It was definitely a goal. Im still just not sure how the ref saw it to call it one when the high def camera just barely caught it. Either way, they got it right.

Wilson should get a game for that. It was blatant, late and knee to knee. Maybe there was no intent to injure but it was still dirty enough to deserve one game.

Maatta looked like poop. He didnt look fantastic last series either. I think its time for him to get a break and let Schultz back in a game. He definitely was a part of two direct goals.

Murray played great at times but also not great at times. Made some great saves on OV breakaways but let in what I would consider two soft goals. He way overplayed that OT wrap around to the near side and thats why he couldnt make it back across. Hope he bounces back.

Turnovers were really bad for us this game. We had a lot of plays turn and go the other way on us quickly. Gotta keep things more north.south and less east/west. Also need Horny in the paint more and for Sid to get going.

Refs called some real bad stuff and then didnt call some blatant stuff. Typical NHL officiating, no reason to even talk about it. Hope it gets better for game two.

Overall if this is the best the Caps can bring, we can definitely beat them if we get our poop together.

It was definitely a goal. Im still just not sure how the ref saw it to call it one when the high def camera just barely caught it. Either way, they got it right.

Wilson should get a game for that. It was blatant, late and knee to knee. Maybe there was no intent to injure but it was still dirty enough to deserve one game.

Maatta looked like poop. He didnt look fantastic last series either. I think its time for him to get a break and let Schultz back in a game. He definitely was a part of two direct goals.

Murray played great at times but also not great at times. Made some great saves on OV breakaways but let in what I would consider two soft goals. He way overplayed that OT wrap around to the near side and thats why he couldnt make it back across. Hope he bounces back.

Turnovers were really bad for us this game. We had a lot of plays turn and go the other way on us quickly. Gotta keep things more north.south and less east/west. Also need Horny in the paint more and for Sid to get going.

Refs called some real bad stuff and then didnt call some blatant stuff. Typical NHL officiating, no reason to even talk about it. Hope it gets better for game two.

Overall if this is the best the Caps can bring, we can definitely beat them if we get our poop together.
- thickman1178

We are talking Wilson. There is always intent.

Wouldn't mind seeing him carried off on a stretcher. That in itself might make the idiot think. No need for these types of turds in the league. That is his only attribute on the ice.
- Oneonta Penguin

Yeah, if he broke his neck the game would be better for it. This has always been the NHL way.... You go after one of their skill guys. And as said player is laying on the ice holding his knee, you skate over to Wilson and say "you did that".

OR WAS IT????????


http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...llusion-of-a-flames-goal/
- YouMeAndDupuis9

This just made me sad.

Ok. how about you? you did say this "i think Pens outplayed them for 45-50 minutes of the game", right?
- MattStrat

No, I didn't say that. I do think the Pens carried play for stretches and obviously had more shots on goal, but I also think the Caps had (and typically missed) the better scoring opportunities.

No, I didn't say that. I do think the Pens carried play for stretches and obviously had more shots on goal, but I also think the Caps had (and typically missed) the better scoring opportunities.
- MadCap2008

I felt the same. Pens had more shots, but it seems to me that the Caps had more scoring chances. I know that every time the Caps got a PP, it was two minutes of pure anxiety that felt ten minutes long.

No, I didn't say that. I do think the Pens carried play for stretches and obviously had more shots on goal, but I also think the Caps had (and typically missed) the better scoring opportunities.
- MadCap2008

Definitely agree with this. Murray let in a few softies, but he also made a LOT of really good saves that kept the Pens within striking distance. On another note.. did Crosby play...? I don't recall seeing a single shift from him where he did anything?

No, I didn't say that. I do think the Pens carried play for stretches and obviously had more shots on goal, but I also think the Caps had (and typically missed) the better scoring opportunities.
- MadCap2008

My apologies it was Blackstrom2 that said it. A Caps fan. You're probably right though, Caps prob had a few better chances but I still think the Pens were the better overall team.

Definitely agree with this. Murray let in a few softies, but he also made a LOT of really good saves that kept the Pens within striking distance. On another note.. did Crosby play...? I don't recall seeing a single shift from him where he did anything?
- j.boyd919

He missed a really good chance when Sheary fed to him from behind the net - missed wide, don't expect that to happen often (same with Ovechkin - surprised he didn't score on one of 3 great chances).

Definitely agree with this. Murray let in a few softies, but he also made a LOT of really good saves that kept the Pens within striking distance. On another note.. did Crosby play...? I don't recall seeing a single shift from him where he did anything?
- j.boyd919

I thought he was mediocre at best. Coach needs to remind him he's best when driving the net and shooting. Not pulling up and looking to pass. 1 shot and -3 from Crosby will get this team eliminated quickly.

I felt the same. Pens had more shots, but it seems to me that the Caps had more scoring chances. I know that every time the Caps got a PP, it was two minutes of pure anxiety that felt ten minutes long.
- thickman1178

Both PP's are so skilled that it is 2 minutes of hell when your team is on the PK.

I felt the same. Pens had more shots, but it seems to me that the Caps had more scoring chances. I know that every time the Caps got a PP, it was two minutes of pure anxiety that felt ten minutes long.
- thickman1178

I didnt find I had much anxiety during their PP's because the Pens killed them very well. Few instances they had chances yes but overall the Pens did a great job on the PK.

I didnt find I had much anxiety during their PP's because the Pens killed them very well. Few instances they had chances yes but overall the Pens did a great job on the PK.
- MattStrat

There's always anxiety when you are down a man against Crosby/Malkin/Letang or Ovechkin/Backstrom/Carlson.

There's always anxiety when you are down a man against Crosby/Malkin/Letang or Ovechkin/Backstrom/Carlson.
- MadCap2008

Ok, for you perhaps, but when the puck is out of the Pens zone more often than its in it on the Caps PP, I dont have anxiety.

Alright, now that we've all calmed down a bit let me start by repeating a stat Yohe threw out yesterday: in all time playoff series between the Caps and the Pens, the caps are 7-1 in Game 1 (now 8-1). The Pens are 7-1 in the series.

Now some take aways from the game.

1) We didn't play very well. Our defense on a whole didn't help with break outs effectively. Crosby's line, while good, was quiet. Geno was a mixed bag. The fourth line was pretty uncharacteristicaly meh. The only skaters that had great games were HBK, so kudos to them. Simply too many turnovers and an inability to establish possession in the offensive zone. This lead to us getting smothered more often than not and having to settle for non-dangerous shots. We have to be able to get in deep and start the cycle. This starts with the break outs by the defensemen and ends with execution by the forwards. Neither thing happend consistently.

2) Speaking of the blue line's ineffectiveness, Olli Maatta. Sullivan didn't bench him during the Rags series and it worked out in our favor. Can lightning strike twice? I wouldn't risk it against a team like the caps, and I think it's telling that Sully stuck Dumo with Letang towards the end of the game. I'd roll that pairing as a minute eater, stick Daley on his off side with Lovejoy, and reunite Cole-Schultz. Sorry Olli, but this just isn't your season. Work hard over the summer and I'm sure you'll be back.

3) Murray did not play well. Oshie should have had one goal and one goal only that game. I can't decide which goal was more embarrassing, his second or third. This is fine. He's a 21 year old rookie. He's gonna eventually get rattled. He's human. He'll shake it off. I still have complete confidence.

4) With all of our short comings, the Caps still only put up three in regulation. None of them were PP goals. For as critical as I am of the way we played, I think the Caps were just as disjointed.

5) Save for his two break aways and the first PP when we got peppered, Ovechkin was invisible again. That's excellent news for us. I didn't see much of anyone actually besides Borokovski. If Oshie had been limited to his one good goal, I'd be lumping him in with Ovi, Kuznetzov, and Mr. Game Seven in the invisible category.

6) We barely had any PP time but still put 3 past the future Vezina winner while not playing great hockey for extended stretches.

7) We never play well after long layoffs and Sullivan is already ranting about East-West play. When Sullivan starts chewing people out for forcing East-West play, our guys always respond. We're gonna play much better tomorrow.

Caps all time in Game 1 against the Pens: 8-1

Pens all time record against the Caps in playoff serieses: 7-1

Buckle Up Baby

I didnt find I had much anxiety during their PP's because the Pens killed them very well. Few instances they had chances yes but overall the Pens did a great job on the PK.
- MattStrat

We got eaten alive during their first PP. If we let up PPs like that they're gonna score eventually. I think we can and will kill better moving forward.

We got eaten alive during their first PP. If we let up PPs like that they're gonna score eventually. I think we can and will kill better moving forward.
- Victoro311

Their first one was decent definitely wouldn't call it eaten alive and the others were meh. Pens had better chances than they did on one of them sure.

Burns with the 25 pick eh? Seems like a reach

Alright, now that we've all calmed down a bit let me start by repeating a stat Yohe threw out yesterday: in all time playoff series between the Caps and the Pens, the caps are 7-1 in Game 1 (now 8-1). The Pens are 7-1 in the series.

Now some take aways from the game.

1) We didn't play very well. Our defense on a whole didn't help with break outs effectively. Crosby's line, while good, was quiet. Geno was a mixed bag. The fourth line was pretty uncharacteristicaly meh. The only skaters that had great games were HBK, so kudos to them. Simply too many turnovers and an inability to establish possession in the offensive zone. This lead to us getting smothered more often than not and having to settle for non-dangerous shots. We have to be able to get in deep and start the cycle. This starts with the break outs by the defensemen and ends with execution by the forwards. Neither thing happend consistently.

2) Speaking of the blue line's ineffectiveness, Olli Maatta. Sullivan didn't bench him during the Rags series and it worked out in our favor. Can lightning strike twice? I wouldn't risk it against a team like the caps, and I think it's telling that Sully stuck Dumo with Letang towards the end of the game. I'd roll that pairing as a minute eater, stick Daley on his off side with Lovejoy, and reunite Cole-Schultz. Sorry Olli, but this just isn't your season. Work hard over the summer and I'm sure you'll be back.

3) Murray did not play well. Oshie should have had one goal and one goal only that game. I can't decide which goal was more embarrassing, his second or third. This is fine. He's a 21 year old rookie. He's gonna eventually get rattled. He's human. He'll shake it off. I still have complete confidence.

4) With all of our short comings, the Caps still only put up three in regulation. None of them were PP goals. For as critical as I am of the way we played, I think the Caps were just as disjointed.

5) Save for his two break aways and the first PP when we got peppered, Ovechkin was invisible again. That's excellent news for us. I didn't see much of anyone actually besides Borokovski. If Oshie had been limited to his one good goal, I'd be lumping him in with Ovi, Kuznetzov, and Mr. Game Seven in the invisible category.

6) We barely had any PP time but still put 3 past the future Vezina winner while not playing great hockey for extended stretches.

7) We never play well after long layoffs and Sullivan is already ranting about East-West play. When Sullivan starts chewing people out for forcing East-West play, our guys always respond. We're gonna play much better tomorrow.

Caps all time in Game 1 against the Pens: 8-1

Pens all time record against the Caps in playoff serieses: 7-1

Buckle Up Baby
- Victoro311

I think so too.

I think so too.
- MattStrat

You read that novel?

You read that novel?
- dbell646

Hey man, I write eloquently. So you can shove it

Hey man, I write eloquently. So you can shove it
- Victoro311

I'm sure you do but that was long winded my friend.

I'm sure you do but that was long winded my friend.
- dbell646

Meh. I've got nothing else better to do at work. Might as well air out opinions that no one reads. It beats playing snake.

Ok, for you perhaps, but when the puck is out of the Pens zone more often than its in it on the Caps PP, I dont have anxiety.
- MattStrat

You musta been drunk as (frank). It as a shooting gallery every time the Caps were on the PP. I was on the edge of my seat on every PK.

Alright, now that we've all calmed down a bit let me start by repeating a stat Yohe threw out yesterday: in all time playoff series between the Caps and the Pens, the caps are 7-1 in Game 1 (now 8-1). The Pens are 7-1 in the series.

Now some take aways from the game.

1) We didn't play very well. Our defense on a whole didn't help with break outs effectively. Crosby's line, while good, was quiet. Geno was a mixed bag. The fourth line was pretty uncharacteristicaly meh. The only skaters that had great games were HBK, so kudos to them. Simply too many turnovers and an inability to establish possession in the offensive zone. This lead to us getting smothered more often than not and having to settle for non-dangerous shots. We have to be able to get in deep and start the cycle. This starts with the break outs by the defensemen and ends with execution by the forwards. Neither thing happend consistently.

2) Speaking of the blue line's ineffectiveness, Olli Maatta. Sullivan didn't bench him during the Rags series and it worked out in our favor. Can lightning strike twice? I wouldn't risk it against a team like the caps, and I think it's telling that Sully stuck Dumo with Letang towards the end of the game. I'd roll that pairing as a minute eater, stick Daley on his off side with Lovejoy, and reunite Cole-Schultz. Sorry Olli, but this just isn't your season. Work hard over the summer and I'm sure you'll be back.

3) Murray did not play well. Oshie should have had one goal and one goal only that game. I can't decide which goal was more embarrassing, his second or third. This is fine. He's a 21 year old rookie. He's gonna eventually get rattled. He's human. He'll shake it off. I still have complete confidence.

4) With all of our short comings, the Caps still only put up three in regulation. None of them were PP goals. For as critical as I am of the way we played, I think the Caps were just as disjointed.

5) Save for his two break aways and the first PP when we got peppered, Ovechkin was invisible again. That's excellent news for us. I didn't see much of anyone actually besides Borokovski. If Oshie had been limited to his one good goal, I'd be lumping him in with Ovi, Kuznetzov, and Mr. Game Seven in the invisible category.

6) We barely had any PP time but still put 3 past the future Vezina winner while not playing great hockey for extended stretches.

7) We never play well after long layoffs and Sullivan is already ranting about East-West play. When Sullivan starts chewing people out for forcing East-West play, our guys always respond. We're gonna play much better tomorrow.

Caps all time in Game 1 against the Pens: 8-1

Pens all time record against the Caps in playoff serieses: 7-1

Buckle Up Baby
- Victoro311

All of this was what I saw too & commented on the last page. I'm not really concerned. Too much fancy stuff. Not enough simple hockey. They'll get back to it pretty quick, I think. I didn't see much of getting into Holtby's kitchen the way we did in the Rags series & I think that changes real quick. Sully will verbally chokeslam this team into getting back to playing the right way pretty quick, I think.