Post-Game Talk: G6: Sabres @ Russian-less Caps, Part 2 | 1/24/21 | 3p ET

[txpd]

Why? Backstrom is a calming presence and a good leader. CMM is lacking direction and is looking lost.

The kid is barely ready to play an NHL game. He is without question on ready to play on an NHL first line with the team's entire 2nd line out of the lineup. Put McMichael there and you are killing Backstrom and Oshie more than helping McMichael

I mean, if your priority was develop McMichael rather than win the game, you might be right

 

[Capsman]

They cant win a face off. They dont get possession and then play a passive defense. They dont give up much better never get the puck back

I agree, and you were always correct about faceoffs. They’re also passive with possession, it’s one shot and everybody retreats. My guess it’s an issue of knowing themselves, ie their speed disadvantage.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

CMM is only playing bc we have 5 top guys out and have to dress almost the entire taxi squad. I think other teams are trolling us

 

[JohnCarlsaurus]

I thought Pinho and the rest of that line looked a lot better this game

 

[illpucks]

CMM is only playing bc we have 5 top guys out and have to dress alost the entire taxi squad. I think other teams are trolling us

Yeah but I don't believe this is the best version of CMM. He looks super nervous and unsettled. Similar to Vitek in first few games. I think the coach can improve his confidence by playing him on the top line , or putting him on the pp for just a few min or giving him shootout opportunity.

 

[txpd]

I agree, and you were always correct about faceoffs. They’re also passive with possession, it’s one shot and everybody retreats. My guess it’s an issue of knowing themselves, ie their speed disadvantage.

This is how Lavy wants them to play. When he is asked about the 3 on 3 he goes right to the face off with his answers

 

[txpd]

I thought Pinho and the rest of that line looked a lot better this game

Pinho didnt look over his head. Thats true. Lavy clearly is growing a level of dismissal with those 3 guys. I think they are all 3 playing themselves off the team.

 

[txpd]

Yeah but I don't believe this is the best version of CMM. He looks super nervous and unsettled. Similar to Vitek in first few games. I think the coach can improve his confidence by playing him on the top line , or putting him on the pp for just a few min or giving him shootout opportunity.

sparingly?

 

[Raikkonen]

Yeah but I don't believe this is the best version of CMM. He looks super nervous and unsettled. Similar to Vitek in first few games. I think the coach can improve his confidence by playing him on the top line , or putting him on the pp for just a few min or giving him shootout opportunity.

Vitek gas 140 games in AHL under his belt. He can dive into that experience and settle down. CMM is a total newbie. He has a lot to learn.

Also, judging from his post-game interview CMM wasnt actually much nervous. A little lost would be my guess. He skipped most of the camp, what would you expect?

 

[illpucks]

The kid is barely ready to play an NHL game. He is without question on ready to play on an NHL first line with the team's entire 2nd line out of the lineup. Put McMichael there and you are killing Backstrom and Oshie more than helping McMichael

I mean, if your priority was develop McMichael rather than win the game, you might be right

Well they did put Tom Wilson on the top line when he was a 4th liner, and he grew into a 1st liner. So it has worked before. If they kept Wilson on the 4th line he might not be on the team anymore.

 

[Raikkonen]

Well they did put Tom Wilson on the top line when he was a 4th liner, and he grew into a 1st liner. So it has worked before. If they kept Wilson on the 4th line he might not be on the team anymore.

It was Wilson's 2nd season at least. Moving goalposts again!

 

[JohnCarlsaurus]

Pinho didnt look over his head. Thats true. Lavy clearly is growing a level of dismissal with those 3 guys. I think they are all 3 playing themselves off the team.

I dunno if they're playing themselves off the team but they'll be in the doghouse quick if they don't improve on their play away from the puck. Need to start converting on their chances as well.

The forechecking they did today was nice though.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

How hard is it to replace a taxi player with someone from Hershey

 

[Evgeny Oliker]

How was McMichael in this one?

I see he didn’t play much

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

How was McMichael in this one?

I see he didn’t play much

got regular shifts 1st period and then benched for a bad pen

 

[txpd]

Well they did put Tom Wilson on the top line when he was a 4th liner, and he grew into a 1st liner. So it has worked before. If they kept Wilson on the 4th line he might not be on the team anymore.

Tom Wilson didnt start skating with Ovechkin until he was a fully developed NHL player

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Tom Wilson didnt start skating with Ovechkin until he was a fully developed NHL player

Yes he was a "4th line goon" for years untill he worked on his skating

 

[AtNightWeFly]

So even with those stupid-ass suspensions Caps are getting points and more points?

 

[Raikkonen]

So even with those stupid-ass suspensions Caps are getting points and more points?

Could be Pens and Sabres are one of the weakest teams in the division. Just gives Caps some margin for error.

 

[BallardEra]

Maybe the adversity can help them in the long run. It gives (forces) the team to put in players and see what they really have. Moreover, the four players coming back should have a chip on their shoulders looking to make it up for their teammates who are holding down the fort.

Hopefully it galvanizes the team and brings them together sooner rather than later.

 

[txpd]

Yes he was a "4th line goon" for years untill he worked on his skating

Wilson broke his ankle on off season skate boarding. He missed camp. As a result he started working on his skating. When Trotz made him a regular penalty killer you could see the arc of the career that was coming.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I don’t believe that skating work was exclusive to the injury...he was trying to get better I read.

 

[AtNightWeFly]

Maybe the adversity can help them in the long run. It gives (forces) the team to put in players and see what they really have. Moreover, the four players coming back should have a chip on their shoulders looking to make it up for their teammates who are holding down the fort.

Hopefully it galvanizes the team and brings them together sooner rather than later.

I hope when those 4 come back they wear face masks on the bench and on the ice just for Gary and company. But then they would probably get suspended all over again. Ok nevermind.

 

[zappa4ever]

so close to another 2 points, yarrrgh

3 penalties in a period and multiple Offensive zone penalties, alas, are not the prescription for a win

Good effort, good physicality, great game from the Dowd line matching Eichel's line, best game so far from Schultz, Panik showed a lot, ultimately can't complain taking of 7/8 pts from BUF (though I'm in the minority I'm sure)

 

[Ovie's Neighbor]

Sprong is going to have to start showing something because he won’t be in the NHL much longer if he can’t make more of a contribution