I have watched the better part of all three games this season and my conclusion at this point is that the Caps stink. Yeah, I get there is a new coach and a new system and sure there will be some time to adjust to it but this is hockey and it's not like reinventing the game.
I am seeing dumb penalties and just a general lack of effort out there. The top line guys seem out of sorts. I don't see much movement on the PP. The PK sucks. These guys are sinking fast and it shows. Four Canadien goals in the second period did them in. Neuvy played pretty well but just not enough help from his teammates. Guys not clearing out the crease. Too often there are guys in front of our goalie with no defender in sight. On the opposite end we get some shots but very few are quality shots. We aren't testing the other teams goalies. No traffic in front.
The boo birds were out loud and often last night and deservedly so. This team desperately needs to get it together and show some life. I'm not even talking about a win but just some aggressive play. For the first time in some time, I am watching these guys and thinking we don't have a chance. Just lackluster boring play. They are at it again tonight in NJ and they need to get something going soon. Hopefully we see some inspired play tonight.
5 comments:
Oatsy better lay down the law and get some better penalty killers. The Caps do stink. Put Ovechkin at LW right away. Backstrom is lost trying to get it to Ovechkin on the right side. Marcus needs to be taken off the first line. He isn't doing anything.
The defense also stinks. Everyone looks extremely slow and they constantly lose the puck in the neutral area setting up too many odd man rushes and creating too many penalties. Disappointing
Where is Mike Green? Shouldn't he be thriving in Oatsy's system?
I can't say much for the goalies. Frankly, I think they are asked to do too much. They could play better, but they aren't really giving up a lot of soft goals.
Bruce Boudreau is 2-0 and his team is flying around scoring 7 and 5 goals. If the Caps were looking for more of an up-tempo game they they shouldn't have fired Gabby.
It is still early - let's see what happens.
It's easy to wish we had Gabby back but what's done is done.
Can't get on Oates too much yet. Frankly, I am more upset with the players as they look lost and just lazy. Basic things are not happening like clearing the puck on PK, movement on PPs, not clearing the crease in our zone, not getting traffic in front of opposing goalies, having three guys chase one guy with the puck exposing ourselves. It's just bad hockey.
I'm actually glad they are going back at it tonight. I have to assume the guys are ticked off with their play from last night and want to wash that taste from their mouths. Will be interesting to see what they do tonight.
It is not that I wish we had Gabby back, it is that there isn't any leadership so there is a rudderless ship. Presumably Gabby was fired because the Caps needed more of a defensive system and more gritty hockey. They got Hunter and struggled during the regular season before making a bit of hay in the playoffs.
Hunter leaves and then instead of getting a gritty, defensive minded coach to keep things going, they move to more of a wide open, rushing system that is supposed to have defensemen rush the offensive zone. It is completely different.
Add to the change, and then the change back, that you want to make Ovechkin a RW? WTF is going on?
The lack of enthusiasm on the ice from the team has me bored with hockey already. At least the Wizards are starting to win now.
Got that first win and now it's on! Every game is a playoff game from here on out. Def enjoy watching the Wizards too. Knocking off the bulls was nice. Just wish they didn't have 30 losses already.
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