Post-Game Talk: Steel City @ The District | 7:00p ET | NBCSN

[troyerlaw]

I was listening to the game most of the time doing work on another computer. Watched sporadically, and I found Caps chased the Pens often and couldnt ruin their breakout most of the time.

Nice two goals but nothing else besides that, at least I didnt catch anything.

Our goaltending was good

 

[IafrateOvie34]

I just looked at this game as two over the hill contenders fighting for a spot in a real division and not a joke like the North Division. Overall, it was a battle between two teams fighting for a spot. 3 on 3 has to go!

 

[francaisvolantsparis]

ECHller was the best player on that line tonight easily

I don't like all our lines from this game. One line full of dynamite-creative but lazy and soft guys, second one full of good two-way but slow players, third one full of shot-shot don't pass guys. And the 4th line with stonehanded PK specialists only. Seems like Lavi want to pass a message.

By the way I like our D pairs tonight.

 

[pman25]

I think we should settle on some line combos for a decent stretch and not these ones. We shuffle lines every two games and it’s W/L/W/L

 

[troyerlaw]

I think we should settle on some line combos for a decent stretch and not these ones. We shuffle lines every two games and it’s W/L/W/L

Better than the previous stretch of LLLL. One thing i liked about last couple games was spreading the talent around the lineup. That way there are difference makers on all three of the top lines. Vrana-Kuz-Sheary does seem liable to get pinned in our own end though

 

[francaisvolantsparis]

Carlson. Brain dead

During this offseason I had a theory that John sustained an irreversible damage with his playoff injury. I hope I am wrong this time.

 

[Raikkonen]

I guess goalie situation gets better. And it does nothing in the big picture of going nowhere.

Also, effortless stride, right.

 

[Monsterrain]

Carlson. Brain dead

Carlson has been bad. Think we are going hate that contract real soon when he gets even slower with age.

 

[twabby]

Kuznetsov with a point tonight.

 

[caps4cup]

Better than the previous stretch of LLLL. One thing i liked about last couple games was spreading the talent around the lineup. That way there are difference makers on all three of the top lines. Vrana-Kuz-Sheary does seem liable to get pinned in our own end though

I’d roll with:

8-19-43
13-20-77
14-92-73

First two lines have a history of success and chemistry. Kuz is paired with two guys that hound pucks and Sheary has enough finishing ability to finish off Kuz’s set ups.

 

[SherVaughn30]

Someone please explain to me why the Russians on our team don't want to skate and work hard? I'm including Sammy in this group. OV, Kuzy, Orlov and even SamNoShowNov look like they rather play in the KHL.

 

[Rayquaza64]

Someone please explain to me why the Russians on our team don't want to skate and work hard? I'm including Sammy in this group. OV, Kuzy, Orlov and even SamNoShowNov look like they rather play in the KHL.

lets send them all there then!

 

[francaisvolantsparis]

Someone please explain to me why the Russians on our team don't want to skate and work hard? I'm including Sammy in this group. OV, Kuzy, Orlov and even SamNoShowNov look like they rather play in the KHL.

Kuzy is doing well. His GF% and xGF% are dominant. Samsonov had Covid. Ovechkin is fine. The only true question is Orlov. I smell some ECHL savour in the air when typing his name.

 

[SherVaughn30]

lets send them all there then!

Caps as a team have played better when those 4 haven't been in the lineup!

 

[Rayquaza64]

Caps as a team have played better when those 4 haven't been in the lineup!

glad we're on the same page. send them all to the khl and call up guys. they will work harder and we will cup.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

Im ready to see him in another sweater.

The unfortunate thing is I thought he actually played really well tonight... but that was textbook defense. Just unfortunate that it was textbook in what not to do.

 

[twabby]

Tom Wilson is having a sneaky bad season, yikes.

 

[francaisvolantsparis]

glad we're on the same page. send them all to the khl and call up guys. they will work harder and we will cup.

Calder Cup

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

During this offseason I had a theory that John sustained an irreversible damage with his playoff injury. I hope I am wrong this time.

If your track record is any indication of John's health I have no doubt he'll be fine.

 

[CapsJunkie]

who sits out when Sprong plays? is it Sheary?

 

[kicksavedave]

who sits out when Sprong plays? is it Sheary?

Hathaway hasn't brought too much lately.

 

[AussieCapsFan]

Someone please explain to me why the Russians on our team don't want to skate and work hard? I'm including Sammy in this group. OV, Kuzy, Orlov and even SamNoShowNov look like they rather play in the KHL.

I think we lost one of our long term posters a few weeks ago when I questioned whether "our" Russians were like "those problem Russians". He felt I was maligning the entire nation - I tried to assure him I was really just referencing guys like Kovalev, Radulov (who has been better since he went to KHL and then returned to the NHL), and the brothers who played for Montreal and spent more time partying in clubs than practicing.

 

[Roshi]

Cold streaking.

Looks like our team isnt very tough to play against when we have Ovie, JC and even Willy playing cold af, alongside with the usual suspects. Who would have figured.

Snap it out! I hate having all my positive vibes from this season fastly turning into bitter whining and panic mode. Though, thats to be expected from Your Washington Capitals. Even on a seasons when we dominate the standings the games must follow some sort of roller coaster ride.

The one thing im still finding hard to believe is Panik scoring a goal. A goal that he did not just accidently assbump in. Maybe the tides really are turning.

Gotta win next one against the Pens. They suck and looks like we have volunteered to give them the rope to stay alive. Phew. Why it has to be them that we always underachieve vs. Id rather lose all 8 games to Rangers than give another one for Pens.

 

[Melkor]

I think we lost one of our long term posters a few weeks ago when I questioned whether "our" Russians were like "those problem Russians". He felt I was maligning the entire nation - I tried to assure him I was really just referencing guys like Kovalev, Radulov (who has been better since he went to KHL and then returned to the NHL), and the brothers who played for Montreal and spent more time partying in clubs than practicing.

The brothers were belorussians though, not russians. We don't claim them.

Regarding the topic: I've said it many times. You cant have more than 2-3 russians on the same team. They more than any other nation tend to group up together and it not just gives them some comfort in terms of having other guys who speak the same language and eat the same food but it gives them the feeling of safety, especially when one of them is as powerful as Ovechkin in DC. They're getting too complacent, too comfortable and eventually don't give a f***. They work hard when they're constantly pushed, when the circumstances just don't leave them any other choice. You either work your butt off or you're getting sent home. Of course it doesn't extrapolate on bums like Shumakov, he just didn't have what it takes to begin with. But when you got some serious talent like Kuzy you got that airbag that even if you suck for long stretches hey there's Ovi, he got my back and I'm soo talented I can get out of this funk any day I want. It's hard to encapsulate their psychology the way it would be fully understandable for western people. Some isolated specific examples not withstanding it's not good when you have too many of them on the team.

 

[HecticGlow]

Caps are fourth in the division in terms of points % – only second because they’ve played one more game than Pittsburgh, and three more than Philly. The race for 2-3-4-5 in the division is close, so no need to panic at this juncture. But as a team, they rarely look like they’re gelling.

The fact that Laviolette stopped them mid-line rush yesterday and made them do it over tells me they’re still adapting to his system and its details. If you recall GMBM said he acquired Eller at the draft, not the TDL, because of how long it can take a guy to adapt to a new system when joining a new team – the same logic must apply when you’re onto your third HC in four years, and in that time you’ve been coached by eight different HCs and assistant coaches. Guys like Carlson are at their best when they can play instinctively and read the play, not read the system. Add to that the constantly-changing pairs and lines, and adapting to the tendencies of 2-3 new goaltenders, is it any surprise they’re struggling a bit? The good news is their defense isn’t looking like a tire fire right now, and they’re getting better goaltending again. Give them time.