Game 1 and 2 open thread
I will be back Tuesday for game 3 and won't have any internet access over where I am going (whitewater trip in the National forest). So post your comments to help me get back on track.
Don't be surprised if the Caps will lose the first one, they will be rusty, which can lead to giveaways and turnovers. This happened to other teams in Caps situation before. I believe these going to be be longer series than vs. Rangers. Hope I am wrong, but you know, hope for the best (Hockey Gods, please be with us!), prepare for the worst.
Go Caps, go Ovi!
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TJ, TJ, TJ...what are we going to do with you? First you tempted the hockey gods' wrath by saying you didn't want the Caps to face TB and Roloson. See what happens when you're not careful about what you don't wish for?
I said before the only way the Caps can lose is if they beat themselves. Tonight they beat themselves. Blame the rust from too much time off if you want, or blame the fact they strayed from the way they played to get this far and resorted to old bad habits.
The Caps pressed too hard, took too many low percentage shots, their PP disappeared, and there went the game. Bottom line: the Caps played the way the Bolts wanted the game to go instead of playing the way they know how to play and can play. The Caps have too much talent not to put more sustained pressure on Roloson, which they must do if they want to salvage a split to tie the series 1-1 on Sunday.
Time for the Caps to re-group and re-focus to get their mojo back.
Since no one else commented, I'll add more of my two cents after watching my DVR recording of the game. Yes, I am a glutton for punishment sometimes when it comes to the Caps.
If the Caps watched video as I'm sure they did, they will see what I did. They started flat, which wasn't unexpected given their long layoff, and allowed the Bolts to score first a little more than two minutes into the first period on a Bergenheim goal. But then the Caps found their legs because just about two minutes later, Sasha Minor got the equalizer, and the first period ended tied 1-1.
Less than two minutes into the second period, Fehr put the Caps ahead 2-1, and they were poised to take complete control of the game. However, they were not able to increase the lead, which seemed to frustrate them and that led to sloppy play. Downie (blech) tied the game with less than four minutes to play in the period, and then Chimera took an ill-advised roughing penalty in the OFFENSIVE zone with two minutes left. That's all the momentum changer the Bolts needed, because Stamkos got the go-ahead goal on the PP with about 32 seconds left.
After that it went downhill fast for the Caps. Instead of re-grouping they started to press, and spent the entire third period running around and passing without real purpose, and taking poor quality shots. They started to play more like individuals instead of like a team. The Caps finished 0 for 5 on the PP, which was pretty much emblematic of their overall frustration at not putting away the Bolts when given the chance. And don't get me started about Ovie on the point on the PP, it's a broken record.
To summarize: the discipline, patience, and responsible defensive play that got them where they are was gone, and in so doing, there went the game. Once they got the lead, the Bolts stiffened defensively and thoroughly shut down the Caps. They added a Dominic Moore EN goal with 40 seconds left in regulation on a play I won't say more about because it was painful to see on live viewing and looked even worse the second time.
You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out what the Caps need to do to win tonight. They must be disciplined, patient and responsible, stay out of the penalty box, make the Bolts pay for their penalties, and play as a team rather than a random collection of individuals. The Caps surely must know this too. Let's see if they can get it done tonight. GO CAPS!
Killing Osama bin Laden is the only thing that makes tonight bearable.
I’m stunned, truly and absolutely stunned, by the Caps loss tonight. I was convinced they would put Game 1 behind them and have a monster outing tonight. I was WRONG, sadly I admit it. But when a team goes 0 for 6 on the power play for a total of 0 for 11 so far in the series, it’s very very difficult to win. I don’t know how the Caps can pull a rabbit out of a hat to win 4 of the next 5 games. But unless they do, it’s going to be early tee times for them and a continuation of the angst, disappointment, and frustration for their fans.
It's unfortunate that the caps can outshoot their opponent 22-9 (or something like that) in the 2nd period and still be tied. to say the Caps weren't working or winning the puck battles, or getting quality shots, or working on the PP is just wrong. they worked their asses off in Game 2, unfortunately TB's D seemed to always get the blocks, or the sticks for the deflection that sent pucks wide and when that didn't happen there was a guy behind a mask saving the game...Roloson.
The Caps deserved to win Game 2, they were the better team, but as luck has it TB got ALL and I mean ALL the luck. Goal #1 PP Goal against a very good PP team. Goal #2 a pass from Marty goes off Green's skate right into the net and goal #3 a bad line change which somehow sees a rink ice pass go from defensive zone through the middle right to Vinny for a no chance roofer on Neuvy.
Make no mistake TB is lucky to be up 2-0, but luck can only save you so many times. This Caps team is more then capable of coming back, it might be a 7 game series but if anything we just need to keep to our system. I think our PP needs a shake up and putting Laich on the point at one point was awesome but Ovie really needs to go down low. He's proven he knows how to get the grinding dirty goals now. Put Green and Laich on the points. Put Ovie, Semin and Arnott down low (Backie just can't seem to cut a break and isn't being effective)
TB is a resilient team, BUT the Caps know what losing a playoff series feels like and right now TB has everything going for them but as someone once said. The most dangerous team is the one that has nothing to lose, Caps are already down 2-0, it's almost no tomorrow for them, and that's very very dangerous.
@Marge: I agree the Bolts were lucky to win Game 2, but very often good teams make their own luck. IMO the Bolts make their own luck by sticking to their system. The Caps are down 2-0 because they did not. The Bolts, played to their strengths on the 1-3-1 trap and dared the Caps to solve it. The Caps couldn't. I saw lots of individual play and lack of cohesion on their part. Plus, outshooting your opponent is futile if most of those shots are either blocked or of low quality. IMO the Caps made some poor decisions with and without the puck, which foiled their ability to generate offense by putting sustained pressure on Roloson.
What surprised me most is how the Bolts, coming off a 7 game series against the Pens, looked fresher and more rested than the Caps who had five days off between Rounds 1 and 2. In addition, unlike the series against the Rangers, the Caps gave up first period goals to the Bolts in both games. They never had the lead in Game 2. You expend more energy trying to come from behind than you do when you have the lead.
I've been harping on the Caps PP woes, specifically why is Ovie on the point when he's more dangerous and can be more effective down low. So I agree with your suggestions about who should be where on the PP. And I also agree, Backstrom has been snakebit, and has to come alive and contribute to put pressure on the Bolts defense.
So the Bolts played smart, conserving their energy by playing their system to the hilt. The Caps have to get back to playing the way they are capable, they have to score first and play as a team. I haven't given up on them by any means. It's just that they helped dig the hole they are in by playing into the Bolts hands. The Caps will be a desperate team tomorrow night, and maybe that desperation will lead to a win they definitely need.
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