I understand that the Rangers lost because they didn't score and were pretty much outplayed, so don't misconstrue this post as blaming the loss on anything else. More just venting.. but....
is anyone else frustrated with the officiating so far in these two games? Last night, the caps get the quick whistle the rangers didn't get in game 1, when the puck was VERY loose. Then there are the McDonaugh penalties, the first one was an interference, but if they are going to call that, they should ate least be consistent about it, shortly after that a rangers player misses a centering pass because he is held up by a caps player. That is textbook interference and denied them a scoring chance. The 2nd one was just ridiculous, and led directly to a goal, might have been a different game if it was 1-0.
Like I said, not making excuses those aren't reasons they lost, just venting and trying to get some opinions about the overall state of the officiating.
Honestly, I think the rangers are on the right track. You start building a team from the goaltender out. We have the best one in the league, IMO, we have 2 young solid dman, and two more young ones that look promising. Remember after Girardi's rookie year lots of people wanted him traded. Staal, Girardi, Sauer, McDonaugh? In a couple of years, that will be a solid dman group. It is understandable to be frustrated now though, after dropping 2 games like this.
I think this game and this series so far has been a microcsim of the rangers season-inconsistent. Some times they work hard (1st period last night) then sometimes they just don't show up. Also like the rest of the season they haven't been getting the calls or any lucky bounces, and that gets frustrating.
I still have some hope they can climb out, but not much, especially if they can't start scoring.
Oh yeah and as far as caps fans go, we all know what a classy bunch some of them are:
Did they really throw ice at Sullivan though? I understand Torts getting suspended for the water bottle incident, but if something else happened between the fans and the bench shouldn't the league look into caps security around the bench area? When will the caps be held responsible? I wouldn't mind seeing a news article if that really happened.
Did they really throw ice at Sullivan though? I understand Torts getting suspended for the water bottle incident, but if something else happened between the fans and the bench shouldn't the league look into caps security around the bench area? When will the caps be held responsible? I wouldn't mind seeing a news article if that really happened.
Something was definitely thrown at the Ranger bench I don't know what. You could see the shadow of something being thrown and Sullivan reacting immediately.
Something was definitely thrown at the Ranger bench I don't know what. You could see the shadow of something being thrown and Sullivan reacting immediately.
Couldn't find any news on this. Did they mention it on MSG? I had the comcast feed and I don't think they mentioned it, but it is possible I missed it. I would have liked to see the league do something, fine the caps, make them add security, the place is a joke.
Couldn't find any news on this. Did they mention it on MSG? I had the comcast feed and I don't think they mentioned it, but it is possible I missed it. I would have liked to see the league do something, fine the caps, make them add security, the place is a joke.
After the water bottle incident last Rangers-Capitals series, the Verizon Center should be ****ing bankrupted by fines for allowing **** like that to occur behind the bench.
Props to Torts to calming Sullivan down and assumedly calling the ref to deal with it.
EDIT: I assume it was the guy with the humongous side pocket on his khakis that dumped the ice/soda (you can see his tan pant leg in the video and he backs away after Sullivan smacks the glass), and that the guy with the blue jacket standing there facing away from the bench doing essentially nothing is a security guard).
Murray Craven once told me that MSG was one of the craziest places to play he said fans used to toss batteries, golf balls, etc at the opposing bench all the time. This stuff happens at every rink. It's not just a Capitals thing it's a society thing.
EDIT: I assume it was the guy with the humongous side pocket on his khakis that dumped the ice/soda (you can see his tan pant leg in the video and he backs away after Sullivan smacks the glass), and that the guy with the blue jacket standing there facing away from the bench doing essentially nothing is a security guard).
I think that's the gal in red right behind the glass actually.
Also our offense isn't bad because of the 2-3 blowouts we had...maybe our offense is bad right now because this team is INCONSISTENT, which has been the problem all year? We're not a ****** team and you're just being ridiculous if you think so.
People either think this team is too good or too crappy. Give me a first line that can score or dictate the play like a first line and then we'll see the real mettle of this team.
As a Caps fan that frequently goes to games, I apologize for this. That guy should be kicked out of the arena for good. There is no need for that a sporting event. Its just a game and even the rival teams serve some respect
On a side note, **** the caps, **** the fans. I'm ready to win tomorrow. The thing is, I know they can win. They didn't do anything, but I'm sure they can win and bounce back.
I'm curious if you guys view the Caps "new defensive style" as a real change or just a product of NY's offensive struggles? As a Caps fan, it's obvious that they've changed their scheme, and it certainly worked to limit opportunities in the regular season. I'm not sure if it is good enough to limit a highly skilled offensive team?
Another question - from your point of view - are the caps more physical this year than last? Us caps fans are claiming so, but we're a bit biased...
My opinion going into the playoffs was that I would have rather played anyone other than NY (aside from Philly). There are many people who didn't give NY credit for how they played down the stretch, but from where I stand they were one of the best ~3 teams in the east in the last month of the season....
I'm curious if you guys view the Caps "new defensive style" as a real change or just a product of NY's offensive struggles? As a Caps fan, it's obvious that they've changed their scheme, and it certainly worked to limit opportunities in the regular season. I'm not sure if it is good enough to limit a highly skilled offensive team?
Another question - from your point of view - are the caps more physical this year than last?
My opinion going into the playoffs was that I would have rather played anyone other than NY (aside from Philly). There are many people who didn't give NY credit for how they played down the stretch, but from where I stand they were one of the best ~3 teams in the east in the last month of the season....
I thought about this subject earlier, no doubt Washington does a good job at taking away ice around their own net. Without any single doubt, teams that play like the Rangers does under Tortorella -- who always want to get the puck below the hashmarks before they attack -- will never get much ice against you.
At the same time, when you collapse that deep, against a really good team, say a Detroit team fireing on all cylindars, you could really struggle to get up ice much (The style is compareable to how Calgary plays for example, and look at the recent Calgary-Detroit series in the PO's were Cal struggled to get over the redline basically). As you have seen in this series already, you have not created all that much high caliber offensive chances.
But, just look at how the east have looked this season, with the cap, no team is that capable. Look at Pittsburg's record without Sid and Malkin for example. Look at the Islanders record the last 50 games or something. Look at Montreal (what do they have really, people complain that we have no top end offensive ability, yet Gabby would without any single doubt be the big star for Montreal too...).
So, this year, when Pittsburg is basically out of it already, I think the current Cap's style could be enough to get out of the east. But I don't think its the best style to play the best of the West and I do not buy it against a healty Pittsburg. And I wouldn't rule out that you could run into trouble against Tampa/Boston/Philly...
I'm curious if you guys view the Caps "new defensive style" as a real change or just a product of NY's offensive struggles? As a Caps fan, it's obvious that they've changed their scheme, and it certainly worked to limit opportunities in the regular season. I'm not sure if it is good enough to limit a highly skilled offensive team?
Another question - from your point of view - are the caps more physical this year than last? Us caps fans are claiming so, but we're a bit biased...
My opinion going into the playoffs was that I would have rather played anyone other than NY (aside from Philly). There are many people who didn't give NY credit for how they played down the stretch, but from where I stand they were one of the best ~3 teams in the east in the last month of the season....
Rangers are certainly not a high-powered offense by any stretch, however they can be very dangerous and are not easy to play against.
So far, the Caps have played a smart defensive game as well as maintaining their physical play. Not just this series but for most of the last half of the season. If the goal-temding holds up (and we are NOT the best test for that), I really think they could go to the SC finals this year.
I'm curious if you guys view the Caps "new defensive style" as a real change or just a product of NY's offensive struggles? As a Caps fan, it's obvious that they've changed their scheme, and it certainly worked to limit opportunities in the regular season. I'm not sure if it is good enough to limit a highly skilled offensive team?
I think it is a combination, this morning on sportscenter they highlighted the play in the first where the puck was loose in the caps crease in the beginning of the 1st last night and focused on 4 caps being right there. That wouldn't have happened last year. Combine that with the Rangers' offensive woes and there you go. I could see this style being difficult against a team like TB, they have more skill and speed and can gain the blue line, whereas the rangers dump and chase, and that style won't work when there are four guys back. plus our best forechecker is out.
Quote:
Originally Posted by discobob
Another question - from your point of view - are the caps more physical this year than last? Us caps fans are claiming so, but we're a bit biased...
Maybe a little? But guys like Ovechkin and Chimera always threw hits. Adding Arnott certainly helps in that department. Again I think a lot of it, in this series at least, is that it has been pretty easy to hit the rangers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by discobob
My opinion going into the playoffs was that I would have rather played anyone other than NY (aside from Philly). There are many people who didn't give NY credit for how they played down the stretch, but from where I stand they were one of the best ~3 teams in the east in the last month of the season....
They definitely had a decent record, so it is a little disappointing being down 2-0. I would have rather played anyone than the caps.
Rangers are certainly not a high-powered offense by any stretch, however they can be very dangerous and are not easy to play against.
They are certainly not easy to play against - their forechecking is always tough, and they require that you play physical or go home...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blueshirt Special
So far, the Caps have played a smart defensive game as well as maintaining their physical play. Not just this series but for most of the last half of the season. If the goal-temding holds up (and we are NOT the best test for that), I really think they could go to the SC finals this year.
Could....yes, but I'll wait and see, I like the Caps but I'm a realist, and will need to see it before I believe it.
Regarding a smart defense -- I agree, but there is a difference between a smart defense and a good defense. I'd always rather have the later, but I'm not sure which category the caps fall in.
I think it is a combination, this morning on sportscenter they highlighted the play in the first where the puck was loose in the caps crease in the beginning of the 1st last night and focused on 4 caps being right there. That wouldn't have happened last year. Combine that with the Rangers' offensive woes and there you go. I could see this style being difficult against a team like TB, they have more skill and speed and can gain the blue line, whereas the rangers dump and chase, and that style won't work when there are four guys back. plus our best forechecker is out.
Right or wrong, I view Tampa a bit like the caps last year -- tight defense and physical play throw them off their game. They rely too much on PP scoring, which is less predictable in the post season....
We all know there's a piece or two missing. Pretending the team "is going nowhere" is worse than whining about refs or any of that crap people so often complain about. Didn't we come inches away from winning game 1? I'm sorry but were we dominated in game 2? No? Oh ok then so it's overreaction because we aren't a 1 seed yet. Geez. The team sucked compared to the 1 in the east big f deal. Why do people fool themselves all year into thinking we're cup contenders? We had potential sure but my god jumping the gun on both ends all year.
Personally I don't think people fool themselves that this team is a cup contender, I think they just forget that the game is totally different in the PO's than the regular season. It's why so many "grit" and "character" guys get moved at the deadline.
