OK, now the serious question. Are we stuck with Hunter if we are winning this series?
I think there is very little pressure now on Caps. With Rangers somehow they would think they need to win. Now they just need to get on the ice and give their all. No experienced goalie vs Conn Smythe TT and Cup Champion should be very easy.
And that last possibly could be a biggest reason we can play good. No doubt, no scare.
The Bruins were my pick for first round upset a few weeks ago. They've been playing like **** and they have two fourth lines. That first round upset might as well come from the Caps.
8-1 last 9. Most 20+ goal scorers in NHL. Our 3 and 4th lines are outstanding!!! Where u get your info?
I want to see our goalies protected. Anyone touches him, hit back. The ref will turn a blind eye unless we respond, in which case they will even up the calls. Yes players reacting create calls the ref would not otherwise make.
I see Holtby faced 36 shots. I am sure the shell / inflated shots allowed irritated some but I am hoping him getting a good workout last night, get confidence for himself and maybe more importantly, the skaters.
Despite that, I am expecting Neuvy to get the nod. If pressed into duty, I think Holtby strengths may include being built to stand up getting run bumped crowded crosschecked in the head etc.
I want to see our goalies protected. Anyone touches him, hit back. The ref will turn a blind eye unless we respond, in which case they will even up the calls. Yes players reacting create calls the ref would not otherwise make.
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did you watch the game last night? prust and chimera at the face off. prust clearly the agitator. clearly trying to start something. he dumps chimera at the puck drop. chimera looks at the ref who is looking at him with no penalty called. chimera chops purst and gets a slashing call. that was clearly not a case of the the initial hit going unseen and only the retaliation caught. that referee was not going to give the caps a pp and busted chimera
oh...then the refs chose to ignore prust trying to get chimera to fight.
yea....so, it doesnt work that way.
i understand what you want. well....you want more fighting and scrumming. you want that too. i want the goalie protected too. just dont conclude the when the referee lets the goal get run over that a real cross check or punching the guy is going to get an even up call.
I really like Boston's fans and their players. How can you not root for Tim Thomas? Especially after he dissed Obama! haha
No disrespect to their team as they are the defending champs but the Caps will win this series.
Young Holtby has his chance to prove what all of us had thought about him all along..that he is the best of him/Varly/Neuvirth.
Ovechkin has been on a 50 goal pace the last half of the season...with no Backstrom...speaking of whom..wow is he rounding into form quickly! Love that he was even mixing it up last night!
Our D may not have a Tinordi on it but this is the best D corps as a whole we have fielded since those days.
Dennis Wideman is our secret weapon. The last time he was in the playoffs he was the Bs best player. We really missed him last year. For all the flak he gets people really tend to overlook the good he brings.
Hi guys, Flyers Fan here coming in peace and seeking some help.
Firstly, Congratulations on making the playoffs and drawing the bruins.
Every year i make a playoff pool in which every player on every team is selected. There are always some fringe players who might play and might not play and since i am not so familiar with playoff teams other than the flyers it is always difficult to predict which players will dress for game one.
So if you could help me out, please give me the Game #1 playoff line up for your team (ie. Line 1, Line 2.. etc) including defensive lines.. it would be greatly appreciated.
I'm close to that, like the D lines there. For O, I'd flip Brouwer and Majo, and play Knuble over Halpern
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I like Ward with Laich and Brouwer. Shut down 3rd line that can score. Want Knuble for his size, he can wear down the B's a little bit. I recognize that the Semin line is soft, but it's very offensve and fast, and with Ovy's line and Laich's lines getting bulk of EV minutes, the change of pace for that 2nd line will be huge/
4th line can score, and will cycle really well.
Halpern and Erskine are first skaters on for both O and D if injuries.
did you watch the game last night? prust and chimera at the face off. prust clearly the agitator. clearly trying to start something. he dumps chimera at the puck drop. chimera looks at the ref who is looking at him with no penalty called. chimera chops purst and gets a slashing call. that was clearly not a case of the the initial hit going unseen and only the retaliation caught. that referee was not going to give the caps a pp and busted chimera
oh...then the refs chose to ignore prust trying to get chimera to fight.
yea....so, it doesnt work that way.
i understand what you want. well....you want more fighting and scrumming. you want that too. i want the goalie protected too. just dont conclude the when the referee lets the goal get run over that a real cross check or punching the guy is going to get an even up call.
that makes no sense.
About Chimera, he cant look at the ref and see no call, and then go after someone, and then expect an even up call. You are wrong, as that is not what I was talking about.
I'd like to see Nicky get time with both line 1 and line 2. I didn't catch all of the game last night, but I think I saw Hunter do that a little bit. Am I correct? I think with Ovi beasting, we can afford to play Nicky with Semin. I have a feeling Sasha is going to come up big in this series.
Personally, and I know everybody loves him, but Hendricks completely disappeared in the 'loffs last year, and well theres no shootouts. I'd like to see him in the pressbox and give Joel Ward his spot (this is what we brought him in here for and he's pretty good defensively).
On top of that, I think we need that guy to send out for D-zone draws against Bergeron in game 7 of overtime, theres nobody I feel more comfortable with this than Halpy. I'd like to see him get a sweater as well. Here's my lines for what its worth.
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I'd also like to see Schultz get a sweater (and I hate the guy), but he's been in the playoffs and Orlov is making way too many turnovers between the bluelines. Get him a game or two in the playoffs, and if he struggles you can go back to Orlov. But I'm not thrilled with the idea of Boston getting last change, bringing out the Lucic line to tussle with Wideman- Orlov, that just spells trouble for me.
[QUOTE=BobRouse;47548443]Should be a great series.
I really like Boston's fans and their players. How can you not root for Tim Thomas? Especially after he dissed Obama! haha
No disrespect to their team as they are the defending champs but the Caps will win this series.
Young Holtby has his chance to prove what all of us had thought about him all along..that he is the best of him/Varly/Neuvirth.
Ovechkin has been on a 50 goal pace the last half of the season...with no Backstrom...speaking of whom..wow is he rounding into form quickly! Love that he was even mixing it up last night!
Our D may not have a Tinordi on it but this is the best D corps as a whole we have fielded since those days.
Dennis Wideman is our secret weapon. The last time he was in the playoffs he was the Bs best player. We really missed him last year. For all the flak he gets people really tend to overlook the good he brings.[/QUOTE]
I'm not a big fan of Wideman but I have to agree with you. He does make some very good defensive plays. But his boneheadedness last night was mind boggling. He screws up at the point which leads to a breakaway. After an extended shift he stays on the ice that leads to another breakaway. He did manage to save his own arse but geez I really wish he would be off of the powerplay.
The best move Hunter has made is putting Alzner and Carlson back together. Well getting Hamrlik back in wasn't bad either.
Anyway the offensive acumen in the Caps' three D pairs is quite compelling. If they can manage on the defensive end too they could be a pretty dangerous bunch.
The Caps' record with Ovi, Backer and Greener is what 12 - 1 -1? And as pointed out before with Hamrlik instead of Schultz since Feb 22 the team is 9 - 2 - 2. Some of those games were without Green and / or Backstrom. Not to jinx but the team seems to be trending upwards.
I'm not a big fan of Wideman but I have to agree with you. He does make some very good defensive plays. But his boneheadedness last night was mind boggling. He screws up at the point which leads to a breakaway. After an extended shift he stays on the ice that leads to another breakaway. He did manage to save his own arse but geez I really wish he would be off of the powerplay.
The best move Hunter has made is putting Alzner and Carlson back together. Well getting Hamrlik back in wasn't bad either.
Anyway the offensive acumen in the Caps' three D pairs is quite compelling. If they can manage on the defensive end too they could be a pretty dangerous bunch.
The Caps' record with Ovi, Backer and Greener is what 12 - 1 -1? And as pointed out before with Hamrlik instead of Schultz since Feb 22 the team is 9 - 2 - 2. Some of those games were without Green and / or Backstrom. Not to jinx but the team seems to be trending upwards.
Also, while its true that the reg season doesn't mean much, we were 3-1 vs the Bs this season..
In NO games did we have all four of the young guns..in fact I don't think we had Backstrom in any of them and in one of them the only one we had was Semin.
I'll say it again..its true that the young guns had a down year for various reasons (out of shape/injury/trap etc)...but if they obtain confidence there is no team sans the Penguins who can match up in terms of game breakers.
Looks like Hammer is in fine form and Carlson really found his game. Green is a work in progress and I'm sure he is still getting his feel back. Orlov has had some rough rookie moments but I have faith in both him and Schultz.
For a team that has alwasys underachieved in the playoffs, I don't know why everyone on this board thinks the Caps will easily take this. The B's know how to win when the going gets tough and will readily expose your soft D. You are in for a rude awakening when the real season begins.
For a team that has alwasys underachieved in the playoffs, I don't know why everyone on this board thinks the Caps will easily take this. The B's know how to win when the going gets tough and will readily expose your soft D. You are in for a rude awakening when the real season begins.
For a team that has alwasys underachieved in the playoffs, I don't know why everyone on this board thinks the Caps will easily take this. The B's know how to win when the going gets tough and will readily expose your soft D. You are in for a rude awakening when the real season begins.
Oh NOOO, big bad B's are here, we are done, God i'm scared, we should forfeit, why even play this year? With your toughness, goaltending, depth on D you should claim the Cup now, no need to expose us, please dont hurt us too bad, big bad bear!!!! Is this better?
Its alreadily diddly been on full display all year, including the games against the Blueins.
All caps fans know our D is built on mobile puck movers - one of George's keys to the cup. Succeed or fail, we at least have a decent amount of puck movers so George can't use a lack-thereof as an excuse for his failed vision this year.
For a team that has alwasys underachieved in the playoffs, I don't know why everyone on this board thinks the Caps will easily take this. The B's know how to win when the going gets tough and will readily expose your soft D. You are in for a rude awakening when the real season begins.
This Caps fan doesn't think it will be easy. I am glad the Caps made the playoffs and hope they go far, but I am not making any predictions on who wins the series. This year is just hoping they can go far and make up for past seasons, to include the heart breaking 80s and 90s for me. I will predict Marchand makes some cheap shots and I can't imagine McQuaid forgetting Chimera either. I do agree about the soft D. Mike Green is going to be roughed up from the start.
On another note, Karlsson is going to experience playoff hockey with Ottawa. I can't wait to see the Canadian media when he gets knocked around by the Rangers.
He screws up at the point which leads to a breakaway. After an extended shift he stays on the ice that leads to another breakaway. He did manage to save his own arse but geez I really wish he would be off of the powerplay. 
