GDT: Threepeat contenders @ just happy to get some Ovechkin goals and two games of playoff revenue, 7:37pm

[RedRocking]

Nice to see the guys still have an extra gear when things get tough.

Solid 2 pts, Carlson welcome to the 2nd half of the season.

 

[PlushMinus]

What a game by Carlson. He gets a lot of shit from us fans but that is a baller game at both ends for him.

Good win against a good team.

It's because they worked through some things in the room. After locking the door when Lavi was outside.

 

[troyerlaw]

hell of a game from Carlson and McMichael

McMichael?

I thought guys like Fever, Mantha, Willy, and Orlov were better

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

Carlson plays like that and this team has a chance… assuming they get average goaltending.

Thank you, Lars, for 2018 but please take your place in the press box. Dude is just brutal. Absolutely no argument for icing him over McMichael.

Sammy was decent. Not great but not terrible.

 

[tycoonheart]

Tampa looks like they need a players only meeting.

 

[twabby]

I’d like them to put John Carlson in bubble wrap until the playoffs start. He’s the type of high-reward player they’re going to need if they are going to succeed in the postseason.

 

[hockeyfanplayer]

Massive 2 points. And a momentum change, hopefully.

Time to end the Sammy experiment, or hire a goalie whisperer.

Ultimately you prob didn't need them as we weren't catching you. The East is pretty much set in terms of the top 8. GL in the PO.

 

[McVechkin]

Really nice win. CMM gotta learn to finish these chances. He should have about 10 more goals. He will get there.. but it’s becoming hard to watch.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

 

[Marshall]

My favorite part of the game was when the final horn sounded.

 

[amin723]

Ultimately you prob didn't need them as we weren't catching you. The East is pretty much set in terms of the top 8. GL in the PO.

Keeping the Lightning on the opposite side of the bracket would be pretty sweet.

 

[notDkristich]

entertaining...even my kids watched and stuck it out

 

[Langway]

Good win. Tampa looks largely dead tired outside of a couple players.

Not sure I get not using Mantha down the stretch in that situation. He's one of your better defensive forwards and his wingspan alone allows him to be more disruptive than an Oshie.

 

[notDkristich]

I am not firmly in the camp of Samsonov is an AHL goalie.

Edit - silly mobile auto-correct

 

[Carlzner]

I love Mantha

 

[Midnight Judges]

Good game.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I am not firmly in the camp of Samsonov is an AHL goalie.

I was in the house tonight….he was all over the place, banging posts, flopping, floundering….got the job done I guess…

 

[SherVaughn30]

Massive 2 points. And a momentum change, hopefully.

Time to end the Sammy experiment, or hire a goalie whisperer.

Sammy still plays raw at times but how he played tonight was far better than VV last 2 games! I say you start Sammy again against the Pens.

 

[Roshi]

Are you not entertained??

It was nice game, with a win and JC resurrection. We needed this one.

But please, next time there 5mins in the clock and opponent pulls goalie out.. send Ovie to finish it. We have been trying to fourth line it away last times and keep on getting scored on. Ovie is gold for EN.

 

[g00n]

Well if you like unpredictability then Sammy's your guy.

I've never played goalie in hockey but generally in any sport if you're frequently diving to make plays then you're probably out of position to begin with, or lacking fundamentals. Rarely is it just an amazing play.

I would say great goalies stop most of the easy pucks almost without thinking (~80% of shots), make the hard saves look easy (~10%), and throw in the occasional highlight reel move (~2-3%). Softies happen but are rare (~2-3% at most), and sometimes they just get beaten by a better shot, a beautiful team goal, or simply bad luck (~4-6%).

With Sammy it seems like the routine stops are closer to 50%, which means 30% of the easy saves are made to look harder or blend in with the highlight reel stops, or turn into softies.

This screams out for coaching intervention. There are some bad habits that need to be broken, imo.

 

[usiel]

Lol, CMM’s shooting futility is becoming legendary. I have a very hard time believing he will ever break 20 goals, but I still think he has a lot to offer.

Come on now been watching prospects develop for damn near 35 years what worries me is when prospects generate way less offensive chances than one would hope. Pretty clear needs more man strength to finish but over the season there has been improvement in that.

 

[g00n]

CMM reminds me a bit of Zubrus. Always seemed to threaten, particularly with speed, but had a hell of a time finishing.

 

[twabby]

The good thing about Connor McMichael is that even though his finishing has been poor this year his IQ is high, his skating has improved since last year, his defensive metrics are great, and he drives offensive possession. He could turn into Carl Hagelin I guess but I suspect he’ll improve his shooting.

 

[notDkristich]

CMM reminds me a bit of Zubrus. Always seemed to threaten, particularly with speed, but had a hell of a time finishing.

Agree on this. However, I think his confidence took a hit when they moved him to the wing. He's been flying around ever since his return to center. He will break out next season with 20-25 goals.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Well if you like unpredictability then Sammy's your guy.

I've never played goalie in hockey but generally in any sport if you're frequently diving to make plays then you're probably out of position to begin with, or lacking fundamentals. Rarely is it just an amazing play.

I would say great goalies stop most of the easy pucks almost without thinking (~80% of shots), make the hard saves look easy (~10%), and throw in the occasional highlight reel move (~2-3%). Softies happen but are rare (~2-3% at most), and sometimes they just get beaten by a better shot, a beautiful team goal, or simply bad luck (~4-6%).

With Sammy it seems like the routine stops are closer to 50%, which means 30% of the easy saves are made to look harder or blend in with the highlight reel stops, or turn into softies.

This screams out for coaching intervention. There are some bad habits that need to be broken, imo.

starting to feel un-coachable...