Didn't watch the STL game, the Ottawa PP wasn't very good and Karlsson didn't look too good on it.
He was okay defensively though but he usually doesn't stick out defensively like Pietrangelo does anyway.
Ottawa's Powerplay never looks good. This was a fairly normal powerplay for Ottawa.
His defensive play isn't the big hits and shot blocking that gets noticed. It is the quick poke checks and pass interceptions, that go unnoticed more often.
i'd like to throw Edler into the mix as well.
he had a TERRIBLE game one, but he's easily the biggest hitter of the three and has been a very effective playoff defenseman in the past.
i'd like to throw Edler into the mix as well.
he had a TERRIBLE game one, but he's easily the biggest hitter of the three and has been a very effective playoff defenseman in the past.
I dont think this is a whos the best defenceman thread. I think its more of a Pietrangelo vs Karlsson thread because the one during the year went on for so long.
Pietrangelo played really well tonight. Unfortunately didn't see the Ranger-Sens game.
Also, even though he isn't really talked about as being on the same level as these other guys, Shattenkirk had 11 shots plus and assist on Berglund's tip in tonight, overall played ok in his own zone though. Thought it was worth mentioning.
I dont think this is a whos the best defenceman thread. I think its more of a Pietrangelo vs Karlsson thread because the one during the year went on for so long.
fair enough.
should be a thread on best young defenseman this playoffs tho
Ottawa's Powerplay never looks good. This was a fairly normal powerplay for Ottawa.
His defensive play isn't the big hits and shot blocking that gets noticed. It is the quick poke checks and pass interceptions, that go unnoticed more often.
I would also put racing to loose pucks and outlet passes as 'his defensive game'. However, as I've said multiple times through the course of this debate, when the puck isn't immediately in front of him in his own zone, he has a lot of struggles.
He was downright terrible tonight. A lot of little things that go unnoticed by casual fans make his defensive play stand out to others. Aside from dumb giveaways to open men in the slot, and poor positional play against a cycle, one of my largest criticisms is he plays too high. Scouting is pretty intensive during the playoffs and teams will know this going into games against him.
I counted probably 5 or 6 times (and I didn't even watch the game in its entirety) he was hanging out far too high and a forward slips behind him, gets a pass and has a clear line to the net because Karlsson is high and out of position. He has played like this all year. I know he likes to play high to race out and pressure guys at the top of the circle, but you can't be playing that sort of extremely risky defensive play in the playoffs. Especially against the top seed in the east.
All in all, the kid seriously needs to work on his defensive game. His defensive vision and position play in his own end is usually never good, and sometimes (like tonight) it is downright awful.
Those points aside, if he can ever get that part of his game together (which I have serious reservations he ever will. I see him more as a specialist who will never be a strong positional defender), look out.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rodwan553
He was fine defensively tonight, but he made some questionable decisions with the puck in his zone, not sure what was going through his head.
He was the opposite of fine. It was poor game from Karlsson. Getting beat on the outside and giving up lanes to the net, awful giveaways, out-muscled along the boards, leaving guys open in the slot... It was just a very poor game from Karlsson tonight. One of those games where he was very noticeable, but for all the wrong reasons.
Pietrangelo wasn't at his best either tonight. He was right in the thick of it for the Sharks' first 2 goals. The first one you can't fault him for, as he was racing into the play after being interfered with during a change. But the second one he could have played better. He was in position, and he made the right play letting Halak see it, but he should have tied of the forwards (forget who it was) stick so he couldn't tip it. Or at least have been right in his face to prevent him from being able to make the tip.
That said, he made some very nice offensive plays, but just couldn't bury it. He also made a few outstanding plays on the PK. Overall I would say, by his standards, it was an average game at best for him. But, Pietrangelo playing average is still a phenomenal defenseman.
But all in all a mediocre game by his standards. Shattenkirk was the better Dman for the Blues tonight. He played absolutely unreal.
Ottawa's Powerplay never looks good. This was a fairly normal powerplay for Ottawa.
His defensive play isn't the big hits and shot blocking that gets noticed. It is the quick poke checks and pass interceptions, that go unnoticed more often.
The Ottawa PP is like Jason Spezza. It never looks like it's dominating, but every so often it pulls something impossible out of a hat and the puck ends up in the net.
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I thought Karlsson had a good, but not great game, and I would even say that he was probably the biggest offensive threat for the Sens tonight. He also had a couple good defensive plays, but also a couple bad giveaway at the beginning of the 3rd.
I was also surprised at how little the Rangers touched him all night. I don't know if it was because was too fast/slippery, or the Rangers just didn't do their job. They definitely did a good job on Spezza though.
He was the opposite of fine. It was poor game from Karlsson. Getting beat on the outside and giving up lanes to the net, awful giveaways, out-muscled along the boards, leaving guys open in the slot... It was just a very poor game from Karlsson tonight. One of those games where he was very noticeable, but for all the wrong reasons.
