks on here (not saying you specifically) will go to their fainting couches and call for TR to be fired, Orlov to be executed, and Oshie to be traded.

My point is that this game means little in terms of determining our playoff fate, just like games in November meant little in determining if we "would make" the playoffs at all. Everything changes in the playoffs, most importantly our overall effort level and how much our physical presence matters over a long series, two things that have generally been completely missing throughout this whole regular season.

That said, I've love to see the Caps curb stomp the Pens tonight but if the opposite happens, I'm not losing a minutes sleep over it.

 

[Jack Hammer]

Well you made no reference to the several lineup changes on both teams, including more than 25% of the Pens roster being different from last time playing each other. Obviously the Caps want to have a better game 70 than earlier games in the season. I'll leave it at that

This is epitome of why discussions over the internet can become annoying. I still don't like your response but this has gone on long enough. If we were face fo face, this conversation would have taken less than 30 seconds and we would have walked away with a mutual understanding. Haha