The league prefers guys having to antagonize fights rather than just saying let’s go. The farther from old school Canadian hockey you get the more dangerous the game gets. Tom Wilson embodies this.
- Grinder47

He can antagonize without launching toward his head.

Nah. It was a charge and it should have been called, but I don't think he made contact with Letang's head. Letang and Oshie have prior history from years back. I think both have moved on.
- chimpira

He left his feet, he was airborne going right for his melon.

Yeah and they've settled it. I don't want to give any Caps fans (and I live in DC area) any more material to call Pens fans "whiners"
- chimpira

Eh, it's just sports fans in general, especially casual hockey fans. The comments section on RMNB and Japer's is a poopshow. Some of them don't think Malkin's goal should have counted. Some of them are talking about DSP's comments. I hate that poop. I want to talk about how and/or why they were unable to get anything going in the 3rd period.

Eh, it's just sports fans in general, especially casual hockey fans. The comments section on RMNB and Japer's is a poopshow. Some of them don't think Malkin's goal should have counted. Some of them are talking about DSP's comments. I hate that poop. I want to talk about how and/or why they were unable to get anything going in the 3rd period.
- Blackstrom2

Do you know who Randy Scott @ ESPN is? Seems to cover DC sports for ESPN and he posted some crazy poop last night on Twitter. Hard to believe a major sports company (even one that could give two poops about hockey) employs him.

Randy Scott
‏
Verified account

@RandyScottESPN

"Your word is 'instigated.'"

"Can you use it in a sentence?"

"After yapping all series, Letang instigated the fight with Oshie.
Then got taken down.
Then landed 0 punches as he was punched 6 times."

"Can you give me the country of origin?"

"Canada."

Eh, it's just sports fans in general, especially casual hockey fans. The comments section on RMNB and Japer's is a poopshow. Some of them don't think Malkin's goal should have counted. Some of them are talking about DSP's comments. I hate that poop. I want to talk about how and/or why they were unable to get anything going in the 3rd period.
- Blackstrom2

Here's the shot of puck over line on Malkin's goal that was used by NHL. pic.twitter.com/QECHNqcroq

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) May 4, 2018

Did they see this?

Do you know who Randy Scott @ ESPN is? Seems to cover DC sports for ESPN and he posted some crazy poop last night on Twitter. Hard to believe a major sports company (even one that could give two poops about hockey) employs him.

Randy Scott
‏
Verified account

@RandyScottESPN

"Your word is 'instigated.'"

"Can you use it in a sentence?"

"After yapping all series, Letang instigated the fight with Oshie.
Then got taken down.
Then landed 0 punches as he was punched 6 times."

"Can you give me the country of origin?"

"Canada."
- chimpira

I do believe that fellow is mentally challenged.

People want to talk about "Old Time Hockey"

Old Time Hockey was never about destroying your opponent with a "Big Hit"

You played hard and tough, and if you had a problem with a guy, you both squared up and settled it

There was little room for weasles and guys who took cheapshots. It wasn't tolerated within your own team, let alone by the other team on the ice

There is a good article on another site about how Washington just can't help themselves against the Pens, listing times throughout the last 3 series where the Caps have taken "dumb" penalties that end up costing them.

The Caps really are their own worst enemy and until they get out of their own way, the Pens will just keep exposing the Caps and Trotz.

It must get tiring to the Caps players to see that light in the tunnel each series and then get blindsided by their own players taking idiotic shots at the Pens. They just can't get out of their own way......

I hope karma keeps the caps from ever winning the cup until they get rid of some of these dirty a$$ players

Lies.
- MattStrat

Would I prefer Washington to win? Sure. Do I care who wins? No.

That 3rd was awful. Shades of Game 7 last year. Makes me a bit worried that the Pens are able to flip a switch and subdue the Caps fore check so easily. Especially when they were down by 1 in the 3rd period.

There was like 5 1/2 minutes of nothing in the neutral zone.
- Blackstrom2

This is kinda what I've thought while watching any Penguins playoff game this year.

They don't give two poops until they decide to give two poops.

And when they do, they simply overwhelm the other team with their skill.

Did Backstrom mean to say "F this team"? Not sure what the league had to do with last night. Unless he really believes they can't win without Tommy boy.

Would I prefer Washington to win? Sure. Do I care who wins? No.
- Feds91Stammer

Nah. If you actually yelled at your TV you really want Washington to win. There's a lie here somewhere.

You definitely want the Caps to win so you can come here and post a laughing emoji response to every meltdown haha

Nah. If you actually yelled at your TV you really want Washington to win. There's a lie here somewhere.

You definitely want the Caps to win so you can come here and post a laughing emoji response to every meltdown haha
- MattStrat

Nah. I just hate terrible players and coaches that play them a ton. Whether it is Glendening, Rowney, Beagle, etc.

Bold part would be entertaining though.

Did Backstrom mean to say "F this team"? Not sure what the league had to do with last night. Unless he really believes they can't win without Tommy boy.
- Thorny87

I'm sure he's angry about the Wilson suspension.

If a tap on the glove is now a penalty......How is cross checking Gutznel in the back into the net after a goal/whistle not?

There is a good article on another site about how Washington just can't help themselves against the Pens, listing times throughout the last 3 series where the Caps have taken "dumb" penalties that end up costing them.

The Caps really are their own worst enemy and until they get out of their own way, the Pens will just keep exposing the Caps and Trotz.

It must get tiring to the Caps players to see that light in the tunnel each series and then get blindsided by their own players taking idiotic shots at the Pens. They just can't get out of their own way......
- Darklight11

The Pens have taken their share of dumb penalties in this series and previous ones with the caps.

If a tap on the glove is now a penalty......How is cross checking Gutznel in the back into the net after a goal/whistle not?
- sammy87

This has been commonplace in the NHL for many many moons.

The Pens have taken their share of dumb penalties in this series and previous ones with the caps.
- Rinosaur

The whole point is the Caps are their own worst enemy....kind of like you are your own worst energy with no hockey IQ

The whole point is the Caps are their own worst enemy....kind of like you are your own worst energy with no hockey IQ
- Darklight11

Oh duh! That's right!

Nah. I just hate terrible players and coaches that play them a ton. Whether it is Glendening, Rowney, Beagle, etc.

Bold part would be entertaining though.
- Feds91Stammer

Your opinion really matters to those rich professional athletes and coaches.

@Blackstrom -

As a level-headed Caps fan, what is your opinion of Trotz. I'm not trolling or trying to incite but to me his reactions to most everything throughout, before and after games must have some effect on his players. I would assume that after years of it, players like Backstrom have gotten tired and probably feed (in a negative way) off of it.

Not that I want the Caps to win, but I feel like it would be awful for Backstrom and Ovie to not even get to a final...but they seem stuck in a rut in DC right now. For instance, Oshie is NOT someone I'd want on my team with how he reacts...I feel the same about Letang because when you go to a game and see the crap he does after whistles it's infuriating to me and I'm not playing.

[edited to add in "games" for clarification]

This has been commonplace in the NHL for many many moons.
- Rinosaur

I know that, but they started calling "tapping" this year and its a joke. The Bruins/Bolts game a few nights ago was just dumb. The league is at the lowest point its ever been. Ill take 90's hockey any day over this garbage.

I think coaches get unfairly criticized a lot. Trotz is a VERY good coach. You can't blame a coach for the competition in the league.

Trotz has helped create one of the most dominant teams over the past few years and I don't think I'm going out on a limb by saying if not for the Pens, the Caps probably would have won a cup over the last two years.

There does come a point though with coaches where things go stale and unfortunately you need to change in the locker room.

The caps still finished first and they lost major depth both up front and in the back-end. Trotz is a great coach, but I'm sure if the Caps lose this series he'll be given his walking papers.

I know that, but they started calling "tapping" this year and its a joke. The Bruins/Bolts game a few nights ago was just dumb. The league is at the lowest point its ever been. Ill take 90's hockey any day over this garbage.
- sammy87

Hell to the no. That was lowest low in the NHL. It was a free-for-all and scoring basically died.