Brian Sickles: Caps Eliminated in 5 games: Series Stats + Takeaways

I don't think the Mantha factor kicked in.

Flyers fan here, although I was slightly rooting for the Caps because of Lavy being their coach, and because I have a pretty strong dislike for the Bruins.

Washington led by 1-goal in the third period of games two and game three

Imho, this is where the Caps lost this series... coughing up leads in the last 10 minutes of regulation two games in a row. No matter how veteran your team is, that's got to hurt your morale, while bolstering that of the opponents.

Backstrom 4 more years is gonna be painfull.

It was the Wilson karma factor

Flyers fan here, although I was slightly rooting for the Caps because of Lavy being their coach, and because I have a pretty strong dislike for the Bruins.



Imho, this is where the Caps lost this series... coughing up leads in the last 10 minutes of regulation two games in a row. No matter how veteran your team is, that's got to hurt your morale, while bolstering that of the opponents.
- copelal

Couldn't agree more!

Backstrom 4 more years is gonna be painfull.
- franky619

Backstrom had a phenomenal season. His best point/GP since 2016-2017 and one of the best of his career. The entire veteran Caps core + salary cap situation is less than ideal. Ovi's next contract will be big if/when it happens. Maybe 10-11 mil a year for 4 years?

Backstrom 4 more years is gonna be painfull.
- franky619

I will say he was pretty non-existent for the most part this series which is crazy to me. He only had 1 point in five games. Crazy

Backstrom had a phenomenal season. His best point/GP since 2016-2017 and one of the best of his career. The entire veteran Caps core + salary cap situation is less than ideal. Ovi's next contract will be big if/when it happens. Maybe 10-11 mil a year for 4 years?
- Brian Sickles

That's crazy, shooting yourself in a foot. Pay out some 20mil a year to 2 old/aging players with a couple more that already stink will put us where Chicago was/is after signing their core to big money....

Backstrom 4 more years is gonna be painfull.
- franky619

Yeah I said it when he signed...
I thought Mac was going to take a stand, but looks like Ted is behind this one.

I will say he was pretty non-existent for the most part this series which is crazy to me. He only had 1 point in five games. Crazy
- Brian Sickles

I have to agree with you about the regular season, mostly the first half, his best season in years, problem is he's not really making anyone produce, how many of his points are secondary assists, or comes from empty netter? You can't honestly tell me that he drives the play at 5v5. He regularly goes trough stretches of 12 to 15 gms without scoring at 5v5. If he was at least good on faceoff but he's the main reason caps have problem setting up that first PP unit and this goes back a decade ago. Remember those series against the Rangers? He was owned by Stepan and Brassard.
By the way, he was also non exsitant in the playoff last year. He's not gonna be faster next year either.

I would have kept Anderson in net.

I have to agree with you about the regular season, mostly the first half, his best season in years, problem is he's not really making anyone produce, how many of his points are secondary assists, or comes from empty netter? You can't honestly tell me that he drives the play at 5v5. He regularly goes trough stretches of 12 to 15 gms without scoring at 5v5. If he was at least good on faceoff but he's the main reason caps have problem setting up that first PP unit and this goes back a decade ago. Remember those series against the Rangers? He was owned by Stepan and Brassard.
By the way, he was also non exsitant in the playoff last year. He's not gonna be faster next year either.
- franky619

Face offs in general have been subpar for a long time. It's something that they will try to address finally I believe.... Well hopefully.

Flyers fan here, although I was slightly rooting for the Caps because of Lavy being their coach, and because I have a pretty strong dislike for the Bruins.



Imho, this is where the Caps lost this series... coughing up leads in the last 10 minutes of regulation two games in a row. No matter how veteran your team is, that's got to hurt your morale, while bolstering that of the opponents.
- copelal

I always liked Peter the Purple, too. Seems to be good with the younger players. Plus, your assessment was pretty fair.

I still highly question that Mantha trade, tho

I have been waiting for the blog! LOL a Lanister always pays his debts. I love it.

I thought for sure this series would go 6-7 games. Bruins typically don't close out this early but I will take it

Backstrom had a phenomenal season. His best point/GP since 2016-2017 and one of the best of his career. The entire veteran Caps core + salary cap situation is less than ideal. Ovi's next contract will be big if/when it happens. Maybe 10-11 mil a year for 4 years?
- Brian Sickles

I can’t see Ovie go anywhere else. Teds gonna open his wallet.

As for Backstrom, he still has some gas left, but he did get paid for what’s he’s already accomplished and not for what he can provide in the future.
Don’t get me wrong. Backstrom is fantastic. Still, deals like that are tough because you wanna reward a player for what they’ve done, but you also don’t wanna tie your hands in the cap, either. It’s not an easy thing to do

Backstrom had a phenomenal season. His best point/GP since 2016-2017 and one of the best of his career. The entire veteran Caps core + salary cap situation is less than ideal. Ovi's next contract will be big if/when it happens. Maybe 10-11 mil a year for 4 years?
- Brian Sickles

Ovie is still a cash cow. He puts butts in the seats and sells a ton of merch. A 4/44 wouldn’t even surprise me. It’s a lot. I know. But he’s special.

Should he break more records, they’ll want it done in a Caps sweater.

Ovie is still a cash cow. He puts butts in the seats and sells a ton of merch. A 4/44 wouldn’t even surprise me. It’s a lot. I know. But he’s special.

Should he break more records, they’ll want it done in a Caps sweater.
- Hesh_

He won't sell it out, if they can't compete. Granted, DC crowds are more patient than just about anywhere else, but remember, we already have a couple of questionable contracts in the books. I believe gets paid too, but trades are coming. Lavi will want to mold the roster.

He won't sell it out, if they can't compete. Granted, DC crowds are more patient than just about anywhere else, but remember, we already have a couple of questionable contracts in the books. I believe gets paid too, but trades are coming. Lavi will want to mold the roster.
- kastr99

When I lived outside Philly, I used to come down here to watch the Flyers play the Caps because pre-Ovie, it was an easy and reasonable ticket. Now I live down in Caps country.

Love that place Daikaya right next door of the stadium on 6th. Fantastic Japanese whisky bar upstairs. Stellar ramen downstairs.

Caps missed Vrana's speed, Mantha is overrated imo.

I have been waiting for the blog! LOL a Lanister always pays his debts. I love it.

I thought for sure this series would go 6-7 games. Bruins typically don't close out this early but I will take it
- Mahewman

Cheers, man!

Other than being a Sens fan. The Caps are my #2 team. Honestly they've been great all year, except for the last 5-6 games and the playoffs.

That was embarrassing, no grit, no heart, no drive.


If this team wants to win another cup, they need to learn how to take it to another level. Every year after they won the cup, they have coasted in the playoffs and it's embarrassing.

Other than being a Sens fan. The Caps are my #2 team. Honestly they've been great all year, except for the last 5-6 games and the playoffs.

That was embarrassing, no grit, no heart, no drive.


If this team wants to win another cup, they need to learn how to take it to another level. Every year after they won the cup, they have coasted in the playoffs and it's embarrassing.
- Maverick1818

You are correct, no heart. It is inexplicable. Trades are needed to get a different type of player.

You are correct, no heart. It is inexplicable. Trades are needed to get a different type of player.
- yossarian

I don't think it's time for a full rebuild. But I do think some tweaks are needed.

In my opinion, Keep Ovi, Backs, Wilson, Chara, Mantha, Sprong, Oshie, etc

I do think It's time for Kuzy to go and the return you could get for him would be huge.

I didn't like the coaching this year. Caps are an offensive powerhouse and the coaching structure hasn't been that way. I do think Lav is a good coach and should stay, but he needs to switch things up.

Caps are a big fast team, they need to be physical, the need to score.... It's that simple.

I've also said it time and time again. This team lives and dies with Ovi. If he's on and scoring, the team is winning they need to keep that up for the teams success as well as any chance he has to hit 900 goals. (Yes I know he was scoring this series, but not the way he could have and not enough)

I don't think it's time for a full rebuild. But I do think some tweaks are needed.

In my opinion, Keep Ovi, Backs, Wilson, Chara, Mantha, Sprong, Oshie, etc

I do think It's time for Kuzy to go and the return you could get for him would be huge.

I didn't like the coaching this year. Caps are an offensive powerhouse and the coaching structure hasn't been that way. I do think Lav is a good coach and should stay, but he needs to switch things up.

Caps are a big fast team, they need to be physical, the need to score.... It's that simple.

I've also said it time and time again. This team lives and dies with Ovi. If he's on and scoring, the team is winning they need to keep that up for the teams success as well as any chance he has to hit 900 goals. (Yes I know he was scoring this series, but not the way he could have and not enough)
- Maverick1818

What happend to Kuzy, am I right? In the 2017-2018 Stanley Cup run, he led all scorers with 32 points in 24 GP. Ovechkin had 27 points. Its been downhill since there. Off the ice issues and then 0 points in three games played is no ideal. I dont know how much this year hurts his trade value. He is locked in for 7.8M for for four more years. CBJ are lookin for a top line center? Trade Kuznetsov for Texier straight up?! Maybe get the CBJ to throw in a 1st or 2nd rounder