You think so? If I were him I think I'd try that game plan one more time. It almost worked. Thomas's amazing save on Ovie saved the Bruins bacon last night. I think the Bruins would do every bit was well in a scorefest as they did in the slugfest last night. I think this will be a tight series with the Bruins hopefully winning in six.
No doubt it will be a tough series. I just picture Washington getting more involved tomorrow. They let the B's dictate the play for far too long before they made their push. I think Tomorrow you see a Caps team that comes out like they did in the 3rd and it will be up to the Bruins to find that next gear.
I'd like to see more skating from Looch. He wasn't moving his feet well through the neutral zone last night. He's really the key to that Krejci line and I'm sure Claude is showing him video of the game and pointing out how he needs more speed going into the offensive zone. Look for the B's to go high to low on the PP more. Washington's PK really attacks the point aggressively and Boston will most likely look to get the puck back down low to create 3 on 2's by the net.
Now that the jitters of the first game are out of the way I think you'll see some improved play by some stars on both side.
TT's own teammates know his style is ugly. They dubbed it "the battlefly" last year, and I think that's pretty fitting.
He'll kick out some ugly ass rebounds. He always has. And then he'll slide across and try his best to stuff that opportunity too.
He's also great at finding pucks in traffic and challenging shooters well out of his crease. Say what you want, but he's always in the thick of it out there. Last night was classic TT even though the work load was pretty minimal for him.
It's not pretty, but it sure is fun to watch. In fact, I think the more wild Tim gets, and the more shots he faces, the better he likes it. Most nights, you could probably attribute 20% of his workload to greasy rebounds that he has to clean up himself
When he starts messing about with the puck in the trapezoid, and hanging his defenseman out to dry, that's when you know he's super duper sharp As far as goalers go, he's just a ****ing wild man.
As long as the guys keep blocking shots, clearing out as much junk as they can, and tying up sticks in front, he'll keep battling behind them. That's how this crew operates. They literally do EVERYTHING like a team; even tending goal.
In March 2011 was listening to a Capitals post game radio show when they mentioned that Sheldon Souray (then with Hershey Bears) had glowing comments about Holtby at Hershey, talking about his "swagger" and confidence for such a young guy, in so many words according to Souray it reminded him of some pretty special NHL goalies. He doesn't get rattled.
Watching Holtby last season and his use of his stick (very active stick for a goalie), comparisons began to emerge with the likes of Ron Hextall and Billy Smith. He played quite well for the Caps last year and had many of us believing that he would eventually become the team's goalie of the future and not Varlamov or Neuvirth. Though Holtby did not have the best of seasons at Hershey this year, I think many Caps fans see him as the team's number one goalie as early as next season no matter how he performs in the remainder of these playoffs.
Since you live in Caps Country I have to take your word for it, but the Caps don't strike me as being soft or "fragile" mentally. I know it's one game, but Washington impressed me last night. You think they might fold if they lose on Sat.?
They are not soft, and "fragile" mentally isn't entirely correct description on my part, but imo the team hasn't found its identity yet. It is not an offensive powerhouse it used to be, but at the same time they dont have the personnel to be a defense first kind of a team... What i meant was if we manage a split coming back from Boston we might stick to our guns and keep playing they way we showed we can, tough playoff hockey (preferably with a lot more shots on goal ), but if we lose they might change things up again... and even thou change is good sometimes, these guys need to find happy medium, identity so to speak. I hope that made sense...
...on the other hand... if we do lose both games in Boston certain changes might have to be done, just not to drastic.
What blows my mind is that we have our best face-off guy (Halpern) who is defensively responsible, good PKer and provides veteran presence riding the pine (along with Knuble!!!) while undersized life long AHLer (and i mean no disrespect) Aucoin played over 10 min... Against Bruins we need all the vet presence we can get, WTF if DH thinking?!
Now that the jitters of the first game are out of the way I think you'll see some improved play by some stars on both side.
First goal is HUGE tomorrow!
Yup. That about sums up my take on it, too. When the Bs score first it's usually a good sign. Especially at home. They've GOT to be pumped after last night; and I think once the Bruins weather the initial flurry, they'll settle in and pick up where they left off last night.
Last edited by rfournier103: 04-13-2012 at 09:36 AM.
I don't know that the Bruins offensive timing will be what it was in game 2, it may get alot better. Give the B's a few days break from games and they always seem to play this way. Decision making in the offensive zone was a bit sloppy at times, Caps did an excellent job at breaking down the lateral plays. The Kelly net drive gone awry kinda summed up the Bruins night in front of net - bad touch and timing.
Holtby is pretty speedy when active on the puck. Was impressed with his performance actually.
And shock horror, I think only saw Corvo cough the puck up twice in lazy plays. Thats a career best surely?
As Caps fans would say, please keep thinking that. Though it was a small sample size, the Caps are somewhat familiar with Joe Corvo's play during the playoffs.
As Caps fans would say, please keep thinking that. Though it was a small sample size, the Caps are somewhat familiar with Joe Corvo's play during the playoffs.
fingers crossed. I really do think Claude has this guy damn near broken, finally. I think the experiment ended after his last regular season stint in the press box, and now it's just ham n' egger Joe from here on out.
I noticed em a couple times last night take a ganders at the cross ice feed, and then seemingly just swallowed hard and chipped it up the short side
No room for a fancy Dan back there on this team. He's almost broken of all offensive imagination; just how we need em to play. Up the wall and no more pinching for you, Joe Corvo. You wanna win a cup or not?
As Caps fans would say, please keep thinking that. Though it was a small sample size, the Caps are somewhat familiar with Joe Corvo's play during the playoffs.
Well, first game is came and over with and even thou it was physical showing by both teams **** slinging hasn't happened around here yet, glad to see mutual respect between both fan bases hasn't crumbled. If we would've played Pittsburgh, Philly or MTL these boards would be unbearable.
Well, first game is came and over with and even thou it was physical showing by both teams **** slinging hasn't happened around here yet, glad to see mutual respect between both fan bases hasn't crumbled. If we would've played Pittsburgh, Philly or MTL these boards would be unbearable.
I have no beef with Washington. Can't say the same for Montreal, Philly, or Pittsburgh.
I have no beef with Washington. Can't say the same for Montreal, Philly, or Pittsburgh.
Same here, but as you know even between bases with no beef there are always few crazy loud mouth blow hards and its good to see we are still above that... Who knows for how long thou...
Seeing Ovie's face on the bench after the Seidenberg/Ovechkin hit at center ice with them both going down, he was enjoying himself. Thought for a moment had it been the Penguins and Crosby, Crosby would be whining about it and all of the Penguins would have gone after Seidenberg.
I thought coming into this series that it would rely on the Bruins ability to exploit the Caps suspect D down low. Guys like Pouliot, Lucic, and Bergeron would have to be able to out play the Caps D. They did that in spades last night.
The Caps are going to need to make major adjustments in their own end if they want to win this series. Alzner looked good last night, but Wideman and Green just couldn't compete on the wall with the B's forwards. They will continue to feel pressure from the forwards, so they need to find a way to slow the game down in their own end.
Seeing Ovie's face on the bench after the Seidenberg/Ovechkin hit at center ice with them both going down, he was enjoying himself. Thought for a moment had it been the Penguins and Crosby, Crosby would be whining about it and all of the Penguins would have gone after Seidenberg.
Ovechkin is a Bruin type player. I have so much respect for the way he plays the game. It's an absolute shame he can't play on a line with Lucic.
Seeing Ovie's face on the bench after the Seidenberg/Ovechkin hit at center ice with them both going down, he was enjoying himself. Thought for a moment had it been the Penguins and Crosby, Crosby would be whining about it and all of the Penguins would have gone after Seidenberg.
Truer words could not be spoken.
I have a feeling this series will get nastier, both sides have personnel for it. I just hope Knuble is in for the next game, even thou slower then ever we need big bodies and physical presence around Thomas.
I know some may be playing up the kumabya moment between the two fan bases at this moment on these boards, but from a Caps fan perspective we are a 7th seed and thus we are not feeling that much pressure or high expectations. The past two playoffs were obviously different for the Capitals due to their seed and thus high expectations and I'm sure that had the two teams met during either of those playoffs the chatter on these boards would be much different. All that being said, still plenty of time to turn ugly on here.
Truer words could not be spoken.
I have a feeling this series will get nastier, both sides have personnel for it. I just hope Knuble is in for the next game, even thou slower then ever we need big bodies and physical presence around Thomas.
Ward needs better line mates. He was doing well last night while Aucoin would screw it up.
I thought the Caps played d for awhile to help Holtby erase jitters. Then turned it on in the third.
The third was a great period by both teams. Just mad Thomas robbed OV. Then Green missing that damn shot he used to bury 9 out of 10.
I would love Kelly on a line with Chimera. My god, the speed.
I know some may be playing up the kumabya moment between the two fan bases at this moment on these boards, but from a Caps fan perspective we are a 7th seed and thus we are not feeling that much pressure or high expectations. The past two playoffs were obviously different for the Capitals due to their seed and thus high expectations and I'm sure that had the two teams met during either of those playoffs the chatter on these boards would be much different. All that being said, still plenty of time to turn ugly on here.
I think it's also a by-product of the game itself. Look back at last year's SCF, and you see lots of idiotic shenanigans that boiled many a fans' blood.
Compare that to last nights game. Last night we saw excellent goaltending, amazing defense and tons of physicality. Not many people in their right mind would think that was a crappy game.
This series is starting to look eerily similar to the BOS-TB conference final last year. Boston looks to be up against a talented team that plays a good brand of hockey. Bruins will prevail, of course, but not without WAS earning some respect before they hit the greens.
I think it's also a by-product of the game itself. Look back at last year's SCF, and you see lots of idiotic shenanigans that boiled many a fans' blood.
Compare that to last nights game. Last night we saw excellent goaltending, amazing defense and tons of physicality. Not many people in their right mind would think that was a crappy game.
This series is starting to look eerily similar to the BOS-TB conference final last year. Boston looks to be up against a talented team that plays a good brand of hockey. Bruins will prevail, of course, but not without WAS earning some respect before they hit the greens.
Of course, it's a given... as i said before, i dont have to manny expactations here, but after waching them play last night nothing is given and i feel a bit better about Caps chances. We'll see...
I know some may be playing up the kumabya moment between the two fan bases at this moment on these boards, but from a Caps fan perspective we are a 7th seed and thus we are not feeling that much pressure or high expectations. The past two playoffs were obviously different for the Capitals due to their seed and thus high expectations and I'm sure that had the two teams met during either of those playoffs the chatter on these boards would be much different. All that being said, still plenty of time to turn ugly on here.
Yep. But that doesn't mean we can't all still have fun Last night's game was damn physical, and both sides are just getting started.
I really doubt the Caps are going to sit back as much as they chose to last night. If they're going to make this a long series, they're going to have to put more work in earlier, and we all know it. They're more than capable.
This series will get ugly sooner than later, but it'll still be a good back and forth thing that shouldn't end up with any hurt feelings Neither of these teams are going to take any **** from the other, and that's all you can hope for.
Good luck to you guys on maintaining your better judgement in the coming days...better luck to us; we need it
Ward needs better line mates. He was doing well last night while Aucoin would screw it up.
I thought the Caps played d for awhile to help Holtby erase jitters. Then turned it on in the third.
The third was a great period by both teams. Just mad Thomas robbed OV. Then Green missing that damn shot he used to bury 9 out of 10.
I would love Kelly on a line with Chimera. My god, the speed.
Yeah, i dont know what's the deal with Mike Green, but he definitely not the Mike Green we used to watch shoot the puck even a year ago... Something is off, i hope he fixes it/figures it out, the guy had so much potential.
As far as goalers go, he's just a ****ing wild man. 
Neither of these teams are going to take any **** from the other, and that's all you can hope for.
