Backstrom's sauce to Oshie on the peeper was a thing of beauty.
- j.boyd919

Sure was. It was so quick, Brassard didn't have any time to react to cover Oshie.

Sure was. It was so quick, Brassard didn't have any time to react to cover Oshie.
- chimpira

I think it was Hags and Maatta, they like formed a "wall" with there stick blades and Backstrom sauced it over perfectly. It was such a short sauce, and landed right in Oshie's wheelhouse.

EDIT: OOOH you were talking about dude behind Oshie coming it for a stick check. Yeah it was quick.

Just got back from the game. I'm 6-0 the last 3 years.....just figured I'd throw that out there.

I don't know what it looked like on TV, but Phil and Geno look to be playing at 50%. Neither guy has any burst to their skating. Geno would skate around during the commercial breaks trying to keep his knee loose. Even if we get out of this round, I don't see how we get another cup with those two playing at this level.

Sid and Guentz on the other hand.... Damn, they are awesome.

Sullivan should really give Sprong a game. He can't possibly be any worse than Connor Sheary. I hate the Brass, Sheary, Kessel line. All perimeter with Kessel and Sheary getting abused on the boards. They are a defensive nightmare.
- madmike71

If that's the case, I think you really need to go down to Washington DC for Saturday Night's game!

They only gave up 3 high danger chances at 5v5.

Hopefully Geno's peeper gets that PP going from now on. It was ugly, but sometimes it's needed to break the dam.

Guenztel is a beast come playoff time.

I thought Murray played a strong game even if he wasn't getting peppered.

I know the Pens like to trade chances... but the amount of odd man rushes they are giving up are baaaad. Those have to stop. OR they need to start generating more of their own. Last night seemed a little more even on the odd man rushes.

That pass from Sid as he was curling around the net to Schultz in the slot was slick. 99% of guys woulda shot that into the crest. Orlov made a good save.

Backstrom's sauce to Oshie on the peeper was a thing of beauty.
- j.boyd919

That was served on a platter. Beautiful pass.

I really wish Backstrom wasn't on the Caps. I'd appreciate him more.

That was served on a platter. Beautiful pass.

I really wish Backstrom wasn't on the Caps. I'd appreciate him more.
- Thorny87

One of the most underrated centers in the league if you ask me. Easily top 10.

No.
- j.boyd919

Serious, what does Kessel bring to our team while injured? He physically cannot shot. So Playmaking? I don't even think he is capable of making a hard pass. Defensive Play? Hardly. The only thing he can do right now is forecheck. He can do next to nothing with the puck on his stick right now. I would rather see someone else in his place right now. or fill him up with pain meds. I think that would work as well. Phil seems like a anti-big pharma guy though.

One of the most underrated centers in the league if you ask me. Easily top 10.
- j.boyd919

I'd put him just behind Lehtera, Filppula, Patrick, Giroux, and Couturier...in that order.

I'd put him just behind Lehtera, Filppula, Patrick, Giroux, and Couturier...in that order.
- jmatchett383

#trollalert

Serious, what does Kessel bring to our team while injured? He physically cannot shot. So Playmaking? I don't even think he is capable of making a hard pass. Defensive Play? Hardly. The only thing he can do right now is forecheck. He can do next to nothing with the puck on his stick right now. I would rather see someone else in his place right now. or fill him up with pain meds. I think that would work as well. Phil seems like a anti-big pharma guy though.
- joecool2931

I was thinking the same thing. When he flubbed that shot on the PP, it just seemed like his hands aren't working. He's clearly injured (not hurt, injured) in his upper body and he's not doing the team any favors.

If only ZAR was healthy...

#trollalert

- chimpira

How can I be considered a troll when I say that Lehtera, the player who has the highest pay per point, above Backstrom?

No Dumoulin in a shootout, please! But a shoutout to him, for sure.

That is very true, although I think he is very appreciated. I honestly didn't expect him back for a while after the Ovie/Wilson sandwich. The Pens really clamped down defensively and I can't remember more than a couple of odd-man rushes. Which is night and day compared to the previous games.

If only we stopped taking penalties ... and doing something good with power plays. Caps power play is amazing. They somehow have all the open passing and shooting lanes at the right moments.
- chimpira

ok, you get that one

Pens are shading a man to Ovechkin and that opens up a ton. Sully has clearly picked his poison and wants the other Caps to beat them.

How can I be considered a troll when I say that Lehtera, the player who has the highest pay per point, above Backstrom?
- jmatchett383

Serious, what does Kessel bring to our team while injured? He physically cannot shot. So Playmaking? I don't even think he is capable of making a hard pass. Defensive Play? Hardly. The only thing he can do right now is forecheck. He can do next to nothing with the puck on his stick right now. I would rather see someone else in his place right now. or fill him up with pain meds. I think that would work as well. Phil seems like a anti-big pharma guy though.
- joecool2931

He was a disaster last night. Flubbed passes and shots. I don't think the Caps feel he's a threat to shoot at all. Right now he doesn't have the wheels to back check if he (frank)s up.

I'd at least like to see Jake take his spot on the PP. The puck is following him. He should be double shifted as well, he only played 17 mins last night.

ok, you get that one

Pens are shading a man to Ovechkin and that opens up a ton. Sully has clearly picked his poison and wants the other Caps to beat them.
- Tojo.

I'm okay with that strategy. They still can't be that passive with Backstrom. He'll find a seam with that much time.

I was thinking the same thing. When he flubbed that shot on the PP, it just seemed like his hands aren't working. He's clearly injured (not hurt, injured) in his upper body and he's not doing the team any favors.

If only ZAR was healthy...
- jmatchett383

I suspect he has an issue with his wrist, and its either taped up heavily or getting injections to such an extent that he can't handle the puck.

He was a disaster last night. Flubbed passes and shots. I don't think the Caps feel he's a threat to shoot at all. Right now he doesn't have the wheels to back check if he (frank)s up.

I'd at least like to see Jake take his spot on the PP. The puck is following him. He should be double shifted as well, he only played 17 mins last night.
- Thorny87

Guentzel is a lefty, IF they were to replace him on the PP, I would rather go Schultz+Letang on the ice and have one of the 2 play in Kessel's spot, while the other plays the top of the umbrella so they can still run Geno on the half wall, Sid down low, and Hornqvist in front. It would open up a one-timer on both sides with a righty and a lefty.

I'm not really feeling the Sheary-Sheahan-Kessel line. I really just think Sully needs to put him with Malkin and let them go. Play the Sheary-Brassard-Rust 3rd line that was generating chances OR Sheary/Rust-Brassard-Horny if they want to leave Simon with Sid and Jake. Give Malkin Hags and Kessel.

Serious, what does Kessel bring to our team while injured? He physically cannot shot. So Playmaking? I don't even think he is capable of making a hard pass. Defensive Play? Hardly. The only thing he can do right now is forecheck. He can do next to nothing with the puck on his stick right now. I would rather see someone else in his place right now. or fill him up with pain meds. I think that would work as well. Phil seems like a anti-big pharma guy though.
- joecool2931

Take Phil out of the lineup, who slots in? Dude still has 7 points in 10 games.

Take Phil out of the lineup, who slots in? Dude still has 7 points in 10 games.
- j.boyd919

Plus he was the one who threw the puck on net for the GWG last night. He is the real star here!

Plus he was the one who threw the puck on net for the GWG last night. He is the real star here!
- chimpira

I'm not saying he's been a stud by any means, but he still has 7 points in 10 games. Even a Phil at 60% is better than a Rowney at 100%.

Serious, what does Kessel bring to our team while injured? He physically cannot shot. So Playmaking? I don't even think he is capable of making a hard pass. Defensive Play? Hardly. The only thing he can do right now is forecheck. He can do next to nothing with the puck on his stick right now. I would rather see someone else in his place right now. or fill him up with pain meds. I think that would work as well. Phil seems like a anti-big pharma guy though.
- joecool2931

lol wut

I'm not saying he's been a stud by any means, but he still has 7 points in 10 games. Even a Phil at 60% is better than a Rowney at 100%.
- j.boyd919

60% of the time it works every time

Guentzel is a lefty, IF they were to replace him on the PP, I would rather go Schultz+Letang on the ice and have one of the 2 play in Kessel's spot, while the other plays the top of the umbrella so they can still run Geno on the half wall, Sid down low, and Hornqvist in front. It would open up a one-timer on both sides with a righty and a lefty.

I'm not really feeling the Sheary-Sheahan-Kessel line. I really just think Sully needs to put him with Malkin and let them go. Play the Sheary-Brassard-Rust 3rd line that was generating chances OR Sheary/Rust-Brassard-Horny if they want to leave Simon with Sid and Jake. Give Malkin Hags and Kessel.
- j.boyd919

I'm not sure about having an entire line of injured players. The rehab line.

Good point about the PP. We really need a threat from that side. Holtby was on his post before the puck even got to Geno last night.

One of the most underrated centers in the league if you ask me. Easily top 10.
- j.boyd919

Backstrom > Toews

I'm not sure about having an entire line of injured players. The rehab line.

Good point about the PP. We really need a threat from that side. Holtby was on his post before the puck even got to Geno last night.
- Thorny87

That's a good point. Someone needs to be able to go all out on that line.

Not sure how critical I want to be of the lines since I think it helped them limit the Caps.

Take Phil out of the lineup, who slots in? Dude still has 7 points in 10 games.
- j.boyd919

why would you count his play before he got injured, when we are discussing his play while being injured? he has 2pts in this series and is -1. Move rust up. Play Carter Rowney on 4th obv. and play him 5 minutes a game. Bottom Line is Phil absolutely cannot carry a line when he cant even carry the puck. Tell 3rd Brass, sheary and Rust to step up, because Phil is physically uncapable right now.