GDT: Game 82: Slow pokes @ Rongos | 4/29/2022 | 7pm EST

[SpinningEdge]

Panthers has the potential of being a sweep. They could skate around us.

Worst case... if Caps win and use all their energy and lose in round 2 - nothing will stay the same.

With what the team has done post Cup - this offseason will need to have front office changes if we lose early again. They aren't even playing or putting young guys in positions to be in the lineup and we are a freaking 8 seed and looking like an early out again. CANNOT go into another year like this.

Literally everyone except Ovi and Backstrom should be on the block if we lose early again. Especially every player older (Oshie, Hagelin, etc).

 

[RedRocking]

I’m ok with the Panthers. At least if we lose it’s to someone new and it should be entertaining hockey. Is Ekblad healthy?

All that seems to be available is that he started skating with the team last week.

 

[SoulessGingerCapsFan]

Panthers has the potential of being a sweep. They could skate around us.

Worst case... if Caps win and use all their energy and lose in round 2 - nothing will stay the same.

With what the team has done post Cup - this offseason will need to have front office changes if we lose early again. They aren't even playing or putting young guys in positions to be in the lineup and we are a freaking 8 seed and looking like an early out again. CANNOT go into another year like this.

Literally everyone except Ovi and Backstrom should be on the block if we lose early again. Especially every player older (Oshie, Hagelin, etc).

I mean… quick, painless death?

 

[troyerlaw]

Nice sammy, real nice. With a sweet assist from Eller (listed as shift-to shift, falling down)

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Good ole fashion leaker through Sammy.

 

[Empty Goal Net]

Caps being Caps 2022 edition.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Schultz scores. Woot.

 

[HeyMattyB]

There's our Sammy.

 

[troyerlaw]

I mean… quick, painless death?

Sounds good to me!

 

[RedRocking]

So a million $ a goal for Schultz, ha!

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

I mean… quick, painless death?

If we have to lose, yes please.

 

[troyerlaw]

Hathaway draws penalty two shifts in a row. Now let’s try some different personnel this time around on PP

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

I sh*t on BMac often (mostly only when deserved) so I’ll give him more credit. Hathaway and Dowd are gems for their cap hits.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

USA USA USA

 

[SpinningEdge]

Carlson has that shot with Ovi out there. Wonder why he doesn't take that shot with Ovi out there more? He is capable of what he just did OFTEN... Would be nice if he shot more like this on the PP. At very least keeps defense from being so far back/locked in to the circles only...

 

[RedRocking]

Carlson has that shot with Ovi out there. Wonder why he doesn't take that shot with Ovi out there more? He is capable of what he just did OFTEN... Would be nice if he shot more like this on the PP. At very least keeps defense from being so far back/locked in to the circles only...

I think generally he only pulls the trigger when he’s got a pretty clean look.

Otherwise shot gets blocked and he’s going the other way defending. He shot there because Kreider was late getting to him.

 

[HeyMattyB]

I think generally he only pulls the trigger when he’s got a pretty clean look.

Otherwise shot gets blocked and he’s going the other way defending. He shot there because Kreider was late getting to him.

Yeah. A while back, someone (I forget who) did a pretty serious photo/video breakdown of why Carlson wasn't shooting from the point on the powerplay. The penalty kill focused on Ovechkin and Carlson. Defenders were very, very quick to get in Carlson's shooting lanes. Either he shot it and it got blocked, or he passed on the shot. IIRC, there was a LOT of griping early in the season about how Carlson kept shooting into blocks, lol.

It seems like PKers have always focused on Ovi, Carlson, and Oshie, while giving the half-wall quarterback (either Backstrom or Kuznetsov) plenty of room (because they won't shoot anyway) and giving the below-the-line guy room as well (because what are they gonna do, other than try to walk the puck across the crease).

 

[Dibbs31]

When will playoff schedules come out?

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Carlson giveth and he taketh.

 

[HeyMattyB]

lolol not Carlson's greatest moment.

 

[Ovie's Neighbor]

I swear we always make Laff look like some all star

 

[Devil Dancer]

Classic Mojo making an appearance, fanning on a shot in the slot.

 

[hockeykicker]

ovie looks fine to me

 

[caps4cup]

Panthers has the potential of being a sweep. They could skate around us.

Worst case... if Caps win and use all their energy and lose in round 2 - nothing will stay the same.

With what the team has done post Cup - this offseason will need to have front office changes if we lose early again. They aren't even playing or putting young guys in positions to be in the lineup and we are a freaking 8 seed and looking like an early out again. CANNOT go into another year like this.

Literally everyone except Ovi and Backstrom should be on the block if we lose early again. Especially every player older (Oshie, Hagelin, etc).

The Caps weren’t projected to make the playoffs with a fully healthy roster, let alone missing their whole second line the first half of the season, and getting even worse goaltending than expected.

Does it suck they’re not a clear Cup contender anymore? Yeah. But I’m not blaming BMac and I really don’t know if I would want him to trade guys like Backstrom, Oshie, and Carlson to clear cap space and make upgrades. I want those guys to retire as Caps.

Could be use guys like Schultz and Eller’s (at this point) cap hit better? Yeah. But Eller’s contract has still been a gem overall, and I’m not sure there’s much more he can do without trading the core guys.

Realistically, the biggest cap problem is spending 9.5m on Backstrom who is a below average NHL player right now. Replace him with a player worth 9.5 mil and this team finishes 2nd or 3rd in the Metro easily. The goaltending could be improved as well, no doubt, but I’m also not sure if I would have done anything different last off-season. Next off season is a different story.

 

[twabby]

ovie looks fine to me

I love Alex Ovechkin.