James Tanner: Capitals Lose to Penguins in Game One Despite Deserving Win Good game, bad result.

I have faith in the Caps, they'll get this done.

James Tanner: Capitals Lose to Penguins in Game One Despite Deserving Win
Good game, bad result.
- james_tanner1

HA !

I have faith in the Caps, they'll get this done.
- LeftCoaster

I would suppose as a Canuck's fan, you have to have faith in SOMETHING

I have faith in the Caps, they'll get this done.
- LeftCoaster

Especially after last night. I said the Leafs were a tougher matchup, and at least after one game I was correct.

Godammit caps!
Beat those facking pens

You act like the Pens played their best game. It was one of their worst in the playoffs, and they were still able to win. This series is far from over, but all the pressure is on the Caps, and they have yet to prove in the Ovechkin era that they are able to overcome said pressure. The Penguins stole one last night, and will be better in game 2.

You act like the Pens played their best game. It was one of their worst in the playoffs, and they were still able to win. This series is far from over, but all the pressure is on the Caps, and they have yet to prove in the Ovechkin era that they are able to overcome said pressure. The Penguins stole one last night, and will be better in game 2.
- cap1681

I am not "acting" like anything. I am objectively pointing out that the Penguins played terribly. This is a fact.

You have any analytics about how bad your hockey coverage is? Clown.
- TheKesselVessel

You're online at 10 am calling a guy you don't know a "clown" (terrible insult by the way) for accurately pointing out that the Penguins played like crap.

Why would you be mad about reality? This is so stupid.

I am not "acting" like anything. I am objectively pointing out that the Penguins played terribly. This is a fact.
- james_tanner1

Exactly. The fact that the Pens played terribly and still got the W in Washington should be a concern for the Capitals. They will be better in game 2 and forward in the series, and the Caps will need to step up their game immensely.

I'm confused, you mean having better stats doesn't mean an automatic win? Tanner and Corsi says the Craps killed the Pens last night but everywhere I look it says 3-2 Pens?!?! There must be more to sports than advanced stats. Who would've known

James Tanner: Capitals Lose to Penguins in Game One Despite Deserving Win
Good game, bad result.
- james_tanner1

Caps are done ..... again.

At least Ovi will win a gold medal next year when none of the top players in the world will be at the Olympics.

I am not "acting" like anything. I am objectively pointing out that the Penguins played terribly. This is a fact.
- james_tanner1

I would simply say it was a hard fought game by both teams, and so the game could've gone either way. Objectively, I thought the Pens easily played their best 1st period of the playoffs.

But it's only the final score that counts.

Good column... a little slanted for the Caps, but that's ok

Keep in mind James that the first period was pretty even..... only after the Penguins took a 2-0 lead did your analytics swing to the caps favor... which is normal for the team to be chasing the game to be carrying the play....

Your saying The Wilson-bonino-sheary line was abysmal.... maybe they were saving everything for the game winning goal...

I'm confused, you mean having better stats doesn't mean an automatic win? Tanner and Corsi says the Craps killed the Pens last night but everywhere I look it says 3-2 Pens?!?! There must be more to sports than advanced stats. Who would've known
- ztg5003

Agreed, as advanced stats don't capture such intangibles as emotion, playoff experience and a close locker room. The Caps are LOADED with talent, but I've often questioned their 'room'.

GO PENS !!

Keep in mind James that the first period was pretty even..... only after the Penguins took a 2-0 lead did your analytics swing to the caps favor... which is normal for the team to be chasing the game to be carrying the play....

Your saying The Wilson-bonino-sheary line was abysmal.... maybe they were saving everything for the game winning goal...
- Kunit

You're trying to teach him something without any statistical evidence. Don't waste your time, he's way smarter than us. Lets hope the Pens come out in game 2 and just shoot as soon as the cross the blue line every time. Doesn't need to be on net, anything in the general direction of the goal will do just fine and maybe the Pens can dig out of this 1-0 hole they've dug for themselves

Exactly. The fact that the Pens played terribly and still got the W in Washington should be a concern for the Capitals. They will be better in game 2 and forward in the series, and the Caps will need to step up their game immensely.
- cap1681

wut. No. The Pens were lucky. If the Caps play that way the rest of the series, they'll win this easily lol

Expert analysis. Cancel the rest of the playoffs, and just give the Capitals the Stanley Cup. Advanced statistics say they should have it, scoreboard be darned!

would the pens defense be better with gormley and rundblad in your opinion?

No doubt the Caps had the better of the overall play, and YES, the Pens do really miss Letang. He is a huge possession driver and fantastic at controlled exits. But despite Letang missing exactly HALF the season, and the whole second half of the season being one giant rolling MASH unit, the Penguins finished with the second most points in the league, and disposed of a very good BJ's team in 5 games. Simply put, they are getting it done, fancy stats be damned. That's due to timely scoring and the Pens stars being stars. They suck it up and get it done, any way they can. That's what Champions do.

Holtby might be the best goalie statistically in the series, but he doesn't have a ring. MAF gave the Pens championship level goaltending last night, just like he did last series. That's what Champions do.

Tanner mentioned the Pens lost basically because of a 1 minute series by 87. That's what the best player in the world brings to the table. That's what Champions do.

The Bonino line got murdered in possession, but yet when the chips were down, they delivered the game winning goal. That's what Champions do.

None of the fancy stats matter more than the final scores each night. I believe fancy stats have value, but they also don't always trump experience, and shear force of will to do what is necessary in the defining moments that you need to win. The Pens are the Champs. They have nothing to prove. The Caps, who objectively are the better team on paper, have all the pressure on them. Maybe the Caps have it within them to finally slay the dragon, maybe they don't, but they are the ones that have to go knock the Pens off the mountain.

F Fancy Stats. Go Pens.

Mr. Tanner, the only team that DESERVES to win is the team that won. In sports, no one deserves anything.

Especially after last night. I said the Leafs were a tougher matchup, and at least after one game I was correct.
- james_tanner1

Maybe they will, but I've seen this story before. Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.

Mr. Tanner, the only team that DESERVES to win is the team that won. In sports, no one deserves anything.
- Leniwm1

But...but.....fancy stats! And obscure nineties bands! And writes for hockeybuzz! So reasons why Tanner is correct!

I'm confused, you mean having better stats doesn't mean an automatic win? Tanner and Corsi says the Craps killed the Pens last night but everywhere I look it says 3-2 Pens?!?! There must be more to sports than advanced stats. Who would've known
- ztg5003

A lot of the time I ask myself why is looking at the shots considered 'advanced'? I read a comment like this and then I get it.

"After watching that game, I do not think people have been fairly rating the Penguin's - without Letang they're screwed. "

So, if that was the case, shouldn't the Blue Jackets with their likely Vezina trophy winning goalie have exposed the Pens and not lost in 5 games?

You're so obsessed with your opinion being right, your articles come off as if they were written by a basic Caps fan. Yes, the Caps outplayed the Pens last night. Yes, the Pens played like crap for most of the game. But the Caps still lost, in their own barn, after struggling with your beloved 8th seed team. It took 5 OTs and 6 one goal games to beat them. The Caps have all the pressure in the world to win the next game and the Pens can't possibly play worse (outside of Flower) and have zero pressure. If you told any Pens fan they could come back home with a 1-1 split, they'd take it in a heartbeat. They've already achieved at least that.

If there's one thing the Caps are known for it's stepping up in high pressure situations....