This preseason when people were questioning our defense i said we'd be best in the Met. I thought people were highly overrating Washington's defense. Obviously Carlson's a stud, Niskanen is a very good middle pairing guy, and Alzner is underrated but then after that they've got a whole lot of mediocrity. Orpik is a mediocre bottom pairing guy at this point and he's their #4 guy.
- Victoro311

The Caps finished 2nd in GA. Doesn't mean much, but it does mean that their defense wasn't overrated.

No, you couldn't.
- Blackstrom2

actually yes we could since our 8th d is schultz or dp and they are better than orlov, schmidt, alzner, chorney and orpik

When I predicted that the pens were going to have their way with the Caps even strength, a lot of people were wondering as to how I could have concluded that. Well?

actually yes we could since our 8th d is schultz or dp and they are better than orlov, schmidt and alzner, and chorney
- martox

Neither of them are better than Orlov, Schmidt, or Alzner.

But, hey, whatever. Your 8D can be better than the Caps 4D. That's exactly why the Pens are the better team. You win the stupid hypothetical argument of the day.

The Caps finished 2nd in GA. Doesn't mean much, but it does mean that their defense wasn't overrated.
- Blackstrom2

I think you guys play a pretty impressive brand of team defense wich is accented by the best goalie in the NHL backstopping it, but your d core as an isolated unit I don't think is this dominant force that people make it out to be when they say it's the run away best unit in the Met. As isolated units id rather have our boys than yours.

The Caps finished 2nd in GA. Doesn't mean much, but it does mean that their defense wasn't overrated.
- Blackstrom2

Given that they have the likely Vezina winner in net...

You then run into the Lundqvist argument.... is he good because of the team in front of him or in spite of them.

I think holtby is a stud and the caps success is as much about him as anything else

Neither of them are better than Orlov, Schmidt, or Alzner.

But, hey, whatever. Your 8D can be better than the Caps 4D. That's exactly why the Pens are the better team. You win the stupid hypothetical argument of the day.
- Blackstrom2

yay

actually yes we could since our 8th d is schultz or dp and they are better than orlov, schmidt, alzner, chorney and orpik
- martox

Schultz and DP are not better than Alzner.

Given that they have the likely Vezina winner in net...

You then run into the Lundqvist argument.... is he good because of the team in front of him or in spite of them.

I think holtby is a stud and the caps success is as much about him as anything else
- Yonk1216

^ this. the best goalie in the world atm and it is NOT because his defense

Schultz and DP are not better than Alzner.
- Victoro311

ye I know I was pondering if I should edit the post but whatever

I think you guys play a pretty impressive brand of team defense wich is accented by the best goalie in the NHL backstopping it, but your d core as an isolated unit I don't think is this dominant force that people make it out to be when they say it's the run away best unit in the Met. As isolated units id rather have our boys than yours.
- Victoro311

I'd rather take our whole team.... it's just simply deeper.

We lose Maatta and sub in Schultz or Pouliot.

They lose Orpik and it's Orlov or Weber.

Advantage pens especially with last change!

Given that they have the likely Vezina winner in net...

You then run into the Lundqvist argument.... is he good because of the team in front of him or in spite of them.

I think holtby is a stud and the caps success is as much about him as anything else
- Yonk1216

You're right. the Caps D sucks. The only reason they finished 1st in GA in the East is because of their goalie who didn't even finish top-5 in save %.

^ this. the best goalie in the world atm and it is NOT because his defense
- martox

A team, which plays 82 games, finished first in their conference in GA and it's not because of the defense. Just one goalie.

I'm really not that concerned about the Penguins power play. Most of the opportunities have been full of possession, with plenty of dangerous shots.

When the Penguins' PP struggles, it's usually an issue having to do with getting into the zone. That's not the case right now.

I think it's just a matter of shots not going in, and that is likely to change sooner than later.

You're right. the Caps D sucks. The only reason they finished 1st in GA in the East is because of their goalie who didn't even finish top-5 in save %.
- Blackstrom2

Fine... you want to get defensive since you have no counter argument....

Letang is better than any d man on the caps.... Carlson is good but not top 5 in the league.

The caps top 3 is very good.... orpik is an overpaid pylon as your 4... Orlov got benched already for Taylor chorney who only paid for the pens last year cause we were down 3 starting dmen.... and weber looked lost against the pens in the regular season matchups....

Caps are a good team.... but the pens are just as good and deeper across the board

I think you guys play a pretty impressive brand of team defense wich is accented by the best goalie in the NHL backstopping it, but your d core as an isolated unit I don't think is this dominant force that people make it out to be when they say it's the run away best unit in the Met. As isolated units id rather have our boys than yours.
- Victoro311

Daley, Cole, and Lovejoy aren't anything to write home about, and with just one bad game, or even period, would be getting the same damning that Orlov, Schmidt, or Orpik would be getting. Since the day we signed Orpik, I've said he sucks. But Schmidt and Orlov both have put very impressive possession numbers in the regular season, so to say they suck and some team's random 8th guy riding the bench is better than them because of a few bad games in the playoffs is just asinine.

But thank you for being the only decent response.

A team, which plays 82 games, finished first in their conference in GA and it's not because of the defense. Just one goalie.
- Blackstrom2

oh they have defense. not just good enough defense to give them that GA. the reason why they had that GA is 80% on the extremly good goalie you had... just look at habs. it is exactly the same thing. they were great when price played then they lost price and their "great defense" couldn't keep them in a playoff place.
I am not trying to say your defense is bad. I am saying the biggest reason by far that the GA was what it was is because a absolute stud in the net.

I'm really not that concerned about the Penguins power play. Most of the opportunities have been full of possession, with plenty of dangerous shots.

When the Penguins' PP struggles, it's usually an issue having to do with getting into the zone. That's not the case right now.

I think it's just a matter of shots not going in, and that is likely to change sooner than later.
- hardnosed

This is kind of what I was thinking too but there needs to be an adjustment in strategy. I think they're running through the right side too much and Geno isn't on the right half wall nearly enough. You know I get it. The PP is at its best when everyone is moving around and having set positions is asKing for stagnation, but you have to utilize your best weapon more frequently.

Fine... you want to get defensive since you have no counter argument....

Letang is better than any d man on the caps.... Carlson is good but not top 5 in the league.

The caps top 3 is very good.... orpik is an overpaid pylon as your 4... Orlov got benched already for Taylor chorney who only paid for the pens last year cause we were down 3 starting dmen.... and weber looked lost against the pens in the regular season matchups....

Caps are a good team.... but the pens are just as good and deeper across the board
- Yonk1216

Sure, okay?

This is kind of what I was thinking too but there needs to be an adjustment in strategy. I think they're running through the right side too much and Geno isn't on the right half wall nearly enough. You know I get it. The PP is at its best when everyone is moving around and having set positions is asKing for stagnation, but you have to utilize your best weapon more frequently.
- Victoro311

Last night was the first time I saw them trying to run things through Kessel. So I would imagine that was an adjustment from game one. And if it had worked, it would have been praised. Sullivan doesn't stop adjusting (Tocchet and Martin also), they'll keep tweaking and find something that works. Just not having Orpik potentially for a game or two is a massive loss for the Capitals because Orpik has done a nice job harassing Hornqvist.

No, you couldn't.
- Blackstrom2

Our 8d is Derrick Pouliot. 8th overal pick a few years ago. He has phenomenol analytics but the coaching staff won't give him playoff minutes. He's certainly better than anyone in your bottom pair.

Well Pierre Lebrun thinks Pens D isn't good: What it means: After outshooting the Caps 45-35 in Game 1 despite a 4-3 overtime loss, the Penguins again got the upper hand in the shot stat, 35-24; two games in a row, their speed game has hemmed the Caps in their own zone for long stretches. Sure, the Penguins’ blue line isn’t very good, but for Washington’s excellent forecheck play to have an impact, the Caps are going to have to find a way to spend less time in their zone and get to more loose pucks. The Penguins, on merit of play, probably should be up 2-0 in this series as it shifts to Pittsburgh, with Game 3 on Monday and Game 4 on Wednesday.

Daley, Cole, and Lovejoy aren't anything to write home about, and with just one bad game, or even period, would be getting the same damning that Orlov, Schmidt, or Orpik would be getting. Since the day we signed Orpik, I've said he sucks. But Schmidt and Orlov both have put very impressive possession numbers in the regular season, so to say they suck and some team's random 8th guy riding the bench is better than them because of a few bad games in the playoffs is just asinine.

But thank you for being the only decent response.
- Blackstrom2

I'm not saying your guys suck at all. I'm saying their overrated in the sense that people make them out to be dominant which I don't think they are. Physical and difficult to gain ground against? Yes. But their net footspeed is exploitable and they're not elite at breakout support. And you're right about Cole and Lovejoy. They're not great, but they're both pretty standard bottom pairing guys who play on the bottom pairing when everyone's healthy. You've had a bottom pairing guy logging significant minutes and playing in your top 4. I don't think a dominant unit, like Washington has been billed to have, has that set up. I think you're dead wrong about Daley. He's been great for us. He's having a rough go about it against the capitals but he's proven himself as a legit top 4 solution for us this season.

Sure, okay?

- Blackstrom2

btw GF GA
wash: 248 191
PENS: 241 199

I didn't realise it was that close...

Our 8d is Derrick Pouliot. 8th overal pick a few years ago. He has phenomenol analytics but the coaching staff won't give him playoff minutes. He's certainly better than anyone in your bottom pair.
- sditulli

Orlov and Schmidt also have "phenomenal analytics". But, hey because they played two bad games in the playoffs against, who I consider and considered before the playoffs started, the best even strength team in the league, they suck.

Great for DP and his potential. great for Schultz redemption. But you guys are just talking out of your ass for no reason by making statements like that. Who really gives a poop? The Pens, as a whole, play better D than the Caps, as a whole.