Post-Game Talk: Game #4 CAPITALS @ penguins, 7PM EST

[Melkor]

you cant have one line and thats it. your gonna have dsp with kuznetsov? if he was that bad like you all say, is there a difference?

Actually you can and Pittsburgh showing that this series. Crosby line makes a difference. Their other lines look bad as hell. And they still tied this series

 

[hockeykicker]

Last year when letang misses the penguins find a way to win.

Game one with Malkin out pens find a way to win.

Trotz loses Wilson and Caps get zero even strength goals, few in game adjustments - and 3 shots on goal total in the 3rd (when they go into period trailing).

That’s a huge difference. You just can’t win with a coach like Trotz when you have a lack of talent the Caps have VS precious years.

and game 2? and game 3?

 

[Melkor]

And who plays on the 2nd line?

I'd play Vrana on Rw. He was good with Backstrom.

 

[Calicaps]

I'd go:

8-92-18/18-92-8 (paging Adam Oates )
13-19-77 (yeah, I know Vrana can be a liability but 19 and 77 are plenty responsible)
10-20-25
Gersich/Boyd-83-39

 

[Melkor]

Holtby played well again. But think he's gonna have to pitch a shutout in the next few days if we're going to move on

Same thought. Thats why I said before the game that he should stand on his head. This team cant win even with a good goalie. They need someone like Hasek

 

[maacoshark]

So what? If you don't have the balls to try fixing what clearly isn't working, and is in fact destroying the value of your first line, you're making bad coaching decisions.

It's really that simple. The fact that you can't admit even that says something about you. How about putting Stephenson on the first line, stashing Vrana on the second (where he was very effective in the 3rd period of game 2, and then bury the bottom 6?

Was that really particularly hard?

Wtf is wrong with you? We have no one to bump up. I'd be up for Stephenson being bumped up. I love the guy but he us not a rw. I'm sure he could adjust but I'm not sure it would work. And if we do bump up Stephenson who then plays on the 2nd line? Right now we don't have 12 forwards that should be in the NHL.

 

[tycoonheart]

Didn't think we were gonna win that.

Was worth it to watch TJ KO Letang.

 

[IafrateOvie34]

Most, including myself are disappointed due to the Caps were in this game and stupid stuff cost it. Overall there is a lot of positives and a lot to be excited about. Consider this for a second. This could have been a series clinching game if not for some lucky bounces for the Pens. I'm ecstatic we have Holtby playing like he is.

 

[GoCaps2004]

gersich definitely needs time in the minors and today wasn't the day to find that out. dude was stumbling all over the place. He did have one good chance tho, but nothing came of that and he was bland the rest of the game.

 

[Calicaps]

Didn't think we were gonna win that.

Was worth it to watch TJ KO Letang.

And Ovie rock Sid.

 

[maacoshark]

No, a coach should have a feel for what is and isn’t working. Not be a bird repeatedly flying into a window. Trying a different line combo would have had everything to gain and nothing to lose. It’s not like they were going to get their mojo in the last half of the 3rd period.

Wow. Totally clueless. This team has no depth. We have players in the lineup that shouldn't be on an NHL roster. Our best chance of winning this series us to keep it low scoring.

 

[maacoshark]

gersich definitely needs time in the minors and today wasn't the day to find that out. dude was stumbling all over the place. He did have one good chance tho, but nothing came of that and he was bland the rest of the game.

He made a couple rookie mistakes. He just isnt ready but we have no one else.

 

[HTFN]

Wtf is wrong with you? We have no one to bump up. I'd be up for Stephenson being bumped up. I love the guy but he us not a rw. I'm sure he could adjust but I'm not sure it would work. And if we do bump up Stephenson who then plays on the 2nd line? Right now we don't have 12 forwards that should be in the NHL.

But if, but if, what if...

If deserves a shot when what you're doing is clearly not working, first of all. It's fine being cautious about those things when tied, I guess, but when you need a goal and you haven't gotten any offense from line 1 all game, you can't afford to be concerned about that.

If we bump Stephenson, Vrana plays second line. Same way he did in period 3 of Game 3, when Stephenson was possibly hurt (and later playing on the third line). Vrana had three of the Caps' best chances and was thriving with the extra ice time, is clearly a player that needs more reps to find a rhythm within the game. Stephenson also wasn't a LW, until he was. Get into the offensive zone and that kind of thing barely matters anymore.

Why do you think that playing one player way, way over his head (and established ceiling) is better than giving your best young players a chance to succeed?

 

[Melkor]

Why am I disappointed? Not because they lost. Because they lost to a team that was playing bad and lost due to the own stupidity. It could have easily been 3-1 in the series. How they find different ways to shit the bed is remarkable.

 

[HTFN]

Wow. Totally clueless. This team has no depth. We have players in the lineup that shouldn't be on an NHL roster. Our best chance of winning this series us to keep it low scoring.

We do, and our coach elected to play them with 3 minutes left in the game (DSP and Chiasson), and rode with one on the top line all game.

 

[maacoshark]

I'd play Vrana on Rw. He was good with Backstrom.

Maybe but he isnt a rw.

 

[Brian23]

 

[hockeykicker]

 

[philip]

I thought we really missed Wilson. I can see us looking back at that suspension as the reason we lost this series... again...

 

[Calicaps]

One important fact that I will ding Trotz on. They should've had a practice without Willy yesterday even if they didn't know he'd be suspended so guys could get a feel for the new combos. I don't get the impression that that happened.

 

[Melkor]

Maybe but he isnt a rw.

He is a leftie but he plays both positions well.

 

[Calicaps]

WOW.

Oshie was obviously a bit too hot too. They need to focus.

 

[maacoshark]

We do, and our coach elected to play them with 3 minutes left in the game (DSP and Chiasson), and rode with one on the top line all game.

We have more than that. Those 2 aren't even our worst forwards. DSP has played better than most of our players.

 

[SpinningEdge]

How can you NOT bump up Oshie? At least he has skill and has success on a first line before.

DSP is slow, cannot handle a opposing teams too line, and doesn’t fit anywhere with Ovi and Kuzy’s style.

 

[GoCaps2004]

He made a couple rookie mistakes. He just isnt ready but we have no one else.

boyd? I for sure thought trotz would go with him and he has much much more professional experience.