I doubt there is a magic incantation to start games well.
Caps' effort looked fine to me in the 1st, Pens were just faster.
The biggest factor, IMO, that allowed them to get back into the game, is that Pens started to turtle more after their goal, lost momentum, and then in the 3rd probably started running out of gas playing 5 defensemen. Anyway, it sounds about right that it might take a period or two to slow down a faster opponent.
Coming out super-aggressive against a faster opponent that's good on transition is also risky -- you can find yourself down 3-0 in a period.
I mean, I'm for doing something more aggressively, but it's a tricky balance in this case, IMO. When you're the slower team, your options are limited.
Need to stop giving Malkin room.
I just don't get why they can't play like this from the drop of the puck. That Pens D is nothing special IMO yet the Caps aren't exploiting it. They have a rookie goalie in net who should be getting peppered and screened at every chance.
This has been a weird series so far. Neither team has impressed and they both could be easily up 2-0 at this point.
Caps were outshot 28-10 going into the 3rd period and out-chanced by who knows how much. That is completely unacceptable, and needs to be fixed ASAP.
That sounds too much like an empty slogan.
I didn't see a lack of effort, I saw a faster team get to pucks... faster. Even to hit them, Caps need to catch them first.
I don't really see obvious solutions. Yes, try (even) harder, hope physicality will pay dividends later in the series, but until then, it's basically survival mode, Holtby, and hoping for some individual/line brilliance.
Faster teams lose in the playoffs all the time. I see a couple problems. One, the passing game is atrocious. Passes are late, passes are off target, passes are too soft. This has been a pattern for months and THAT is why I don't see how this series can be won, not because of a speed disparity, which as I said isn't as bad as it looks. When you have purposeful movement and quick decisions you look faster. Our faster skaters look slow out there. This all gets us pinned in and then we line change on half our rushes.That sounds too much like an empty slogan.
I didn't see a lack of effort, I saw a faster team get to pucks... faster. Even to hit them, Caps need to catch them first.
I don't really see obvious solutions. Yes, try (even) harder, hope physicality will pay dividends later in the series, but until then, it's basically survival mode, Holtby, and hoping for some individual/line brilliance.