Kunitz
- Dcoms

Ovi picks the puck up right after they pull their goalie, starts skating and is just about to break into that signature stride that is almost unstoppable and is met with a body at the red line and its Kunitz and it (frank)s up that whole sequence and buys the pens at least 20 seconds off the clock. You dont know what your talking about kid.

The game looked even until the last 5 of the second period. Washington got out of their end cleaner, but we were more dangerous than they were once in the zone. Sid's line was generating chances at will. We blocked a lot of shots too, so I don't think it was quite as badly skewed as it looked on raw shot attempts.

I think if we weren't up 2-0 we wouldn't have looked so bad, but yeah there's still some changes to be made and Washington is going to get the better of the scoring chances at this rate. Getting Hags back will help though.

I'd be tempted to go back to Rust - Geno - whoever and HBK if Crosby's line continues to be the only effective one.

Ovi picks the puck up right after they pull their goalie, starts skating and is just about to break into that signature stride that is almost unstoppable and is met with a body at the red line and its Kunitz and it (frank)s up that whole sequence and buys the pens at least 20 seconds off the clock. You dont know what your talking about kid.
- Grinder47

I missed you buddy.

What I love about the Kunitz dynamic:

When he was in the lineup, lots of fans on message boards used him as a major whipping boy. They couldn't wait for him to get out of the lineup or get demoted to the fourth line.

What happens? Kunitz gets injured and everyone was clamoring for him come back in the lineup for the Caps series and now those same people want him right out again...

It's dizzying.

I don't care how many goals Kunitz "should have." Nothing more annoying than the constant, "he should have four goals by now." Get over it. That's not what he brings now, but he's still VERY effective. Would I like him to score? Sure, but at least he's generating the chances.

What I love about the Kunitz dynamic:

When he was in the lineup, lots of fans on message boards used him as a major whipping boy. They couldn't wait for him to get out of the lineup or get demoted to the fourth line.

What happens? Kunitz gets injured and everyone was clamoring for him come back in the lineup for the Caps series and now those same people want him right out again...

It's dizzying.

I don't care how many goals Kunitz "should have." Nothing more annoying than the constant, "he should have four goals by now." Get over it. That's not what he brings now, but he's still VERY effective. Would I like him to score? Sure, but at least he's generating the chances.
- Rinosaur

He was only a whipping boy because he doesn't belong anywhere close to the 1st two lines. I love him on the 4th line. Plus, his PK skills are excellent.

This is so funny seeing all the discussion about the team with the best numbers losing.

Hockey isn't math, most formulae analytics uses has some type of Kaos being explained as an anamoly. Anamolies cannot explain the outcome of a dynamic event so how can anything using them in their formulae explain the outcome or why would you try & use it to?

The Pens took their opportunities more times than the Caps. It's pretty simple really & doesn't need charts or graphs explaining the why - even though stupid people still try to..............

I'll give you this to think about.

An 18 year old heterosexual male that's very good looking & gets female company anytime he wants it at home. He travels to Thailand with his mates goes to a bar & drinks, speaks to many many many beautiful women & has a great time. He eventually takes a lady home for the night where at home he undresses her & finds a penis hiding in her underwear.

Now will that night affect his ability moving forward? Will it change anything? Just think about that for a minute................

Just 1 more thing. As I've said many many times before, if your goalie is great & is better than the opposition you will win. It doesn't matter how your corsi looks, how many high danger shots or low danger shots you have, it doesn't matter if you spend 90% of the time in the O zone or your own end. It all depends on your goalie & no more important time than the playoffs.

The game looked even until the last 5 of the second period. Washington got out of their end cleaner, but we were more dangerous than they were once in the zone. Sid's line was generating chances at will. We blocked a lot of shots too, so I don't think it was quite as badly skewed as it looked on raw shot attempts.

I think if we weren't up 2-0 we wouldn't have looked so bad, but yeah there's still some changes to be made and Washington is going to get the better of the scoring chances at this rate. Getting Hags back will help though.

I'd be tempted to go back to Rust - Geno - whoever and HBK if Crosby's line continues to be the only effective one.
- cygnus41

Certain games you get the feeling every shot will score on MAF. Seriously. Then, there are games like last night where it's like, I just don't think the Caps are going to solve MAF tonight. There is tension when they have the puck but they are not really clicking. hard to explain.

This is so funny seeing all the discussion about the team with the best numbers losing.

Hockey isn't math, most formulae analytics uses has some type of Kaos being explained as an anamoly. Anamolies cannot explain the outcome of a dynamic event so how can anything using them in their formulae explain the outcome or why would you try & use it to?

The Pens took their opportunities more times than the Caps. It's pretty simple really & doesn't need charts or graphs explaining the why - even though stupid people still try to..............

I'll give you this to think about.

An 18 year old heterosexual male that's very good looking & gets female company anytime he wants it at home. He travels to Thailand with his mates goes to a bar & drinks, speaks to many many many beautiful women & has a great time. He eventually takes a lady home for the night where at home he undresses her & finds a penis hiding in her underwear.

Now will that night affect his ability moving forward? Will it change anything? Just think about that for a minute................

Just 1 more thing. As I've said many many times before, if your goalie is great & is better than the opposition you will win. It doesn't matter how your corsi looks, how many high danger shots or low danger shots you have, it doesn't matter if you spend 90% of the time in the O zone or your own end. It all depends on your goalie & no more important time than the playoffs.
- Aussiepenguin

Mario's Pens were regularly outshot. We didn't have a great defense but we were lethal out front. I don't Gunner was around then. They won two cups with that approach, BTW.

Ovi picks the puck up right after they pull their goalie, starts skating and is just about to break into that signature stride that is almost unstoppable and is met with a body at the red line and its Kunitz and it (frank)s up that whole sequence and buys the pens at least 20 seconds off the clock. You dont know what your talking about kid.
- Grinder47

You crack me up. Sometimes you seem like a total D*ck. Then, other times you say things like this and I think, hell I guess grinder is OK after all....

You crack me up. Sometimes you seem like a total D*ck. Then, other times you say things like this and I think, hell I guess grinder is OK after all....
- powerhouse

Grinder is OK.

Mario's Pens were regularly outshot. We didn't have a great defense but we were lethal out front. I don't Gunner was around then. They won two cups with that approach, BTW.
- powerhouse

Besides the playoffs being a completely different beast than normal season - I haven't seen a playoffs version of corsi as yet so please show me if there is 1 , there are many teams that are outshot & win. It comes back to the old more shots = more goals mistake that I'd thought I'd proven wrong many times (NOT the more shots gives you more opportunity to score more goals!!!).

Even still the 'possession' arguement is wheeled out by Gunner when it suits him & other analytics guys. They just don't get that sport is an active specimen that is unpredictable - hockey more so than others. The more they try & rationalise their 'theories' & 'knowledge' on why things happen the more they are wrong. Sure there will be teams that have more possession & win - but justifying that possession was the reason is false. After a goal is scored then shots should reset & be counted singularly meaning how many shots it took to score 'a' goal each time.

But as I said, goalies especially in playoffs, are the winner or loser. Possess the puck all you want but if your goalie gives up a goal on 1 single shot then I'd prefer the goalie that stops 50 shots & play in my own end than the 1 that can't keep 1 out of his own net.

Besides the playoffs being a completely different beast than normal season - I haven't seen a playoffs version of corsi as yet so please show me if there is 1 , there are many teams that are outshot & win. It comes back to the old more shots = more goals mistake that I'd thought I'd proven wrong many times (NOT the more shots gives you more opportunity to score more goals!!!).

Even still the 'possession' arguement is wheeled out by Gunner when it suits him & other analytics guys. They just don't get that sport is an active specimen that is unpredictable - hockey more so than others. The more they try & rationalise their 'theories' & 'knowledge' on why things happen the more they are wrong. Sure there will be teams that have more possession & win - but justifying that possession was the reason is false. After a goal is scored then shots should reset & be counted singularly meaning how many shots it took to score 'a' goal each time.

But as I said, goalies especially in playoffs, are the winner or loser. Possess the puck all you want but if your goalie gives up a goal on 1 single shot then I'd prefer the goalie that stops 50 shots & play in my own end than the 1 that can't keep 1 out of his own net.
- Aussiepenguin

moth(frank)ing oilers are the perfect example of a ok team with an goalie playing out of this world. if talbot stops playing like a god or gets hurt anaheim 4-0 oilers and so does san jose.

Besides the playoffs being a completely different beast than normal season - I haven't seen a playoffs version of corsi as yet so please show me if there is 1 , there are many teams that are outshot & win. It comes back to the old more shots = more goals mistake that I'd thought I'd proven wrong many times (NOT the more shots gives you more opportunity to score more goals!!!).

Even still the 'possession' arguement is wheeled out by Gunner when it suits him & other analytics guys. They just don't get that sport is an active specimen that is unpredictable - hockey more so than others. The more they try & rationalise their 'theories' & 'knowledge' on why things happen the more they are wrong. Sure there will be teams that have more possession & win - but justifying that possession was the reason is false. After a goal is scored then shots should reset & be counted singularly meaning how many shots it took to score 'a' goal each time.

But as I said, goalies especially in playoffs, are the winner or loser. Possess the puck all you want but if your goalie gives up a goal on 1 single shot then I'd prefer the goalie that stops 50 shots & play in my own end than the 1 that can't keep 1 out of his own net.
- Aussiepenguin

The Devils via Broudour were a great example of a goalie leading the team to wins on a consistent basis. It led eventually to a very defensive style when their scorers dried up or retired. Consequently, when they lost the potent scorers they declined in championships. You see it takes not only a potent goalie but a few scorers with lethal accuracy from a shooting perspective. Not just shooting for shooting sake but players who have terrific aim. Oh, and luck, lol!

The Devils via Broudour were a great example of a goalie leading the team to wins on a consistent basis. It led eventually to a very defensive style when their scorers dried up or retired. Consequently, when they lost the potent scorers they declined in championships. You see it takes not only a potent goalie but a few scorers with lethal accuracy from a shooting perspective. Not just shooting for shooting sake but players who have terrific aim. Oh, and luck, lol!
- powerhouse

Players taking their opportunities whether it be 1 shot or 4, which also depends on the opposition 'goalie'!

There are goals scored where a goalie leaves an open net & the Dman hasn't covered the attack, but at the same time that has at times absolutely nothing to do with possession as it could be an odd man rush, a PP, a turnover or major (frank) up by a player or goalie or 1 or 2 other things. But my initial point about all this talk about analytics pointing to a Caps win is just stupid in my opinion.

Interesting seeing Darling traded to the Canes??

Who will the Hawks put up in the expansion draft now (not that Darling could have been unless resigned)?

What are the rules if we traded Murray & only had Flower who has a LNTC & has to be protected?

Ovi picks the puck up right after they pull their goalie, starts skating and is just about to break into that signature stride that is almost unstoppable and is met with a body at the red line and its Kunitz and it (frank)s up that whole sequence and buys the pens at least 20 seconds off the clock. You dont know what your talking about kid.
- Grinder47

Wow one whole play and coming from Craig Adams number one fan to boot. Ok it must be true then.

This is so funny seeing all the discussion about the team with the best numbers losing.

Hockey isn't math, most formulae analytics uses has some type of Kaos being explained as an anamoly. Anamolies cannot explain the outcome of a dynamic event so how can anything using them in their formulae explain the outcome or why would you try & use it to?

The Pens took their opportunities more times than the Caps. It's pretty simple really & doesn't need charts or graphs explaining the why - even though stupid people still try to..............

I'll give you this to think about.

An 18 year old heterosexual male that's very good looking & gets female company anytime he wants it at home. He travels to Thailand with his mates goes to a bar & drinks, speaks to many many many beautiful women & has a great time. He eventually takes a lady home for the night where at home he undresses her & finds a penis hiding in her underwear.

Now will that night affect his ability moving forward? Will it change anything? Just think about that for a minute................

Just 1 more thing. As I've said many many times before, if your goalie is great & is better than the opposition you will win. It doesn't matter how your corsi looks, how many high danger shots or low danger shots you have, it doesn't matter if you spend 90% of the time in the O zone or your own end. It all depends on your goalie & no more important time than the playoffs.
- Aussiepenguin

Agree, yet some people spend all day every day studying it anyways. It doesn't account for enough. You can't predict creativity.

Mario's Pens were regularly outshot. We didn't have a great defense but we were lethal out front. I don't Gunner was around then. They won two cups with that approach, BTW.
- powerhouse

They always had Paul Coffey or Larry Murphy playing most of the game. Then they had the Samualsons who actually were a shutdown pair. Their third pair was usually pretty weak though, but they only played 5-10 minutes a game. Back then defensemen were a dime a dozen except for a few elite players. Goalies were all 5 feet tall as well.

Wow one whole play and coming from Craig Adams number one fan to boot. Ok it must be true then.
- Dcoms

Kunitz gets back in the lineup and all of a sudden the fourth line is getting more minutes than the third line. Kunitz doesn't even have his legs back yet but because of his hockey IQ he was keeping the caps in their own end. Its not that hard to see. Plus that one whole play just happened to come at a pretty important part of the game, wonder why the coach would have a guy like Kunitz out there if he was coming out of the lineup when Hags gets healthy? Craig Adams was a warrior of a hockey player and a good blocked shot is just as exciting as a goal to me so yeah I am a fan of Craig Adams.

I'll give you this to think about.

An 18 year old heterosexual male that's very good looking & gets female company anytime he wants it at home. He travels to Thailand with his mates goes to a bar & drinks, speaks to many many many beautiful women & has a great time. He eventually takes a lady home for the night where at home he undresses her & finds a penis hiding in her underwear.

Now will that night affect his ability moving forward? Will it change anything? Just think about that for a minute................


- Aussiepenguin

So youre saying you scored with a ladyboy

Certain games you get the feeling every shot will score on MAF. Seriously. Then, there are games like last night where it's like, I just don't think the Caps are going to solve MAF tonight. There is tension when they have the puck but they are not really clicking. hard to explain.
- powerhouse

I could not agree MORE. All of those stats don't play the game. Goalies do. And if your goalie is hot.......Lights out

They always had Paul Coffey or Larry Murphy playing most of the game. Then they had the Samualsons who actually were a shutdown pair. Their third pair was usually pretty weak though, but they only played 5-10 minutes a game. Back then defensemen were a dime a dozen except for a few elite players. Goalies were all 5 feet tall as well.
- Dcoms

That is just plain WRONG

That is just plain WRONG
- holeinone

In the game clinching outcome vs Minnesota the Pens won 8-0 and were outshot 39-29. The Pens would trade shots with anyone. With Barrasso in net and Mario up front we were unbeatable. We had a no name defense.

Kunitz gets back in the lineup and all of a sudden the fourth line is getting more minutes than the third line. Kunitz doesn't even have his legs back yet but because of his hockey IQ he was keeping the caps in their own end. Its not that hard to see. Plus that one whole play just happened to come at a pretty important part of the game, wonder why the coach would have a guy like Kunitz out there if he was coming out of the lineup when Hags gets healthy? Craig Adams was a warrior of a hockey player and a good blocked shot is just as exciting as a goal to me so yeah I am a fan of Craig Adams.
- Grinder47

Yeah Dcoms is pretty dumb. It's tough to take anything he says seriously.

Kunitz gets back in the lineup and all of a sudden the fourth line is getting more minutes than the third line. Kunitz doesn't even have his legs back yet but because of his hockey IQ he was keeping the caps in their own end. Its not that hard to see. Plus that one whole play just happened to come at a pretty important part of the game, wonder why the coach would have a guy like Kunitz out there if he was coming out of the lineup when Hags gets healthy? Craig Adams was a warrior of a hockey player and a good blocked shot is just as exciting as a goal to me so yeah I am a fan of Craig Adams.
- Grinder47

oh. And since you haven't been around, you may not have seen my new toy.