Now that is the Marc-Andre Fleury we all know and love!
After spending the first four games of the series playing like Jesus, Fleury regressed to his normal self last night and posted a sub- .900 save% .
While things got tense heading into the third period with Pittsburgh up, the Capitals just kept playing and like anyone could have reasonably predicted, Fleury eventually regressed to his normal status - average goalie.
The Capitals have thoroughly dominated this series - last night was the fifth game in a row in which they've out-shot, out-chanced and out-possessed the Penguins. Yet it was only their second victory.
Things haven't gone the Capital's way, and so of course the coach over-adjusted. It's a common theme in professional sports - the money and the pressure are just too great, so a coach has to look like he's doing something.
So, whenever there is a situation like the Capitals have faced this round - i.e the process is great but the results aren't happening - the coach tends to overreact.
The smart thing to do would just be to keep doing what you're doing. No one is ever going to mistake Trotz for Babcock, however.
When I first heard this, I was like "No, he's moving Eller and Burakovsky to the first line" but no, Trotz actually deployed them like a third line. Other than Winnik and Beagle, Ovechkin and his line were the least used at 5v5.
Of course, since they won, people will be completely basic and say "Trotz changes worked" but it is only coincidental that the Capitals won while doing that - they're just an overall better, deeper team than Pittsburgh, so not even Trotz can screw it up, it seems. Only Marc-Andre Fleury can.
He of course is the reason why the Penguins are still playing hockey, and last night he let in four goals. Good times!
But Trotz - he isn't having a good playoffs. Vastly outcoached by Mike Babcock in the first round where he was seemingly indifferent about matchups and let Babcock had his way, even at the Verizon Centre.
Since then he's been criticized for not playing Ovechkin enough, he's dressed seven defenseman twice, he's broken up the lines that got his team the President's Trophy, he has benched Connolly, he has not only dressed Alzner, but he's paired him with Orpik of all people. Then, as I mentioned, he over-adjusted for no reason.
I almost forgot about him pulling Holtby in a 3-1 game.
But the worst thing? Ovechkin, in an elimination game, played less 5v5 minutes than Justin Williams and Tom Wilson. Not to mention the rest of the five other forwards who also did.
A win is a win. It's good the Capitals won, and it will be great when they win again on Monday and force a game seven. But Trotz has to be better. I don't even know how anyone can defend not using Ovechkin when you have him, it's as ridiculous as the NHL's video replay review system.
It is doubtful that Trotz will realize the Capitals won that game in spite of his coaching and not because of it, but hopefully he smartens up in time for game six.
Here's how you coach the Capitals: Skate Ovechkin for 23 minutes per game, let Holtby play all 60 minutes and let Shattenkirk get over 20 minutes. It's not hard.
Almost anyone could do it.