Posted on 04/15/2017 9:38:44 AM PDT by Hat-Trick
Thought it well past time to get a 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs discussion thread going, now just 2 games into the 2017 Playoffs.
I came home and raced to turn on the game, and it was right after Fiala’s injury. Preds were knocked off their game a bit but they did it for Kevin. Great game, hope it is either below the knee of the hip. I’m scared it could be a career ended otherwise, pray he is ok.
Ducks choked and it isn’t even game 7.
Yes, 4 goals in a couple minutes, very unusual. Yes, last goal on open net.
How was the hockey game? I love live hockey, it’s the best live sport.
I’ve been evaluatting the Pens/Caps line by line and all I’ve got to say is Caps fans take heart.....ew.
Last year I had the Pens in 6 if Kuznetsov didn’t show up. This year it’s Caps in 5 if Sullivan doesn’t change the lines.
I heard a Mike Rupp interview where he had the same reasons for the Pens possible demise, Hornquist a mistake on line 1 and Kessel a mistake on line 2. I hope we’re both wrong!
Edmonton winning surprised me. But there’s plenty of hockey still to be played.
Bears lost in OT. Game 4 Saturday.
As for Sully, he has no problem mixing up lines if he doesn’t like what he sees.
Absolutely...get the forecheck rolling, keep Crosby on his pockets and play in their end, which starts by winning faceoffs.
That’s too bad about the Bears. Good point about Sullivan, he’s not Bylsma.
Kuznetsov! Love it or hate it, his Birdman goal celebration is unique.
And Bonino replies like a silent assassin.
Thanks to the Penguins for 60 minutes of cardio work!
PENS WIN!
That was amazing. Fleury was a beast. And a great kick save by Guentzel to help him out too.
Had to watch on DVR. Yep that goal celebration was something else......it looked like what kids do with a plucked chicken.
I think the Caps will be generally happy with their game last night. Fleury stole it.
Fleury was great, Crosby and Gentzel were great. Line 2 was bad and line 3 was a dumpster fire. Pens got away with one.
You were right Sullivan started switching up Malkin’s line to Kunitz/Rust in the 3rd.
Props to Hornquist. He was nothing like he’d been (creampuffs to the net, heading to the blue paint no matter what). Great game from him.
Holtby didn't play well in Toronto series, and last night he contributed directly to all three goals. He's developed stone hands lately and is paralyzed by any skater breaking in with the puck, so he hangs much too deep in the net and doesn't cut down the angle.
If Trots is smart, he'll play Grubauer next game. If Holtby stays, this is over in 5 or 6.
Malkin is a great player but he has a tendency to turn the puck over in the defensive zone when pressured. Whenever he’s bringing the puck out I cringe.
This looks to be a great series. Possibly an instant classic.
If you add up the shots, blocked shots and missed shots, the Capitals had 83 shots at Fleury.
He has played great in the playoffs and his 5-1 record is evidence that he is a force that will take the Penguins all the way.
The Caps out played the Pens last night by every metric except how many hit the back of the net. My comment speaks to the fact that the Caps didn't make Fleury work as hard as they should have for the win. Wristers from 25' with no one providing a screen is nothing more than playing catch. Pens had 29 blocks to the Caps 8. Caps are sending in shots without a lane. Holtby is not playing well and it showed last night.
The announcers of these games make every save seem like something miraculous when most of them are simple kicks or glove saves. Fans are doing the same thing. Fleury had a good game but he got a lot of help from the opposition.
I’ve wondered some times if Fleury wasn’t a little too “busy” in the crease. When pressed, he can get a little too active, which gives me fits watching.
I’ve watched Holtby for years, since he started in Hershey, and he is as good a goalie as people say.
But a good goalie needs skaters in front of him that can score.
And I don’t know if the Caps have enough. Or as much as Pittsburgh. The Pens have 4 good lines. The Caps have 2.
It’s going to show in games 6 and 7. If it gets that far.
Caps had best defensive stats of the regular season. Even though lines change, especially during the playoffs, the Caps third line had a much higher Corsi score than the Pen's third - 58.57 vs. 45.92 during the regular season. They were also much higher in scoring chance percentage and expected goals percentage. Can't speak to the 4th line, although there are more than a few teams who would love to have Beagle, Winnik and Connolly working it. The first and second lines for both teams are stellar. So no, I wouldn't agree that the Caps don't have 4 good lines.
I will, however, agree that the Caps are notoriously uptight in the playoffs and have a long and storied history of choking. Add an unsettled Holtby to the mix and a fan will be concerned. Caps out hit Pens 41-17 last night. If they can maintain that kind of physical play it will show later in the series.....if it gets that far. Last night was a tough loss. We'll see what team shows up tomorrow.
Yeah, it’s unusual. Goalies can go through funks and streaks, to paraphrase Yogi Berra “It’s 90% half mental”.
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