AussieCapsFan
Registered User
Leafs lose to Vancouver again, this time 3-6 with Rittich getting his first start in Leafs goal.
Holtby sure has been good in these last two games.
Holtby sure has been good in these last two games.
Rangers are faster, but weaker. With Caps level up physicality, they might fall. Isles can play tough.rather play the islanders than the rangers anyday
All he needed was... COVID??Leafs lose to Vancouver again, this time 3-6 with Rittich getting his first start in Leafs goal.
Holtby sure has been good in these last two games.
All he needed was... COVID??
Vrana with an assist last night, 19 + minutes to include 1 + minute on the PP, generated no shots and led all players on both teams with 3 give aways.True fact. The top goal scorer on the Red Wings, is Jakub Vrana, with 12 on the year (11 here, 1 there).
Vrana with an assist last night, 19 + minutes to include 1 + minute on the PP, generated no shots and led all players on both teams with 3 give aways.
Yea i think it really doesn't matter. If the stars line up then they will go through any opponent. If not then any team will beat them even the Rangers if they sneak in. Just have to make the playoffs. Once the real season starts all bets are off the tableThis endless perseveration over who our best 1st round opponent would be:
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Siegenthaler is already in that territory with Devils fans.Over under on when Wings fans turn on him? I give it 10 games, the rest of the season.
Siegenthaler is already in that territory with Devils fans.
This. But I also think these older, more veteran teams are probably sick to death of this repetitive and intensive regular season.The way the Pens collapsed in that Jersey game is telling. You could see at the end the players just wanted off the ice.
I think there’s a decent chance that any Pens v Caps series would just become ‘who scores the most goals in 60 minutes’, because both teams’ goaltenders and D seem prone to leakiness.
Even though we beat the Penguins and won the cup, it would feel pretty great to beat them again f*** that team
sorry to chime in as a Bruins fan: was just quick lurk to see what you guys were thinking of the playoff race.
but that is my list as well, except I also have Kent Nilsson in there.
When he felt like showing up he was better than anyone - including Wayne and company. He never showed up enough but when he did - Wow. He was the 1980s version of McDavid - but he (admitted) rarely ever tried so he's kinda forgotten.
next group has guys like Bure and Perrault.
Rangers are faster, but weaker. With Caps level up physicality, they might fall. Isles can play tough.
In a situation like this having a preferred opponent is just coming from a place of fear. In 2018 they didn't care who they faced. You have to beat the best to be the best.
Lavi has it right. They have 10 games and determine their own fate wrt seeding. That's all they should be concerned with. And one game at a time after that.
I don't really get the choking angle at this stage. While they may or may not win the division they're not going to be deemed a total powerhouse or Cup favorites. There's too much parity to have that amount of pressure placed upon them. Whoever they face in the first round will be an admirable opponent.The Caps should beat anyone in the division. Whether they have reverted fully to chokers is up in the air. To avoid that they need to win some rounds this season. No fewer than 2. Which is why I have thought going with baby goalies was a terrible idea
Agree 100%.I don't really get the choking angle at this stage. While they may or may not win the division they're not going to be deemed a total powerhouse or Cup favorites. There's too much parity to have that amount of pressure placed upon them. Whoever they face in the first round will be an admirable opponent.
The mental angle is a lot less relevant post-Cup. I'd go as far to say that choking is off the table barring blowing 3-0, 3-1 type series leads. Even then it may be less be the pressure of the moment than just being a team on the downswing. They're vulnerable in some senses just like every other team. Inexperienced goaltenders is probably less relevant in itself than that neither are altogether total packages just yet. That IMO has less to do with experience than development/technique. I think they should just PIT if that's who they get in the first round. Beyond that NYI/BOS are legit tough opponents. BOS may be a bit light on the back-end but both of those teams play strong fundamental hockey. The Caps have had a good regular season. It's important that Lavi guides them to at least one series win to get the taste of one-and-dones gone and gain some confidence again but I'm not sure confidence or pressure or anything like that will be the issue. Fundamentally they mainly need to prove they're more routinely capable of playing closer to the vest type playoff hockey.
tldr: I think the narrative these days is more likely to revolve around age and perhaps being over the hill than psychology.
It was fair. They blew BIG series leads. They lost to far lesser teams. That has not been the case the past couple of years. They were irreparably injured in 2019 and were outcoached in the bubble.I didn't get the choking angle before they won the Cup.