I'm hoping for the Penguins (and Crosby coming back) BECAUSE they are the best team out of the 4.
Caps will steamroll any of those 4 teams so exacting revenge on the Penguins would totally demoralize them and propel the Caps to even greater heights of momentum building.
Step 1 is complete as I have forseen. Wanted to play the Rangers b/c they gave us terrible trouble in the regular season. No want to play the Pens for they have always given us trouble in the post season.
Pens fans would rather blow a 3-1 series lead vs the Bolts than to get crushed by the Caps in the 2nd round. And that is what will happen if that is who we play.
I am not afraid of any of the four opponents, nor do I really desire any of the four all that strongly. If I had a preference, it would probably be Montreal or Tampa.
Buffalo has more scoring than the Rangers, and Vanek is playing lights out. If they get Roy back, that more than offsets the loss of Pominville. Their defense is much weaker than New York's, but their goalie is the same caliber. If they're in the next round, it means they beat the Flyers. The Flyers are a team that we played dead even during the regular season. Buffalo is not a joke, nor are they a repeat of the Rangers. Very different teams, and Buffalo's stars actually rise to the occasion.
really thankful for several days off for the guys to get some rest... Canoebull, Greenie, Widez - the more time goes by the better... thats what was so huge about winning in 5 (well a number of things) - but having some time off to rest the body and healing time for others...
i dont care who we get in the second round - although Buffalo's team speed and the way they play in the offensive end could be trouble... Gerbe will skate circles around Sarge.
Not skating in an optional practice on Monday sounds like he's not playing on Friday/Saturday?
What?
I think there is a 95% chance Green is done for the season anyway so IMO him not skating today today is just a little more confirmation of this. You don't suffer 2 concussions like that not too long ago and then take a puck to the head like that and not suffer another one IMO. I hope I am wrong as he was playing well but things just haven't broken his way over the last few months.
Hopefully Wideman is ready to start the next round and it only takes him a couple games to get up to being able to log major minutes.
I think there is a 95% chance Green is done for the season anyway so IMO him not skating today today is just a little more confirmation of this. You don't suffer 2 concussions like that not too long ago and then take a puck to the head like that and not suffer another one IMO. I hope I am wrong as he was playing well but things just haven't broken his way over the last few months.
Hopefully Wideman is ready to start the next round and it only takes him a couple games to get up to being able to log major minutes.
Hard to believe they would immediately clear him to return to the game if there was any serious question about a concussion. I realize some symptoms can take time to come on, but still...
Hard to believe they would immediately clear him to return to the game if there was any serious question about a concussion. I realize some symptoms can take time to come on, but still...
He was on the bench for the whole 3rd period. They didn't play him, but he's not allowed anywhere near the ice if he's not "officially" cleared to return to the game.
I think there is a 95% chance Green is done for the season anyway so IMO him not skating today today is just a little more confirmation of this. You don't suffer 2 concussions like that not too long ago and then take a puck to the head like that and not suffer another one IMO. I hope I am wrong as he was playing well but things just haven't broken his way over the last few months.
Hopefully Wideman is ready to start the next round and it only takes him a couple games to get up to being able to log major minutes.
I dunno. It didn't exactly hit him directly in the head. You saw the screws come lose, implying it hit him in the helmet or part of the helmet. Not as bad as a direct hit.
I dunno. It didn't exactly hit him directly in the head. You saw the screws come lose, implying it hit him in the helmet or part of the helmet. Not as bad as a direct hit.
Green did imprint the pattern on the side of a puck on a Habs' helmet last year with a shot and that player didn't sustain any injuries?
Could it start on Thursday? Last year, looking at NHL.com it didn't appear that there were any days off between quarterfinals and semis..
The Caps beat writers are all saying Thursday/Friday/Saturday/Sunday are all possibilities for game 1, with Friday or Saturday being the most likely at this point.
I'm hoping for the Penguins (and Crosby coming back) BECAUSE they are the best team out of the 4.
Caps will steamroll any of those 4 teams so exacting revenge on the Penguins would totally demoralize them and propel the Caps to even greater heights of momentum building.
Step 1 is complete as I have forseen. Wanted to play the Rangers b/c they gave us terrible trouble in the regular season. No want to play the Pens for they have always given us trouble in the post season.
Pens fans would rather blow a 3-1 series lead vs the Bolts than to get crushed by the Caps in the 2nd round. And that is what will happen if that is who we play.
Nah, lets hope for Buffalo. Buffalo (and Philly) are both so damn beat up from that series we might be able to sweep them. Worst case scenario is relatively short series (5,6 games). That leaves healthy and well rested for our toughest round yet, the ECF, where we are sure to face a Boston or a Pittsburgh.
So far, looks like the Hockey Gods are favoring the Caps: we have a short, injury free series; Buffalo and Philly go seven and they are pounding each other; Vancouver, probably our biggest threat to the Cup, is on the brink of elimination...things aren't perfect (Detroit is sailing along, Boston looks like they will survive Montreal), but still things arent half bad.
Nah, lets hope for Buffalo. Buffalo (and Philly) are both so damn beat up from that series we might be able to sweep them. Worst case scenario is relatively short series (5,6 games). That leaves healthy and well rested for our toughest round yet, the ECF, where we are sure to face a Boston or a Pittsburgh.
So far, looks like the Hockey Gods are favoring the Caps: we have a short, injury free series; Buffalo and Philly go seven and they are pounding each other; Vancouver, probably our biggest threat to the Cup, is on the brink of elimination...things aren't perfect (Detroit is sailing along, Boston looks like they will survive Montreal), but still things arent half bad.
Uh... unless Pittsburgh wins today and Boston and Philadelphia win tomorrow. Then the Caps play Pittsburgh (who will have only played 1 more game, and have 2 fewer days of rest than Washington), with Cooke and potentially Crosby coming back. It doesn't matter how beat up Philly or Buffalo are at that point.
Hard to believe they would immediately clear him to return to the game if there was any serious question about a concussion. I realize some symptoms can take time to come on, but still...
Sure if you believe he really was cleared to return to the game. I believe he wanted to be there to support his teammates but there was no chance he was coming back regardless of what was happening on the ice. Boudreau saying that he could have come back but they decided not to for whatever reason was typical coaching subterfuge IMO.
I guess we will see. If he was really cleared then he will be practicing tomorrow but my money is on that he won't be...
