2018 NHL Playoffs

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Wed May 30, 2018 7:34 am

rass wrote: ↑Wed May 30, 2018 6:25 am

It did not occur to me on this one that I currently have a Penguin as my avatar..Yes it is Opus...but a Penguin none the less.

Post by **brian** » Wed May 30, 2018 12:00 pm

Today will be the hottest outside temperature for a Finals game in NHL history (perhaps unsurprisingly?).

Though still not even close to the record for a playoff game (108 in Arizona for the conference finals a few year ago).

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Wed May 30, 2018 4:28 pm

Lots of low key grousing about the quality of the ice, especially in the third the other night.

https://lasvegassun.com/news/2018/may/3 ... es-game-2/

rass · Post by **rass** » Wed May 30, 2018 7:14 pm

Some showman in Ottawa was 10 years ahead of his time, and if he didn’t get a soft landing with VGK I hope he at least is at peace.

rass · Post by **rass** » Wed May 30, 2018 7:17 pm

A_B wrote: ↑Tue May 29, 2018 7:17 am There's some poor pre-game video coordinator for the Capitals who's got a lot to account for to his bosses before Game 3.

Like the guy who had to follow Chaucer in A Knight’s Tale:

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Wed May 30, 2018 8:30 pm

1) Now I’ve fucking seen everything. Just punch yourself in the fucking face. What. The. Fuck.

2) We like to just drop the puck and play the game. Jesus Christ.

Post by **brian** » Thu May 31, 2018 12:36 am

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Wed May 30, 2018 4:28 pm Lots of low key grousing about the quality of the ice, especially in the third the other night.

https://lasvegassun.com/news/2018/may/3 ... es-game-2/

Holtby was also complaining about the elevation after G1 so mileage may vary.

BSF21 · Post by **BSF21** » Thu May 31, 2018 6:42 am

Pretty entertaining hockey game. I'm bummed how quiet this thread is but it's only 4:40 where Brian is so...

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Thu May 31, 2018 8:42 am

brian wrote: ↑Thu May 31, 2018 12:36 am
Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Wed May 30, 2018 4:28 pm Lots of low key grousing about the quality of the ice, especially in the third the other night.

https://lasvegassun.com/news/2018/may/3 ... es-game-2/
Holtby was also complaining about the elevation after G1 so mileage may vary.

Just to be clear, grousing was from both teams.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Thu May 31, 2018 8:43 am

March-uh-so is kind of a dick. I'll have more later.

Post by **brian** » Thu May 31, 2018 8:43 am

Eh, just one game. Vegas was never going to sweep (nor was Washington). The Knights have answered the bell every time this season so I think they can get at least a split in Washington and then it'll get interesting.

I don't think Vegas played especially well last night, was very disappointed in David Perron, who is a guy I usually really, really like but he hasn't looked right for a couple or three weeks at this point. I wouldn't be surprised to see Gallant put Tatar in for Perron on Saturday.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Thu May 31, 2018 8:55 am

Watching Holtby's stick save.

BSF21 · Post by **BSF21** » Thu May 31, 2018 9:16 am

brian wrote: ↑Thu May 31, 2018 8:43 am Eh, just one game. Vegas was never going to sweep (nor was Washington). The Knights have answered the bell every time this season so I think they can get at least a split in Washington and then it'll get interesting.

I don't think Vegas played especially well last night, was very disappointed in David Perron, who is a guy I usually really, really like but he hasn't looked right for a couple or three weeks at this point. I wouldn't be surprised to see Gallant put Tatar in for Perron on Saturday.

Perron had a great look with maybe 4 minutes left and missed high and wide the net by 8 feet. I only got to watch the 3rd but that's a shot you can't miss by that much and send back out of the zone in that situation.

Post by **brian** » Thu May 31, 2018 9:32 am

BSF21 wrote: ↑Thu May 31, 2018 9:16 am
brian wrote: ↑Thu May 31, 2018 8:43 am Eh, just one game. Vegas was never going to sweep (nor was Washington). The Knights have answered the bell every time this season so I think they can get at least a split in Washington and then it'll get interesting.

I don't think Vegas played especially well last night, was very disappointed in David Perron, who is a guy I usually really, really like but he hasn't looked right for a couple or three weeks at this point. I wouldn't be surprised to see Gallant put Tatar in for Perron on Saturday.
Perron had a great look with maybe 4 minutes left and missed high and wide the net by 8 feet. I only got to watch the 3rd but that's a shot you can't miss by that much and send back out of the zone in that situation.

He also seemed more interested in cross-checking Caps players than playing offense. Not sure what's up with him.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Thu May 31, 2018 9:35 am

* Lars Eller continues to step up his game when he is given the opportunity. This is a very "inside Caps fandom" thing, but the guy takes a tremendous amount of shit from the fanbase, and I really don't understand it. He's not sitting on a huge contract (about 3M/year) and as the 3rd line center, he is right around the 5th or 6th point scorer over the last 3 or 4 years. When Backstrom was out, he played extremely well against Pitt and TB, and last night with Kuzy out, he did the same thing.

* Speaking of guys Caps fans love to hate... Brooks Orpik with one of the craziest bounces I've ever seen.

* Holtby makes a lot of flashy glove saves. His pads can be ninja-quick. When he's in the zone, he floats around in the crease like a god damn superboss in a video game. I've seen him do some sick shit over the years.

I've never seen him make a save like that. Holy shit.

=-=-=-=

brian's right, it's just one game. It also happens to be the first Stanley Cup win ever for this franchise (shut up Vegas, every time you guys take a dump somewhere it's a "first for the franchise.") On a less momentous note, it's the first win for the Caps against Vegas this year (1-3).

Losing Kuznetsov sucks.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu May 31, 2018 9:39 am

Eller took a ton of shit in Montreal too but that made a bit more sense given he never lived up to his 13th overall status. I really think part of it is simply how he looks. Seriously.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Thu May 31, 2018 10:20 am

I’ve never liked Perron. He’s had some good stretches of productivity surrounded by longer stretches that weren’t very good. That’s why he’s bounced around the league so much.

Post by **brian** » Thu May 31, 2018 10:26 am

He's been great all regular season (think he had something like 60 points?), but has struggled in the playoffs for sure. Assuming Gallant leaves him in the lineup on Saturday, needs to get his ass in gear. I've called just about every move Gallant has made this postseason though and I'll be shocked if Tatar doesn't get the call to replace someone and Perron would be the most likely candidate.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Thu May 31, 2018 11:24 am

This is the last time I'll say this, I promise: It is a complete mind-fuck for long-suffering Caps fans to have a team be this resilient. I've shifted from waiting for "the bad thing" to happen over to "fuck it, the boys have this." I'm not saying I'm cocky or anything... But I'm finally, after all these years, just enjoying playoff hockey.

It's weird. I like it.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu May 31, 2018 11:48 am

Filing this one away.

Post by **brian** » Thu May 31, 2018 11:54 am

Speaking as a Lions fan (or a former one at least), not sure I'd tempt fate like that.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Thu May 31, 2018 2:03 pm

I had fun watching Game 1. Of course it was more fun to win last night, but that's not what I'm talking about. I guess it's too hard to describe?

It's one thing to have a shitty team that meets your very low expectations. Then there's having a good team that loses a hard fought game or series. bummer, but you dust off and move on with life. Then you've got a Buffalo Bills situation... brutal and pretty close to what being a Caps fans has been like.

It's pretty well-documented that the Caps have been absolutely horrible to follow for the better part of a decade. Multiple President's Trophy, picked to win it all many times, arguably the best player in the league surrounded by top flight talent... And for the most part, they weren't just losing, but doing so in spectacularly soul-crushing fashion.

This team could lose the next 4 and I still won't have that "same old shitty feeling" that's been dominant every year since forever. They've earned that much over this playoff run.

So, I'm not in the business of jinxing, so that's not what I was saying.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Thu May 31, 2018 10:40 pm

We Sharks fans have felt your pain over the years!

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Fri Jun 01, 2018 9:59 am

Submitted for brian's use the next 48 hours.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Fri Jun 01, 2018 10:01 am

Kuznetsov almost certainly going to miss tomorrow's game.

Only brightside of missing the second leading scorer (both regular and postseason) is that when Backstrom went down, Eller, Chiasson, DSP and Beagle all stepped up to fill the void.

Still... That's a pretty massive blow.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Jun 01, 2018 10:04 am

I saw someone (Friedman?) tweet he's skating today.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Fri Jun 01, 2018 10:43 am

Yeah, I'm look at videos and he's clearly laying off the stick with his left, but he took a bunch of pretty hard wristers.

Must've felt like a break, but no way it's a fracture if he's out there stick handling like that.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Fri Jun 01, 2018 12:42 pm

Sure Vegas went RenFest, But DC is going tantric with Sting & Shaggy on the Portrait Gallery steps for Game 3 & Fall Out Boy for Game 4. Plus Pat Sajak doing player introductions.....Vanna will be turning some "O", "V", and "I".

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Fri Jun 01, 2018 12:43 pm

wlu_lax6 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 01, 2018 12:42 pmVanna will be turning some "O", "V", and "I".

Not in that order, probably

Post by **brian** » Fri Jun 01, 2018 12:49 pm

wlu_lax6 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 01, 2018 12:42 pm Sure Vegas went RenFest, But DC is going tantric with Sting & Shaggy on the Portrait Gallery steps for Game 3 & Fall Out Boy for Game 4. Plus Pat Sajak doing player introductions.....Vanna will be turning some "O", "V", and "I".

If Lozo let Vegas have it over Imagine Dragons, he better respond in kind to freaking Fall Out Boy.

ETA: I mean, it's a proportional response and all, but let's not suggest that Vegas' shit is somehow worse than any of that.

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Fri Jun 01, 2018 12:57 pm

Post by **brian** » Sat Jun 02, 2018 7:21 pm

Yeah, Sajak doing introductions is awesome. Nice show, Washington.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Sat Jun 02, 2018 7:36 pm

Is he doing any conservative ranting or just playing it straight?

Post by **brian** » Sat Jun 02, 2018 7:45 pm

“Obama was born in Kenya! Go Caps!”

Post by **brian** » Sat Jun 02, 2018 9:01 pm

This thing is going south in a hurry for many reasons but Fleury is not one of them. This game is 5-0 without him.

Post by **brian** » Sat Jun 02, 2018 10:07 pm

Movie script season doesn’t end with winning in 4 or winning in, but it does with winning in 7.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Sat Jun 02, 2018 11:34 pm

Of course just recently I was talking up Shea Theodore, and so he had a forgettable game tonight.

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Sat Jun 02, 2018 11:40 pm

I really don't want to change hardcore allegiances. But you know my hometown team is really in the shitter only making the playoffs 24 of the last 27 years. But you understand right? We've been down for so long...all I want is to support a team that makes the playoffs. It's been so long. You all understand right? I'm just going to post a lot of facts about my new favorite team just because it makes me feel so much better about having to support such a shit team for so long.

Post by **brian** » Sat Jun 02, 2018 11:53 pm

sancarlos wrote: ↑Sat Jun 02, 2018 11:34 pm Of course just recently I was talking up Shea Theodore, and so he had a forgettable game tonight.

Yeah. Game 2 wasn’t Tuch’s fault and Game 3 wasn’t Theodore’s fault but it’s interesting they’re the only two rookies on the team.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Sun Jun 03, 2018 1:59 am

Don’t mean to be pedantic but this isn’t Theodore’s rookie season. He played in 53 NHL games before this season, well past the 25-game threshold to be still considered a rookie.