The Washington Capitals Thread

[bdravens]

[quote name='XxSizzleXx' timestamp='1289793630' post='541343']
Anyone see the brawl between the Oilers and Rangers, check it out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjZF1Cdx7Eo

Man I cant stand Avery, soo gutless.
[/quote]
Wow nice! Typical of Avery, wait till he turns to start beating on him.

[PuRock]

[quote name='bdravens' timestamp='1289827903' post='541654']
Wow nice! Typical of Avery, wait till he turns to start beating on him.
[/quote]

Speaking of fights. Erskine got into a crazy fight yesterday. That fight just wasn't for show. They were really going at it. Haven't seen punches like that from a Cap in a long time.

[bdravens]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1289836408' post='541704']
Speaking of fights. Erskine got into a crazy fight yesterday. That fight just wasn't for show. They were really going at it. Haven't seen punches like that from a Cap in a long time.
[/quote]
We've gotten into more fights this year than last year it seems. Green's gotten into a few scraps, Erskine has too, and the new guy D.J King got into one earlier in the year.

[PuRock]

[quote name='bdravens' timestamp='1289851008' post='541897']
We've gotten into more fights this year than last year it seems. Green's gotten into a few scraps, Erskine has too, and the new guy D.J King got into one earlier in the year.
[/quote]

We have been fighting a lot more than usually. I think that was the idea when they brought in DJ King and Hendricks. Its almost like Bruce wants to see a fight a game.

[XxSizzleXx]

Penguins have the most fighting major in the league, we make up for our lack of talent at the wing by using them to beat up the other players lol.

[bdravens]

[quote name='XxSizzleXx' timestamp='1289852391' post='541919']
Penguins have the most fighting major in the league, we make up for our lack of talent at the wing by using them to beat up the other players lol.
[/quote]
Ooo..just realized you're a Pens fan. Not too sure if I'm allowed to talk to you anymore.

[XxSizzleXx]

Yes, indeed you do have a Penguins fan on your friends list, SUCKER!!

[bdravens]

This changes things.

[Pääjärvi]

[quote name='XxSizzleXx' timestamp='1289780400' post='540996']
Trade Semin while his stock is high.
[/quote]

I agree, it would be the smart decision. An even smarter decision would be firing Boudreau,but probably we will have to wait for another disappointing playoff for McPhee to show him the door. I still believe Boudreau hasn't put a winning system in place when it comes to playoff action and he's not a good leader. A good example of that, Ovechkin makes a sloppy play in the neutral zone giving away a shorthanded break-away and he quits on the play,Backstrom and Green who were behind him get back before Alex. That's unacceptable for one of the best players in the world and the captain. Of course Boudreau didn't hold him accountable and he was back on the ice, floating in the neutral zone . I know being creative with the puck will automatically make you more prone to mistakes, but Alex not trailing the 2nd guy in Little who actually scored on the rebound really pissed me off. That's not what I want from my captain

Btw,Erskine with one of the best fights I've seen all year. And I've watched a lot of fights

[XxSizzleXx]

If you captain isn't moving then you are right, that is bad leadership by the coaches and it shows the lack of veteran leadership on that team. That is a reason why I'm not that big of a fan of a few Caps, they float when they don't have the puck. Out of all the players in last years playoffs I would say Semin was the worst and was definitely disappointing, showed no leadership or effort.

[bdravens]

That generally seems to happen with our team, they just disappear in the playoffs. BTW, do any of you guys know where to buy like anybody's NHL jersey? Usually they only have a very small selection of players, and wanted to know if there was somewhere besides ebay that was reliable to buy a John Carlson jersey without having to buy a customized one.

[PuRock]

Man these Capitals are still pissing me off this year. They get the big lead can really end the game in the 2nd. Then they give off a big brain fart and let Sabres back in it within 2 minutes. Then we spent most of the game grasping for air to come away with the win.

I applaud you Caps for winning the game, but get that killer instinct!

[FerrariFan87]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1290094037' post='544206']
Man these Capitals are still pissing me off this year. They get the big lead can really end the game in the 2nd. Then they give off a big brain fart and let Sabres back in it within 2 minutes. Then we spent most of the game grasping for air to come away with the win.

I applaud you Caps for winning the game, but get that killer instinct!
[/quote]

Well, once again we're dominating during the regular season... we seem to peak too early and then fizzle out when it matters. I hope we reverse this trend.

[PuRock]

[quote name='FerrariFan87' timestamp='1290094384' post='544209']
Well, once again we're dominating during the regular season... we seem to peak too early and then fizzle out when it matters. I hope we reverse this trend.
[/quote]

We are becoming the San Jose Sharks of the East.

[FerrariFan87]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1290095206' post='544221']
We are becoming the San Jose Sharks of the East.
[/quote]

Yup, and I read in the paper today that Ovie is fed up with being a regular season team as well... let's hope the rest of the guys feel the same. This is a marathon, not a sprint.

[bdravens]

Yesterday's first period was the best period i've seen them play all year yet. They have yet to play a full 60 minute game, much like our Ravens

[XxSizzleXx]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1290095206' post='544221']
We are becoming the San Jose Sharks of the East.
[/quote]


Nahhh, the Sharks always compete and have great coaching. They just had bad goaltending and bad breaks in the past. The Capitals had too many players that weren't 'playoff' type guys when it mattered in the past. This is the reason the past few years all the FA additions have mostly been experienced guys who know how to lead if I'm not mistaken.

I'm glad the Pens are still winning, besides the talent on D and between Geno and Crosby every single one of our forwards is a grinder because Staal is injured. I sure miss having a scoring winger like Palffy/Kovalev/Jagr.

[Pääjärvi]

[quote name='XxSizzleXx' timestamp='1290234328' post='545376']
Nahhh, the Sharks always compete and have great coaching. They just had bad goaltending and bad breaks in the past. The Capitals had too many players that weren't 'playoff' type guys when it mattered in the past. This is the reason the past few years all the FA additions have mostly been experienced guys who know how to lead if I'm not mistaken.

[/quote]

What are you talking about, Sharks are the definition for sports choking . Their inability to step up in the playoffs is long known and it has nothing to do with goaltending or bad breaks. Bad breaks don't make you lose playoff series.
The Caps have great players , but they don't play the right system, it's a disorganized team kind of "let's go out there boys and win it based on talent. Boudreau really sucks as a coach. Ovechkin has the ability to be the greatest player in the game right now , not only the best or 2nd best(toss up between him and Crosby). Boudreau hasn't the leadership or the balls to challenge him . His system is a failure, he didn't make Ove a more complete player,he didn't protect Green enough, he didn't make adjustment when Canadiens Jacques Martin allowed his team to get out of position and block every shot. Caps system was, get the puck to Ovy and let him fire it .
Believe me , Ovechkin is not Joe Thornton,he's a freak , at 230 pounds he can go from 1st gear to third in 2 seconds,his acceleration is top notch , his ability to protect the puck,lay the wood is awesome. I expect Ove to dump the puck and not force a play when it isn't there, help the defense by winning the puck in a battle down low and 5 seconds later shooting the puck . Ove has the ability to wear DEFENSES down; Boudreau won't challenge him to become that

[XxSizzleXx]

Umm if you've seen the past few Sharks playoff performances you would know that what was holding them back in the playoff clutch was their goaltending, hence why Nabokov was let go to go sign with whomever he wanted. Your last paragraph was all about Ovie, and to be fair it isn't Boudreau job to turn him into a complete player, that is his and his alone. If you really think bad breaks can't lose you playoff games and eventually a series you are incorrect because I watched MTL get outplayed every game IN MORE THAN ONE SERIES and still advance due to BREAKDOWNS and BAD GOALTENDING by the other team. Ovechkin plays within the sysyem therefore he is playing and doing of what the system teaches, if you want your forwards to have more of a wear down type forecheck maybe you should give big Bruce a call and tell the Caps to utilize the cycle, durrr. You can't expect one player to play out of the system and have everybody else play in the system especially when that one player is the team CAPTAIN. Reason why you guys got lit up last playoff series was because half of your players didn't bother stepping up, and you need all of your players to step up come playoff time. I don't really know where all this Ovie talk came from because I strictly remember last year Ovechkin was playing like a made man, it was the other half of the team that didn't bother to play.

[XxSizzleXx]

San Jose has won a playoff series in every year except one since post-lockout. The only reason people say they 'choke' when they lose is because they are expected to make it to the SCF every year LOL.

EDIT - There is only 1 Detroit

[Pääjärvi]

Scotty Bowman. Read more about his relationship with Steve Yzerman, who was one of the most offensively gifted players in the world but very poor in the defensive zone. A couple of years under Scotty and this guy is regarded as one of the best two-way forwards in the history. Coaching has A LOT to do with how players evolve. And when half of your team is underpeforming , there is a problem with the system/coaching.
About the Sharks,there is a reason why all the hockey fans call them chokers. They've been the best regular season team in the NHL since the lock-out, check out their numbers. And yes losing in the Conf semis is under-achieving when you finish in top 3 west year in and year out. Thornton and Marleau should of carried the team on their shoulders, not Nabokov. Nabby was good as long as the team in front of him showed up, he's not known to steal games or be super clutch but he can get the job done. Thorton -12 on a team that got to the finals last year. Most of the time his points come in bunch or garbage time,but he's way under a PPG in the playoffs . But it's good to blame the goaltending for Sharks failure, especially when you have the best paid line in the NHL and a crazy good supporting cast.
Montreal advanced because of Halak outplaying anyone in the first two series not because of bad breaks. It happens all the time, an elite goalie getting super hot see Giguere in 2003,Ward in 2005, Kipper in 2004 , Brodeur and Roy in the early 2000's

[XxSizzleXx]

I'm not going going to deny that coaching doesn't have anything to do with player development because it does, but it is not the coaches responsibility to babysit that player into getting better, it's the payers period. Look at Crosby, the kid works on everything different each off-season and it more often than not focuses on his weaknesses. Came into the league was too small couldn't handle the board game, now he dominates the wall, people then knacked his goal scoring and then a rocket Richard comes along, hell he couldn't even win a faceoff when he first came into the league and how he's one of the best. It's not a problem with coaching if you're constantly winning your division, it's a problem with leadership.

I'm also going to disagree and go with Detroit being the best team on just post lockout but in the last 10-15 years, they're consistently the role models of the NHL. I don't know how you can say it shouldn't be Nabokov carrying most of the load and then go on to mention the number of goalies that carry their teams in the playoffs over the past decade. Each year there are goalies that carry their teams in the playoffs and this year was the first time in a long time that there wasn't one in the SCF. For you to say that two men should of carried that team is stupid, because every team that has ever won the Stanley Cup has had a supporting cast. That's like saying Ovechkin and Backstrom should lead the Caps to a cup, it's not happening with two men carrying your team. I'm sure you remember when the Penguins won the cup Fleury was LIGHTS OUT the entire playoffs.

It's about supporting cast and goal tending come playoff time, you can't rely day in and day out on your top 2 guys to carry the load. If your top guys can't get the supporting cast going, then that is a leadership problem.

[PuRock]

Have a good feeling about the game against Philly tonight. Coming off a embarrassing loss and playing at home, we should have a strong showing.

[XxSizzleXx]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1290298227' post='545682']
Have a good feeling about the game against Philly tonight. Coming off a embarrassing loss and playing at home, we should have a strong showing.
[/quote]

prediction - WSH 14 PHI 13 haha

[PuRock]

Caps coming back with a fury! Two PP Goals in less than a minute.

[bdravens]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1290306021' post='545762']
Caps coming back with a fury! Two PP Goals in less than a minute.
[/quote]
I strongly dislike Philly. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeUbFg7CTtY"]Watch this video, found it on youtube of the Flyers haha![/url] It's from a Penguins point of view but if you ignore that part, it's funny.

[XxSizzleXx]

Lol nice, I still remember when Philly had there absolute terrible season before their 100 point season, the Pens won every matchup against them that year, 8 games to none.

[bdravens]

Lol I thought so too. I just pictured the Crosby pics as Ovechkin pics, same with the Pens-Caps, and I enjoyed the video even more

[Pääjärvi]

[quote name='XxSizzleXx' timestamp='1290295730' post='545651']
I'm not going going to deny that coaching doesn't have anything to do with player development because it does, but it is not the coaches responsibility to babysit that player into getting better, it's the payers period. Look at Crosby, the kid works on everything different each off-season and it more often than not focuses on his weaknesses. Came into the league was too small couldn't handle the board game, now he dominates the wall, people then knacked his goal scoring and then a rocket Richard comes along, hell he couldn't even win a faceoff when he first came into the league and how he's one of the best. It's not a problem with coaching if you're constantly winning your division, it's a problem with leadership. [/quote]

Call it babysit, I won't. Some players need a kick in the balls to practice harder or work on certain aspects of their games. Kovalchuk was quoted when he was in Atlanta that coach Hartley was the one who pushed him to go hard every shift and really improve his defensive game. The Capitals were winning the division because that division sucked till this year. This year it will be a much closer race with Tampa improving as a team and Atlanta having a lot of new weapons

[quote]
I'm also going to disagree and go with Detroit being the best team on just post lockout but in the last 10-15 years, they're consistently the role models of the NHL. I don't know how you can say it shouldn't be Nabokov carrying most of the load and then go on to mention the number of goalies that carry their teams in the playoffs over the past decade. Each year there are goalies that carry their teams in the playoffs and this year was the first time in a long time that there wasn't one in the SCF. For you to say that two men should of carried that team is stupid, because every team that has ever won the Stanley Cup has had a supporting cast. That's like saying Ovechkin and Backstrom should lead the Caps to a cup, it's not happening with two men carrying your team. I'm sure you remember when the Penguins won the cup Fleury was LIGHTS OUT the entire playoffs.[/quote]

You're best players need to be your best players. Last year Mike Richards and Chris Pronger were amazing carrying the load , Toews and Keith as well ; two years ago Crosby and Malkin , 3 years ago Zetterberg and Datsyuk when everyone said they are the best forwards in the game it you value two-way skill more than a few more points in the regular season. Thornton and Marleau haven't stepped up as emotional leaders on the Sharks,and it clearly wasn't Nabby's fault last year - with Heatley blowing coverage on a couple of Big Buff's GWG , Thornton a -12 despite having a winning record in the playoffs and Pavelski outscoring the big 3 on whom SJ have invested over 20 mil$. Who knows , if Nabby had a Conn Smythe winner on his team and another emotional leader like Crosby he might have stepped up his game but that team was flat from top to bottom.

[XxSizzleXx]

[quote name='Pääjärvi' timestamp='1290388621' post='547379']
[b]Call it babysit, I won't. Some players need a kick in the balls to practice harder [/b]or work on certain aspects of their games. Kovalchuk was quoted when he was in Atlanta that coach Hartley was the one who pushed him to go hard every shift and really improve his defensive game. The Capitals were winning the division because that division sucked till this year. This year it will be a much closer race with Tampa improving as a team and Atlanta having a lot of new weapons




[/quote]

True dat, they're called Russians haha

I'm glad there are a few people around here who like to talk puck, since your in the same wagon as me on trading Semin, what kind of player would you like to see brought in?