Playoffs 2018 Discussion Thread

[njx9]

Great first game, loved seeing the VGK crowd get so excited.

The Caps are going to have to get some more energy if they want to keep up with Vegas for an entire game. That team just flies. It's too bad we're so stuck on being a bad team that plays a bad two way game - at least if we were playing with the energy Vegas has we'd be fun to watch, even if we don't have the talent to make it work.

 

[njx9]

Another great game... It seems like Vegas has 7 skaters on the ice, the way they all move.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

Zero bounces for Vegas in this game and they are in serious trouble.

 

[Ezekial]

Zero bounces for Vegas in this game and they are in serious trouble.

They got deflated after that second post, and seems like Washington got a little jump. Unfortunate.

 

[TheMule93]

vegas dominated most of the period but are down 0-3

also ive been pulling for ovi sooo hard all series. ALso, kuzentsov is an amazing player.

 

[HisNoodliness]

They got deflated after that second post, and seems like Washington got a little jump. Unfortunate.

Unless Vegas has a crazy comeback that post will haunt Neal's dreams for a long time. Vegas has gotten every bounce all playoffs. Washington is getting the bounces this series, and they're going to need to really pull it together if they're going to come back.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

I feel a dirty James Neal event building. I get why he is frustrated, but he is a dangerous guy to have in a game when he is frustrated. Has been a very dangerous player in the past the Caps should be careful with him the rest of the way.

 

[Ezekial]

Tatar is looking to change after like 25 seconds every shift. Dude really needs to take this off-season to clear his mind. I think he'll be good for at least 20 again next year.

 

[waltdetroit]

I feel a dirty James Neal event building. I get why he frustrated, but he is a dangerous guy to have in a game when he is frustrated. Has been a very dangerous player in the past the Caps should be careful with him the rest of the way.

You called it

 

[raymond23]

I know Reaves was big for them in Game 1, but his presence has been a net negative for Vegas.

He does not fit their attitude or style at all.

That last sequence on the penalty kill was bush league by Gallant.

 

[HisNoodliness]

Woah Vegas imploded in the third. Miller pretending to be hurt, taking himself out of the play really deserves to get scored on for that Kempny goal. Then they skater around trying to hurt people for the rest of the game which is pretty shameful.

 

[njx9]

The game felt over when Neal missed that wide open net early. Then it got even worse.

That said, it's not like the Caps are known for being able to put a series away - Vegas can't pitch it in.

Still largely enjoyable to watch, and one of the most entertaining Finals I can remember in a few years.

 

[chances14]

haven't enjoyed watching a team lift the cup this much since the wings won.

 

[Cyborg Yzerberg]

haven't enjoyed watching a team lift the cup this much since the wings won.

Ditto, man. I’ve hated every team to win a cup since 2009. It’s been a rough decade of hockey, but it’s very nice to see Ovi and Backstrom, and Trotz finally win their Stanley Cup.

 

[TheMule93]

im ridiculously happy for Ovi. This is also the first winner sine 09 that ive been excited about lol.

 

[HisNoodliness]

Good job Ovi and the Caps. He's deserved this for a while and I haven't been this happy with the winner since we won it.

 

[19 for president]

Same! So much emotion tonight and so HAPPY for Ovi and the gang. Feels a lot like the Wings 97 cup. Ending an insane drought and cementing the legacy of an all time great.

 

[Leronziia]

Brilliant.

That was spine-tingling stuff.

 

[Bench]

I don't think there was a player more deserving of getting his Cup than Ovechkin. Easily the second best player behind Crosby since they came into the league, so it's fitting he was able to help them to a championship. I haven't seen a goal scorer as pure as Ovechkin since, hmm, Hull.

Of course that team has been good for many years now. Backstrom gets so much credit. Kuzentsov, wow. But damn, let's not sleep on Holtby. He's been simply exceptional since he came into the league and his playoff numbers are downright incredible. Over 80 games he allows only 2 goals a game and stops 93% of the shots that come his way. Can you ask for more from a goaltender?

And for years we knew Trotz teams were rough to play against. Even when the Preds had a talent deficit at forward, it felt like running in mud. Give the guy the forward names above and well, yeah. Results.

 

[Red Stanley]

My prediction was completely backwards lol. Grats to Washington, though I would've been happy with either team winning. Great playoffs and great final. Wish it had gone 7.

 

[InjuredChoker]

remember when alzner left the caps and joined montreal because he wanted to win?

 

[njx9]

Those yells from Ovi when Bettman gave him the Cup were just awesome. Would've been happy with basically any result, but it's too bad they couldn't have gone 7. What a fun series.

God I wish we had the talent that WAS has, or that we played the game like Vegas does.

 

[ArGarBarGar]

It isn't often you get the kind of genuine reaction from a player when they win the cup that we saw from Ovie.

What a season for him and the team. Well deserved. Also glad Vegas didn't get a cup win their first season. Would have felt off.

 

[Hadoop]

As others have alluded to a lot of teams that I'm either indifferent to or absolutely loathe have won the cup since our last one in '08. Really awesome to finally see a team I like and a player I'm rooting for win the cup, and the outpouring of jubilation and relief from the Capitals and their fans after so many years of playoff disappointments was really awesome to see. What a great way to wrap up the year.

 

[waltdetroit]

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