Good teams find ways to win when things are not going their way. The best teams find ways to win. It is a cliche that holds true. The Caps have a chance to change history, because they found ways to lose and now have a chance to get that choke stigma off their back.
- PittsPens

This is very true and far from over or decided..

all goalies are created equal.

either you get lucky and your goalie plays gooder than the other goalie, or you get unlucky and he doesn't.
- Tumbleweed

some a bit more than others though

I don't understand your line of thinking here. Do we not all agree that a) the best team does not win every time and b) you have a better chance to win if you are the better team, and c) goalies occasionally steal games their teams don't deserve to win.

If we agree on this much, which I assume that we do, then is it a stretch to imagine that it's a bit unlucky when a goalie steals a game?

Do you not understand that starting EVERY blog with the same excuses for why the Caps didn't win despite being the far superior team is brutal to read?? It's nauseating dude. Please admit the Caps are in tough against a very talented and deep team...

Just remember earlier this year when the sky was falling, and the Caps were trash with the worst slow D core in the league and the terrible Oshie signing that you went on and on and on about... same team dude, but yet now the deserve to be winning every game?!

Please change up the approach.
You post a different song on every blog, yet you sing the same song every time.

I don't understand your line of thinking here. Do we not all agree that a) the best team does not win every time and b) you have a better chance to win if you are the better team, and c) goalies occasionally steal games their teams don't deserve to win.

If we agree on this much, which I assume that we do, then is it a stretch to imagine that it's a bit unlucky when a goalie steals a game?

Do you not understand that starting EVERY blog with the same excuses for why the Caps didn't win despite being the far superior team is brutal to read?? It's nauseating dude. Please admit the Caps are in tough against a very talented and deep team...

Just remember earlier this year when the sky was falling, and the Caps were trash with the worst slow D core in the league and the terrible Oshie signing that you went on and on and on about... same team dude, but yet now the deserve to be winning every game?!

Please change up the approach.
You post a different song on every blog, yet you sing the same song every time.
- Liger4

Well said my man!

IMO the Caps well outplayed the Bolts last game... I mean just look at the shot count.

But the difference is that in the last 4 games of the Jackets series, in the Pens series and in the first two games of this series the Caps had that "We need to finish this now" mentality.

I think their play is fine but they need that mentality back in order to win this series

IMO the Caps well outplayed the Bolts last game... I mean just look at the shot count.

But the difference is that in the last 4 games of the Jackets series, in the Pens series and in the first two games of this series the Caps had that "We need to finish this now" mentality.

I think their play is fine but they need that mentality back in order to win this series
- Maverick1818

The Caps have always had to components to win, w/ the exception of what is between the ears. For whatever reason, they don't close out.....Until they do the label "choker" will stay with them....rightfully so

The Caps have always had to components to win, w/ the exception of what is between the ears. For whatever reason, they don't close out.....Until they do the label "choker" will stay with them....rightfully so
- rrentz

I disagree, The Caps have never once choked.

Choking is having a clear lead on Boston and then losing it in OT.

Caps have never had a good team. They have had one main line, until last year and then they got worse this year and embarrassed the underdog role. Especially this year, when the chips were down, they finished it, that's what they need to continue doing.

It's the same as people say Ovi disappears in the playoffs. Not true at all, just look at his stats, he's a monster when playoffs come around.

I disagree, The Caps have never once choked.

Choking is having a clear lead on Boston and then losing it in OT.

Caps have never had a good team. They have had one main line, until last year and then they got worse this year and embarrassed the underdog role. Especially this year, when the chips were down, they finished it, that's what they need to continue doing.

It's the same as people say Ovi disappears in the playoffs. Not true at all, just look at his stats, he's a monster when playoffs come around.
- Maverick1818

Last year's team was the strongest lineup in the NHL, IMO.

I disagree, The Caps have never once choked.

Choking is having a clear lead on Boston and then losing it in OT.

Caps have never had a good team. They have had one main line, until last year and then they got worse this year and embarrassed the underdog role. Especially this year, when the chips were down, they finished it, that's what they need to continue doing.

It's the same as people say Ovi disappears in the playoffs. Not true at all, just look at his stats, he's a monster when playoffs come around.
- Maverick1818

In 2015 they had a chance to close out the Rangers in game 5 up 3-1 in series) w/ a minute to go in game!!! They didn't , lost that game and eventually lost the series. Thats choking

Sounds like exactly what you said in your second sentence...no?


I'm rooting for them, by the way, but you can't pretend the past didn't happen.

I think Ovi has been a beast this year in the playoffs!

Last year's team was the strongest lineup in the NHL, IMO.
- Guile

I agree, they were a power house. Honestly I think the problem last year was that they relied on Shattenkirk and not Carlson

I agree, they were a power house. Honestly I think the problem last year was that they relied on Shattenkirk and not Carlson
- Maverick1818

Oh boy.....Shatty is why the Caps lost last year!!??


No response to my reply to your Caps don't choke comment?

I don't understand your line of thinking here. Do we not all agree that a) the best team does not win every time and b) you have a better chance to win if you are the better team, and c) goalies occasionally steal games their teams don't deserve to win.

If we agree on this much, which I assume that we do, then is it a stretch to imagine that it's a bit unlucky when a goalie steals a game?

Do you not understand that starting EVERY blog with the same excuses for why the Caps didn't win despite being the far superior team is brutal to read?? It's nauseating dude. Please admit the Caps are in tough against a very talented and deep team...

Just remember earlier this year when the sky was falling, and the Caps were trash with the worst slow D core in the league and the terrible Oshie signing that you went on and on and on about... same team dude, but yet now the deserve to be winning every game?!

Please change up the approach.
You post a different song on every blog, yet you sing the same song every time.
- Liger4

That same song of his consistently includes "Washington would have won if not for [insert goalie here] playing out of his mind." Even this blog uses a version of that line.

It's imperative to remember with Tanner, all that goes into the formula of who is a better team on any given night is which team had more shot attempts for at 5v5. Since goalies neither take nor prevent opponents from taking shots, they have exactly ZERO influence on which team is better. Ever. Zilch. None. Bagel. Period. (Also, it's only 5v5, so power play efficiency and penalty kill effectiveness are also not relevant, but I digress.) So, even though 1999 Sabres with 1999 Hasek would steamroll 2018 Penguins (Tanner's best team in the NHL if they weren't so "unlucky" all year) with me in goal (and hungover), they clearly are not the better team, because CORSI, BABY!

Caps looking rather impotent offensively and defensively. No forecheck. D is on their heels a lot.

Hey Tanner, forget about winning 4 out of 5. Now they only have to win 1 out of 2.

Fckin girardi sucked as a ranger now he’s playing out his as. Rangers south

OK. I hope Tampa wins the cup Miller’s compensation turns into a first round pick

Fckin girardi sucked as a ranger now he’s playing out his as. Rangers south
- mattstake

Hedman helps to mask a lot of his deficiencies, mainly how slow he is. But he has played well and has been a lot better than expected.

Fckin girardi sucked as a ranger now he’s playing out his as. Rangers south
- mattstake

You cannot be a Rangers fan by your low and stupid comment you made here on Dan Girardi, who is known as "The WARRIOR", due to sacrificing his body in any means to win games. You just found out finally in tonight's game that he plays that way?
How the heck do you think Girardi lasted this long in the NHL since beginning his career with the Rangers in the 2006/07 season, if he were not a top rated DEFENSIVE MINDED d'man?
How about him playing in 124 POSTSEASON GAMES WITH THEM, as one of the all time NHL leaders for any position player? Add his 15 games played through Saturday night with Tampa thus far, and then his next one on Monday night would be career playoff game #140.
After the Rangers bought out the balance of his contract due to cap space shortages, why the heck do you think Tampa signed him right away in the first place? They would't have done so if "he sucked as a Ranger", like you said stupidly here.

OK. I hope Tampa wins the cup Miller’s compensation turns into a first round pick
- mattstake

You must have read my 10:46 pm comment on the Rangers blog current through midnight on Saturday after the Tampa's 3rd win, to get that comment you made at 11:33 pm here at least only partially correct. That's also due to no other member needing to mention on this Capitals blog prior to that post of your's, what you said here about that Rangers draft pick situation, in beginning with the word, "O.K.", as if you were actually replying to someone else's post right here on that Rangers draft pick.
It's actually Tampa's 2019 2nd Round CONDITIONAL Pick that was dealt to the Rangers as just one piece for them to acquire BOTH Miller & McDonagh at the deadline, that would become a 1st Round pick instead, should Tampa win the Cup this season OR next season.

You cannot be a Rangers fan by your low and stupid comment you made here on Dan Girardi, who is known as "The WARRIOR", due to sacrificing his body in any means to win games. You just found out finally in tonight's game that he plays that way?
How the heck do you think Girardi lasted this long in the NHL since beginning his career with the Rangers in the 2006/07 season, if he were not a top rated DEFENSIVE MINDED d'man?
How about him playing in 124 POSTSEASON GAMES WITH THEM, as one of the all time NHL leaders for any position player? Add his 15 games played through Saturday night with Tampa thus far, and then his next one on Monday night would be career playoff game #140.
After the Rangers bought out the balance of his contract due to cap space shortages, why the heck do you think Tampa signed him right away in the first place? They would't have done so if "he sucked as a Ranger", like you said stupidly here.
- RangerSaver

Jesus, are you Dan's grandmother or something?

Jesus, are you Dan's grandmother or something?
- Cloud

HAHA, as a NYR fan i can empathize w/ him..

Its tough seeing guys who played for your favorite team for years and see them playing better than when they last played for our team..Mixed feelings

2010....collapse

2015....collapse

2018....collapse????????