i could be totally off base but i think he might bereacting to the doom and death that follows a similar game where they lose.
the spew on these boards after a lost game is whithering. all out of proportion with what is happening.
gm and dale were to be fired one day after the 4 ga,me sweep by the bruins after game 1.
a little more even keel is probably called for. i feel safe in saying that its likely the caps will lose again this season. when that happens, just wach
People have been absolutely aching for this team to play like this in the playoffs for for years now. The sample sizes for the playoffs are tiny. Playing the way that they have for two games -against the reigning Stanley Cup champions, and one of the more physical teams in the league, on the road is significant.
It's also significant that the Caps lost a heartbreaker in overtime, came back with the same workmanlike effort and won -in overtime. After blowing a lead.
Yeah it's two games. But it's two of the best playoff games this team has played in five years.
Whats the deal with Brad Marchand? Has this guy always been a ****? The past 2 games of this series have been hard fought, and fun to watch. Then there is Marchand and his BS after the whistle crap. I wish the Caps had someone on the team that would plant that little ****er.
Marchand has a history of dirty play. He's a punk. But he can also play the game.
I was actually just wondering earlier today if he might be the biggest punk-who-can-play in the league right now.
People have been absolutely aching for this team to play like this in the playoffs for for years now. The sample sizes for the playoffs are tiny. Playing the way that they have for two games -against the reigning Stanley Cup champions, and one of the more physical teams in the league, on the road is significant.
It's also significant that the Caps lost a heartbreaker in overtime, came back with the same workmanlike effort and won -in overtime. After blowing a lead.
Yeah it's two games. But it's two of the best playoff games this team has played in five years.
And now they go home, where they've been significantly better all season than on the road. Great win today.
I just hope they keep the workmanlike attitude up at home. This team can try and play cute sometimes in front of the home crowd. Keep on grinding.
There's potential tests every night.
Can Holtby perform under postseason pressure?
Can they play a physical game?
Can they recover from a tough loss?
Can the score a goal?
Can they win a game?
Can they win at home?
Can they overcome a series deficit?
Can they finish off a team when they have a chance?
Looking forward to finding out more answers this week.
People have been absolutely aching for this team to play like this in the playoffs for for years now.
Yeah it's two games. But it's two of the best playoff games this team has played in five years.
I don't see it, at all.
It's been two virtuoso goaltending performances. They've been sloppy, offensively inept, and are being outplayed in just about every aspect of the game.
I don't want to be too negative after a win, but I just hope that Holtby's performances aren't papering over the cracks in the team in the eyes of management and the coaches.
The BB fanclub needs to remember the last time this team block shots, won scrums, played a coherent defense like they are doing now. Oh wait its all holtby and all 44 shots were of the greatest quality. Its just Holtby whose holding the 2nd best offense in the league to 2 goals over two games. I'm sure if Bruce was coaching bruins fans and their coach would be still remarking how the caps play a similar game to theirs.
It's been two virtuoso goaltending performances. They've been sloppy, offensively inept, and are being outplayed in just about every aspect of the game.
I don't want to be too negative after a win, but I just hope that Holtby's performances aren't papering over the cracks in the team in the eyes of management and the coaches.
I too am quite cynical and I'll be honest that I expected them to be down 0-2 before the series started. Holtby has been great but the D has also limited second and third chances while blocking lots of shots. I'm honestly shocked at how much grit and heart the team in general is showing. A game like today will give them confidence in knowing that they can hang with Boston.
Has any team in the East playoffs looked amazing or dominant so far?
It's been two virtuoso goaltending performances. They've been sloppy, offensively inept, and are being outplayed in just about every aspect of the game.
I don't want to be too negative after a win, but I just hope that Holtby's performances aren't papering over the cracks in the team in the eyes of management and the coaches.
Wow. You are really shortchanging the defense. Maybe you need to re-watch the games? The defense has bailed out Holtby (who gives up plenty of juicy rebounds) waaaaay more often than Holtby has bailed the defense out. Holtby has made some nice saves at key times, but it's hardly been a virtuoso performance; he's seeing a lot of low-percentage shots from the point as a result of the defense playing well down low, and forcing the Bruins to move the puck to the blue line. And the Caps are blocking a lot of those low-percentage shots.
Also, don't know if you've been keeping track of the score, but the Bruins' significantly deeper offense has scored as many goals as the Caps' "inept" offense. And they haven't been outplayed in terms of powerplays or penalty kills; both team's special teams have played the exact same (zero PPG for either team). Pretty significant, actually.
All of a sudden the standard of success is winning one playoff game and pointing that out makes me a troll.
Seriously, the best two playoff games in years? The level of hyperbole is astounding.
No one is happier about the win. But this is the best goaltending they've had in the playoffs and they've scored 2 goals in 9 periods.
Make the ECF and I'll want Hunter back. These 2 games haven't come close to changing my mind about gmgm or Hunter and the differences between this thread and the last one are insane. The level of emotional instability is approaching infinity.
If Bruce had coached these games my reaction would be the same. I don't measure success by playoff periods or games but by series.
Wow. You are really shortchanging the defense. Maybe you need to re-watch the games? The defense has bailed out Holtby (who gives up plenty of juicy rebounds) waaaaay more often than Holtby has bailed the defense out. Holtby has made some nice saves at key times, but it's hardly been a virtuoso performance; he's seeing a lot of low-percentage shots from the point as a result of the defense playing well down low, and forcing the Bruins to move the puck to the blue line. And the Caps are blocking a lot of those low-percentage shots.
Also, don't know if you've been keeping track of the score, but the Bruins' significantly deeper offense has scored as many goals as the Caps' "inept" offense. And they haven't been outplayed in terms of powerplays or penalty kills; both team's special teams have played the exact same (zero PPG for either team). Pretty significant, actually.
Watched every minute of the game.
Like I said, I don't want to be too negative after a win, but if they keep repeating the level of execution they had tonight, they won't make it past the first round.
We could win the cup and I still wouldn't want Hunter back. (I was calling for Bruce's head for over a year, i think they both suck... don't have to take a side)
All of a sudden the standard of success is winning one playoff game and pointing that out makes me a troll.
Seriously, the best two playoff games in years? The level of hyperbole is astounding.
No one is happier about the win. But this is the best goaltending they've had in the playoffs and they've scored 2 goals in 9 periods.
Make the ECF and I'll want Hunter back. These 2 games haven't come close to changing my mind about gmgm or Hunter and the differences between this thread and the last one are insane. The level of emotional instability is approaching infinity.
If Bruce had coached these games my reaction would be the same. I don't measure success by playoff periods or games but by series.
Have to agree here for the most part. Caps are trapping/packing it in here. Such a fine line as they for the most part in this series they've split but its early.
Like I said, I don't want to be too negative after a win, but if they keep repeating the level of execution they had tonight, they won't make it past the first round.
Sooooo....do you agree that you're shortchanging the defense? That the defense has bailed out Holtby more often than he has bailed the defense out? That he hasn't actually given a virtuoso performance, but been the beneficiary of a defense that forces Boston to take low-percentage shots from the point and then blocks a lot of those shots? Do you agree that Boston's significantly deeper offense has achieved the same results as Washington's "inept" offense? And that their penalty kill has been equal to Boston's penalty kill? I mean, if Boston has the better offense—which they do—and they've scored the same amount of goals as the Caps, in their home arena, hasn't their execution actually been worse than the Caps?
Boston is the better team. There is no debate. And yet Washington has gone toe-to-toe with Boston, the defending Stanley Cup champs, for the last two games. Both went to OT. The first game's loss was a result of a terrible goal given up by Holtby. The Caps won the second game. They split the first two games in Boston. And you want more?
Sooooo....do you agree that you're shortchanging the defense? That the defense has bailed out Holtby more often than he has bailed the defense out? That he hasn't actually given a virtuoso performance, but been the beneficiary of a defense that forces Boston to take low-percentage shots from the point and then blocks a lot of those shots? Do you agree that Boston's significantly deeper offense has achieved the same results as Washington's "inept" offense? And that their penalty kill has been equal to Boston's penalty kill? I mean, if Boston has the better offense—which they do—and they've scored the same amount of goals as the Caps, in their home arena, hasn't their execution actually been worse than the Caps?
Boston is the better team. There is no debate. And yet Washington has gone toe-to-toe with Boston, the defending Stanley Cup champs, for the last two games. Both went to OT. The first game's loss was a result of a terrible goal given up by Holtby. The Caps won the second game. They split the first two games in Boston. And you want more?
No, I don't agree with most of the first paragraph.
If I knew of a site that tracked zone time, time of possession, and pass completion percentage, I'd post those too, and I'm quite sure they'd favor the home team.
No, I don't agree with most of the first paragraph.
I mean, seriously. The powerplays and penalty kills are even. The offenses have scored the same number of goals. That's two down right there, and I challenge you to find stats that prove otherwise.
You've watched the games. How many times has a Caps' defenseman swatted a rebound away from the net after Holtby gave up a juicy rebound. It was at least three times in the first period of Game 1 alone. Multiple times earlier today. How many times has a Caps' defenseman been clearly beat and Holtby had to make a spectacular save? I count three, and that's being generous.
You've seen how the Caps are forcing the Bruins to take shots from the point, but...you don't think they're forcing the Bruins to take low-level percentage shots from the point? You've seen the number of shots the Caps have blocked, but....you don't think they're doing an excellent job of shot blocking?How many times has Holtby made an easy save with his glove on a wrist shot that he's seen all the way from the point?
