C-A-P-S

[Kel Varnsen]

I guess it was fitting that in the Caps 50th season, they would do what they have done more times than not, which is lose in the first two rounds of the playoffs. 34 out of 50 seasons in the playoffs and 31 of those ended in the first or second round.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

I guess it was fitting that in the Caps 50th season, they would do what they have done more times than not, which is lose in the first two rounds of the playoffs. 34 out of 50 seasons in the playoffs and 31 of those ended in the first or second round.

I keep seeing Charlie Brown.

"Of all the Washington Capitals in the world, you are the Washington Capitalsest!"

Nothing says Caps like having a great regular season and breaking our hearts, although that is a common practice in the NHL. To me, the real issue here is there are some obvious things that weren't done until it was too late. You can't take 74 off the powerplay when it had problems for so long... only now? It just seemed like the coaches made changes way too late. Not even a little late, but way too late.

If they played the whole series they way they played G5, they don't end up just winning 1 game - although, while LT made some great saves, he had some untimely misses while Andersen was just more solid.

Lots of blame to go around. In general, NHL teams that are making it far don't have these guys who are clearly steps behind the rest of the team in terms of speed (8, 74). If they do, they are doing a lot of things to cover; I think one of our main components in covering is Fehevary and when he was out, it spelled a lot of trouble against real quality in the postseason.

 

[SkinsOrlando]

I'd wager we way over performed initial expectations from the start of the season only to have reality reach in a bitch slap us in the 2nd round. It will be interesting to see what changes the off season brings. I don't see Ovi retiring with one year remaining on his contract but I also don't expect him to see as much ice time next year as he did this year, he looked sluggish by the 2nd round, time to limit his minutes now and keep him refreshed as we still need his scoring presence.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

I'd wager we way over performed initial expectations from the start of the season only to have reality reach in a bitch slap us in the 2nd round. It will be interesting to see what changes the off season brings. I don't see Ovi retiring with one year remaining on his contract but I also don't expect him to see as much ice time next year as he did this year, he looked sluggish by the 2nd round, time to limit his minutes now and keep him refreshed as we still need his scoring presence.

I agree that is what they should do if the goal is to win the Cup.
Since this is likely his last year in the NHL, I kind of doubt that is what they do. They will probably have a big swan song, grand tour, last hurrah deal as they have done for many of the "greats" in different sports in the last 10-15 years. If they were to limit his minutes, what would that look like? I don't think they would want to take him off of line 1.

 

[SkinsOrlando]

I agree that is what they should do if the goal is to win the Cup.
Since this is likely his last year in the NHL, I kind of doubt that is what they do. They will probably have a big swan song, grand tour, last hurrah deal as they have done for many of the "greats" in different sports in the last 10-15 years. If they were to limit his minutes, what would that look like? I don't think they would want to take him off of line 1.

How does Ovi feel? If he wants one last run at the cup he might be the one to suggest lowering his time on the ice, in many sports we've seen greats take a lesser role to win a championship at the end of their careers. This is pure conjecture and speculation on my part but I'm we don't have any idea if Ovi wants another celebratory attention year after this past year.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

How does Ovi feel? If he wants one last run at the cup he might be the one to suggest lowering his time on the ice, in many sports we've seen greats take a lesser role to win a championship at the end of their careers. This is pure conjecture and speculation on my part but I'm we don't have any idea if Ovi wants another celebratory attention year after this past year.

That would be amazing and for me, it would cement his status as a real winner and silence critics who claim the contrary.

I will point to two things that probably are on opposite sides:

1) Ovie himself has quotes now, since the loss, where he says he has to earn his spot next year. He said he is going to train hard and come back next year, working hard to earn his position. It sounded earnest. If it is, good for him, and maybe it is an indication along the lines you are talking.

2) Ovie during the series was reported to have been telling teammates to find him with the puck. It actually led to an icing by Beuvi according to the announcers, because after an icing where he clearly WAS trying to pass to Ovie - and Ovie was clearly cheating to the O zone, the announcer shared that anecdote.

#2 may be him doing what I would say is the wrong thing to win but with the right intention. Still, overall, my expectation is that he stays on the top line. I would prefer if Ovie and Carlson both take backseats. This team has a lot of talent right now. What they need to do is MAKE the playoffs with an energetic Ovie. Then make noise in the postseason. I just don't see it happening in Ovie's final year, because they know that's a huge gamble to make - and Ovie wants to go to Russia after next year, there are many quotes and direct signs that show that.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

Such a disappointing ending but we all saw it coming. They were simply not the same team the last month of the season and was unimpressive in the first round. Initially I didn't understand why Carolina was favored, didn't the regular season prove who was the better team that had home ice? I was told they were a complete team who could play any style and had a top goaltender.

Carlson was just so tragic on the defensive end in the playoffs. He appears to be washed. Honestly if Ovi is not scoring goals he is a liability. But 44 goals is still 44 goals and that will be difficult to replace if his minutes are cut and of course when he retires. Leanard flashed but you gotta finish. Maybe next year.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

Such a disappointing ending but we all saw it coming. They were simply not the same team the last month of the season and was unimpressive in the first round. Initially I didn't understand why Carolina was favored, didn't the regular season prove who was the better team that had home ice? I was told they were a complete team who could play any style and had a top goaltender.

Carlson was just so tragic on the defensive end in the playoffs. He appears to be washed. Honestly if Ovi is not scoring goals he is a liability. But 44 goals is still 44 goals and that will be difficult to replace if his minutes are cut and of course when he retires. Leanard flashed but you gotta finish. Maybe next year.

100% agree with every statement here.

Andersen had a little break during their Devils series, he came in locked in. When the margin was really thin, LT came up a bit short. He is a good goaltender, but he wasn't streaky at the right time, and he was playing against someone who was. In that scenario, the rest of the team has to carry a little better and for the reasons you stated, that wasn't going to happen. That was the worst series of Carlson's career, I think. I'm not sure it's close. 44 goals for Ovie and a giant noose and specter is gone from this team in that record. So, next year can be a really different year. With this coach and team, they can do a lot; they can be dangerous in the regular season AND postseason next year! I feelz it in my bonez...

 

[SkinsOrlando]

Are first I thought you finished that last word with an R, then I put on my glasses, I'm still laughing though

 

[Chris]

In 2 games of the ECF the Panthers have outscored the Canes 10-2. It’s starting to look like Carolina did the Caps a favor. Hoo boy.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

In 2 games of the ECF the Panthers have outscored the Canes 10-2. It’s starting to look like Carolina did the Caps a favor. Hoo boy.

I actually think the Caps matchup much better with the Panthers than the Canes. The Panthers are able to shutdown the Canes because the Canes style really plays into the Panthers strengths. You can shutdown the Canes with dedication in the defensive end. That is part of why O and Carlson had such bad series; that is not their forte (Carlson is a D but relative to other D he is not as dedicated in my opinion).

Yes this series is going to be ugly. How ugly probably only depends on the goaltenders. The Canes O cannot break the Panthers D. If the Caps had that dedication they would have easily won g1; as it is they almost did.

The other piece of this has been Panthers physicality which was really mixed by the Caps.

 

[Chris]

Historically (recent wise) I do believe that the Caps/Panthers matchup tilts somewhat in Washington’s favor. This season though it seemed to me that the Caps were running on fumes down the stretch…especially so after the record was eclipsed.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Yeah, Florida is really taking it to the Canes right now. Other than a few bush league plays, Carolina doesn’t even look like the same team as the last round. I think that’s a credit to the Panthers who have taken them out of their game and frustrated them. Also, Carolina has now lost 14 straight Eastern conference finals games. That’s a crazy streak.

 

[Chris]

In 2 games of the ECF the Panthers have outscored the Canes 10-2. It’s starting to look like Carolina did the Caps a favor. Hoo boy.

Now 16-4 in goals and a 3-0 series lead for the Panthers.

 

[SkinsOrlando]

The CATS aka Panthers are just a greatly built team, and Bobrovsky when it counts is crazy good, my friends who are Blue Jackets fans shat on Bob even though they had no talent around him in Cbus, crickets these days. Looks like 3 trips to the cup finals for the Panthers and are they becoming the 80's Isles ?? Solid goaltending, young team peaking when the rest of the league is playing catch up? I think we matched up well with the Panthers during the regular season but they have just amped it up another notch in the playoffs and hell might have put 20 on us by now.

 

[Chris]

The Bob is a stalwart in goal, much like his compatriot across state.

 

[Chris]

 

[SkinsOrlando]

Someone got fired

 

[Primus Porcus]

Spencer Carbery - Jack Adams award winner

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

Spencer Carbery - Jack Adams award winner

Well deserved.
To get it again, they will have to show they can learn from mistakes, maybe even with some more speed.

Tough series and it's a tough situation in terms of the roster structure, but I do think they left some opportunities on the table with the lines they ran with. Hard to say though! Really hard to say, probably just armchair QB.

Overall a great season with great progress from 2-years ago, to last year, to this year. You hope you can make some consistent 2nd round trips at least, and then start to crack into the conference finals and/or SCF soon after! Excited for the future, I think they have some good people where they need them (FO, coach) to succeed ultimately, post-Ovie!