GDT: Stanley Cup Champs @ non Champs Calgary Flames

[troyerlaw]

19 has played an underwhelming game

I retract this, LOL

 

[ovikovy817]

2-0-0 in GDTs this year

 

[twabby]

My favorite part of this game was James Neal getting roughed up a bit and also getting stoned in the shootout.

 

[Devil Dancer]

Yay, winning is fun!

Wish Ovie had converted that 2 on 1 tho.

 

[kicksavedave]

Congrats to Phoenix Copley. Looked like he belonged.

 

[Holtbyisms]

Gotta feel good for Cops there, man was he pumped. Shouldn't have gone to OT but us not being able to win a draw for the rest of the game after they pulled Smith was a big factor. Those are the moments we miss Beags. Two points, next.

 

[Melkor]

Congrats to Phoenix Copley. Looked like he belonged.

No doubt. Also his name is Pheonix.

 

[twabby]

No doubt. Also his name is Pheonix.

I imagine my autocorrect is going to take issue with his name quite a bit over the next few months

 

[marcel snapshot]

Team just continually comes up with new reasons for you to love them. The way they celebrated Copley's first NHL win was just beautiful. Nicky nails an absolute dart top shelf to win it, and no one comes to him cuz they're all so psyched for Copley. Congrats Pheonix

 

[txpd]

two pts. that is all

 

[Calicaps]

LOL! Totally forgot this was a day game. Oh well. Replay this afternoon then.

 

[VaCaps Fan]

We made it count at the end!

 

[maacoshark]

The defense has to be blamed for letting two consecutive cross-ice passes. Rule number 1 for the PK is to intercept all the passes through the box.

I said I wasnt blaming Copley. Said he looks a bit shaky.

 

[Silky mitts]

Ovy is well under 30% in shootouts after starting like 6 for 6 I’m glad they sat him

 

[Sam Spade]

Just went back over the last five seasons of the western Canada trip (Flames/Oilers/Canucks):

2018 - 4 points
2017 - 2 points
2016 (hit Winnipeg as well, won't include that game) - 4 points
2015 - 6 points
2014 - 2 points

 

[ovikovy817]

Jaskin had an assist on the Nisky's goal. 1st point as a Cap

 

[Corby78]

The fourth line looked improved speaking of jaskin. Had a couple of strong shifts where they just ate up the puck in the offensive zone.

 

[Foots]

The Caps never do well in these Western Canada trips. If I remember.

 

[maacoshark]

The Caps never do well in these Western Canada trips. If I remember.

They usually do ok in western Canada. Its the trip to California that kills them.

 

[kicksavedave]

Jaskin looked slow and tentative when he first got here, but that's expected having no training camp. He's slowly finding his chemistry with his linemates and looks to be a solid pickup for the 4th line. Has some decent skating and puck control and solid hockey sense, plus he's not afraid to use his big body. Smokin Al talked about how GMBM has been successful with his recent reclamation projects: Connolly, DSP, definitely Kempny, maybe Jaskin. Good stuff.

 

[VaCaps Fan]

4th line is coming along

 

[twabby]

I think the Orlov-Niskanen pairing is most concerning right now. They get the tougher assignments but it doesn’t explain their poorer than expected possession numbers to date. They certainly haven’t had much puck luck either but their underlying play has been bad as well.

As I mentioned earlier I wouldn’t mind shaking up the defensive pairings for a bit. Orlov-Niskanen has been a constant for almost 2 seasons now and while in general they have been great, lately they seem to be off and maybe they could try something different.

9-74
6-2
44-29

 

[txpd]

I think the Orlov-Niskanen pairing is most concerning right now. They get the tougher assignments but it doesn’t explain their poorer than expected possession numbers to date. They certainly haven’t had much puck luck either but their underlying play has been bad as well.

As I mentioned earlier I wouldn’t mind shaking up the defensive pairings for a bit. Orlov-Niskanen has been a constant for almost 2 seasons now and while in general they have been great, lately they seem to be off and maybe they could try something different.

9-74
6-2
44-29

Ok, I'll bite. Which of those pairs do you assign the opposing 1st line? Do you really think Kempny is better at that than Orlov? Do you think Carlson having to support Orlov wont pull his offensive numbers back hard? I would suggest this is why they don't want to make those changes.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

9-74 seems prone to epic mental blunders.
6-2 seems completely underwhelming.


But....why not...long season.

 

[txpd]

9-74 seems prone to epic mental blunders.
6-2 seems completely underwhelming.


But....why not...long season.

The epic mental blunders are, IMO, a function of being a defenseman with offensive responsibilities. Your job is not the safe play and is not to sit back and eliminate risk of getting caught up ice. Almost all offense generating defensemen get dinged like that.

What I want to avoid is turning Carlson into Niskanen. Niskanen came to the Caps with a solid offensive resume. He has become a primary defensive player because of his assignments.