Post-Game Talk: Jackets Caps 7:00

[Ridley Simon]

I think Tex is spot on. Caps have had a lot of B2B's, and that's hurt their record. Logic speaks, here.

And the Caps aren't a PrezCup team.....ok. However, why does that mean they are automatically a bubble team? It's one or the other?

Devils will fade. Isles and Rangers have some holes, as do the Pens. C-Bus may be the best of the group, but their playoff chops are worse than ours.

I have said from the beginning that I thought the Caps would take some time to gel, and that some strife would be good for them. But that they would be a top 4 team in the East (top 3 in Metro). That still seems like an outcome that makes sense to me.

That said, I'd be THRILLED if they could get banished to the Atlantic for the playoffs this year. Hell, play Tampa in Rd 1, Toronto in Rd 2. Really, anyone but Pittsburgh. I'm not scared of any other teams in the East. Not one. Doesn't mean they will beat any other team, but they certainly could in a 7 game series. Just not Pittsburgh

 

[Ridley Simon]

The Metro is sending five teams to the dance, which ones will be tough to figure out. I think Jackets and Isles are locks, the other four, Caps, Pens, Devils, Rangers. I don't even consider the Canes (don't like the way they play) or the Flyers who will be lottery bound.

My guess is Caps, Pens, Rangers are the other two, but it won't be easy for any of them.

Isles are a lock? With that G and D? Ok man.

 

[Dream Big]

Nate schmidt was still earning healthy scratches at end of last season, and by that point he was one of our most reliable D.

Orpik amd alzner were regularly committing blunders for which younger players would have been banished.

Stop with the false revisions. Do you just make stuff up to suit your narrative? "regularly committing blunders" is out right fake news.

Orpik and Alzner helped Washington be a President winning team two years in a row. Their positives outweighed any negatives.

Schmidt was sat because of Shattenkirk replacing him on the right side. Schmidt was the #4 after Niskanen, Carlson and Shattenkirk.

There was no way GMBM was sitting a powerplay specialist brought in at the trade deadline like Shattenkirk for a Nate Schmidt. Reliable as he was defensively.

 

[Dream Big]

Caps should make the playoffs this year. I don't foresee them not getting at least into the first round.

 

[maacoshark]

Isles are a lock? With that G and D? Ok man.

I agree. I'm sure the Isles will come down to earth soon.

 

[maacoshark]

They've played 27 games, not 3, and are in the last wild card spot, aka on the bubble. So yes.

There are too many games left and the east is so tight. You can't really say anyone is a bubble team. The presidents cup might be a stretch for the Caps but the division title is still in reach. Then again it could go the other way and we miss the playoffs.

 

[g00n]

I think Tex is spot on. Caps have had a lot of B2B's, and that's hurt their record. Logic speaks, here.

And the Caps aren't a PrezCup team.....ok. However, why does that mean they are automatically a bubble team? It's one or the other?

Devils will fade. Isles and Rangers have some holes, as do the Pens. C-Bus may be the best of the group, but their playoff chops are worse than ours.

I have said from the beginning that I thought the Caps would take some time to gel, and that some strife would be good for them. But that they would be a top 4 team in the East (top 3 in Metro). That still seems like an outcome that makes sense to me.

That said, I'd be THRILLED if they could get banished to the Atlantic for the playoffs this year. Hell, play Tampa in Rd 1, Toronto in Rd 2. Really, anyone but Pittsburgh. I'm not scared of any other teams in the East. Not one. Doesn't mean they will beat any other team, but they certainly could in a 7 game series. Just not Pittsburgh

Ok, but I haven't seen the data showing the Caps are severely hampered by back to back games compared to the rest of the league at this point. Overall their schedule seems to be pretty average and balanced when it comes to fatigued games for and against.

Which NHL teams face toughest, easiest schedules in 2017-18?

Right in the middle at 8 and 9, so actually one game to the good. If they've been severely put out in the first 1/3 of the season they should surge to the top in the latter portion...

 

[g00n]

There are too many games left and the east is so tight. You can't really say anyone is a bubble team. The presidents cup might be a stretch for the Caps but the division title is still in reach. Then again it could go the other way and we miss the playoffs.

That's kind of what makes a team a "bubble" team...it can go either way. We would not have said that about them the last two years.

I'm not saying we expected them to win the Reg season this year. I'm not trying to crap on the good parts, either. Let's just be realistic. Most teams are what they are by this time. They have hot and cold streaks but rarely does a team just completely find a new identity and life. Maybe 1-2 teams a year do this. Is this one of them in your or anyone else's opinion? What would account for such a massive change?

I just don't see any point in arguing over hypothetical awesomeness, or giving people a hard time for refusing to plan the parade, when we're pretty much exactly where we expected to be....on the edge/bubble of the playoffs.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

The Isles have the highest shooting percentage in the NHL and the 4th highest PDO but rank some where in the 20's in terms of CF%. I'm thinking they're due for a bit of a regression at some point.

Edit: I think they're still a playoff team. The Rangers could be in trouble in Zibanejad is out longterm with that concussion.

 

[Sam Spade]

Isles are a lock? With that G and D? Ok man.

It's a solid team, other than goalie, Leddy, Hickey, De hann and Boychuk is a pretty decent top four. Very strong up the middle with JT, Barzal (Calder as of today) and Lee. Nice wings on both sides.

Since Weight took over they have the best record in the NHL, they are going in the right direction. Do I think they are winning the Cup, nope, do I think they are making the playoffs 100%.

But, as with all things, we will see after 82.

 

[Sam Spade]

I just don't see any point in arguing over hypothetical awesomeness, or giving people a hard time for refusing to plan the parade, when we're pretty much exactly where we expected to be....on the edge/bubble of the playoffs.

The Capitals could be up in the Final three games to zero and winning game four 8-0 with 10 minutes to go in the third and no one would plan the parade.