James Tanner: Capitals Lose, Series Tied

Geez stop begging and making excuses for the caps PLEASE! Even if they somehow were to beat the bolts their not beating either of the two teams out west and deep down you know it.

I still think it's impossible for them to win four of five and am confident that the Capitals will be playing in the Finals. - James Tanner

The Caps did this same thing in the first series but its impossible for the Lightning to do it. The Bolts only need to win 2 out of 3 now. While still difficult its a level field for both teams, its by no means impossible.

What does it say for the Caps to lose 2 games when they were better at 5 on 5? It say's you have to include all aspects of the game and the Bolts PP has been crazy and their PK has been steller. While giving up a lot of shots the Bolts still outscored the Caps 4-3 at 5 on 5 in games 3 and 4 (taking out Kuzy's 6 on 5 and Cirellis empty netter)

The Caps did this same thing in the first series but its impossible for the Lightning to do it. The Bolts only need to win 2 out of 3 now. While still difficult its a level field for both teams, its by no means impossible.

What does it say for the Caps to lose 2 games when they were better at 5 on 5? It say's you have to include all aspects of the game and the Bolts PP has been crazy and their PK has been steller. While giving up a lot of shots the Bolts still outscored the Caps 4-3 at 5 on 5 in games 3 and 4 (taking out Kuzy's 6 on 5 and Cirellis empty netter)
- stammerman

Your common sense has no business here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Remember, in Tanner's world, the goalie is not part of the team, but rather part of "luck." Much like the wind in a football game or the pop-o-matic bubble in Trouble.

Your common sense has no business here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
- rrentz

you guys can't be serious and don't see that the Caps have been way better than the Lightning? Clear as day. And why wouldn't they have a chance against the Jets or Knights? Pure bull.

you guys can't be serious and don't see that the Caps have been way better than the Lightning? Clear as day. And why wouldn't they have a chance against the Jets or Knights? Pure bull.
- DutchSenators

I didn't say that...Im just getting a kick of making fun of Tanner and his ridiculous comments like:

*"statistically impossible" or how when Caps tied up series after being down 2-0 to Columbus, Tanner said "comeback complete", but when Tampa did same thing, he said that they still have to win series to make their comeback complete, and THEN he calls me and other condescending (talk about the pot calling the kettle black).

you guys can't be serious and don't see that the Caps have been way better than the Lightning? Clear as day. And why wouldn't they have a chance against the Jets or Knights? Pure bull.
- DutchSenators

Because the Jets and Knights are clearly on a different level than either team in the East.

Vegas hasn't really had a bad game yet. You might argue the 4-0 loss to the sharks was bad, but still one game so far. The Lightning, Caps and Jets have all had at least one if not more games where they poop the bed. They have all suffered from inconsistent goalie play while Fleury has been laser focused in from the start.

Because the Jets and Knights are clearly on a different level than either team in the East.

Vegas hasn't really had a bad game yet. You might argue the 4-0 loss to the sharks was bad, but still one game so far. The Lightning, Caps and Jets have all had at least one if not more games where they poop the bed. They have all suffered from inconsistent goalie play while Fleury has been laser focused in from the start.
- HarvP

Because the Jets and Knights are clearly on a different level than either team in the East.

Vegas hasn't really had a bad game yet. You might argue the 4-0 loss to the sharks was bad, but still one game so far. The Lightning, Caps and Jets have all had at least one if not more games where they poop the bed. They have all suffered from inconsistent goalie play while Fleury has been laser focused in from the start.
- HarvP

You are getting way ahead of yourself. No one can say which division the eventual Stanley Cup winner is coming from. I think that Winni is best team left (size and speed is ridiculous), but that doesn't mean that the Caps or Tampa have no chance.

No one will know until they actually meet up next round...Please don't be like Tanner and act like what you say is from Gods' mouth to your ears

you guys can't be serious and don't see that the Caps have been way better than the Lightning? Clear as day. And why wouldn't they have a chance against the Jets or Knights? Pure bull.
- DutchSenators

I was only responding to what Tanner was saying. I said the Captitals have out played the Lighting at 5 on 5 but the Bolts are winning the special teams PP and PK as well as Vasy playing great in both games that these things do factor into the totality of the game and the reason the series is tied 2-2. Winning 2 out of 3 is not impossible for the Bolts as he is saying.

I definitely think both the Caps and Lightning would have a good chance against the Jets or Knights.

Remember, in Tanner's world, the goalie is not part of the team, but rather part of "luck." Much like the wind in a football game or the pop-o-matic bubble in Trouble.
- Red001

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?

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?
- james_tanner1

Because, as he said, the goalie is a part of the team. So yes, the best team, which includes the goalie, does always win.

If you want to say that the team that takes more shots/drives play doesn't always win, then sure, I can agree with that.

Because, as he said, the goalie is a part of the team. So yes, the best team, which includes the goalie, does always win.

If you want to say that the team that takes more shots/drives play doesn't always win, then sure, I can agree with that.
- jmatchett383

haha, whatever you say.

haha, whatever you say.
- james_tanner1

About what I expected.

About what I expected.
- jmatchett383

Then you had a realistic assessment of what you were saying before you even said it! Enjoy your weekend!

Last night, the Capitals were dominant 5v5

Didn't TB have more HDCF 5v5? Even after pp's etc Washington only had 2 more HDCF then TB....at least that's what I read.

Luck can play a huge factor. But the Lightning were picked by most experts as the favorite to be in the Cup Finals even prior to the beginning of this Regular Season, as well as them prior to knowing they would be acquiring McDonagh in key by the deadline.
It's not like Tampa is a "lucky team" in having a goalie in Vasilevsky beginning his shift to an elite level now, after stealing at least one of their two wins in this series. If that were the case, then Lundqvist would have likely won two Cups for the Rangers, with they & him having played in 129 postseason games since the 2006 postseason, despite them missing the playoffs this past regular season.
Where was Hank's great luck, especially in that 2014 Cup Finals loss to the Kings, when the Kings out shot them 194 to 146 in that 5 games Finals series, which included 3 Overtime losses, (2 coming in Double OT), along with some atrocious reffing? Part of that bad reffing even forced a change by the NHL in the following season to add video reviews on goals for GOALIE INTERFERENCE infractions, due to Hank being sat on top of by a Kings player, while a Kings regulation time goal was scored & allowed to stand in one of those three OT losses.
All 3 of those Rangers OT losses came after Rangers shots had earlier struck goal posts, along in the final 2OT game with Nash earlier missing a wide opened net off a pass across ice, with Quick down on the ice on the opposite side. Nash's shot barely nicked off the middle edge of the shaft of a Kings d'man's stick in reaching out to deflect it somehow over the open net.
THAT IS MUCH GREATER IN BEING BAD LUCK for Hank, more so than Ovi's in the past two Caps losses due to Vasy stealing possibly both, which is what Cup winning goalies normally must do for their teams to win it all.

Then you had a realistic assessment of what you were saying before you even said it! Enjoy your weekend!
- james_tanner1

You too.

Don't worry, when MAF, part of the Vegas Golden Knights team players well and helps his team win, you can talk about how the better team lost and that it was all luck.

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?
- james_tanner1

yup.

holtby and darling stole about the same amount games this year.

Luck has no business being included in the discussion When talking about why a team won/lost. a 7 games series

The best TEAM always wins a 7 game series

A lucky bounce , goal penalty, etc....ok I will buy that, but a team can't win a series because of luck.

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?
- james_tanner1

So goalies aren’t part of their their Team? So a 945 S% vs a 843 % doesn’t mean anything or how about the other side of that stat a 15.7% shooting percentage vs a 5.5% one. Also, a team playing below par that wins just means they don’t need their A game to win. Statistically speaking of course.

So goalies aren’t part of their their Team? So a 945 S% vs a 843 % doesn’t mean anything or how about the other side of that stat a 15.7% shooting percentage vs a 5.5% one. Also, a team playing below par that wins just means they don’t need their A game to win. Statistically speaking of course.
- tpd11

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.

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.