2016-2017 NHL Season

Don Wassall

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Well that was painful to watch. Penguins embarrassed themselves, getting a beatdown at home in Game 6. Their defense can't get the puck out of their zone and the offense can't maintain any meaningful possession time, the exact opposite of what happened last year when they were the team tilting the ice most of the time in the playoffs. They look out of gas after coming so close to closing out the series two nights ago. First Columbus and now Washington has pounded them and pounded them, and they looked spent tonight. They've lasted to this point by effectively counterpunching, but Washington played fantastic in this game and now has the huge advantage playing at home in Game 7.
 

Riggins44

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Yes, Washington dominated last night and has all the momentum right now. Pittsburgh fans can't be too optimistic going into Game 7, but you never know what's going to happen.
 

Jack Lambert

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That was one of the worst Penguins games I've seen in a long time. 8 shots through two periods?? Unacceptable. The offense sucked and the defense turned the puck over and couldn't skate with anybody. The series is effectively over in my opinion. If the Penguins are even competitive in Game 7, it would be a win in my book. Having seen how this entire game went, I'm thinking the Caps win big on Wednesday. I hope I'm wrong, and it's a good game, but I'm not seeing it after last night.
 

Jack Lambert

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Wow! I've never been more happy to be so wrong. After a tough start, Pittsburgh came out and played great. Considering what had happened in the previous games, this was one of the best games I've seen Pittsburgh play, and one of their best games that I've seen. To shut out a team like the Capitals at home is amazing. The Caps came out swinging, and actually played really well too, but just couldn't capitalize on their chances. Pittsburgh was faster, more aggressive, and created more chances than in the previous two games. Their defense was impressive, constantly flustering Washington's attackers, and were aggressive in joining the Penguins' attacks. Marc-Andre Fleury was simply amazing, making some incredible saves. This is definitely one of the best games I've ever seen him play. Holtby was great as well, and kept the score at 2-0 several times when it looked like Pittsburgh was going to pull away.

Congrats to the Caps on a great year. Go Penguins! On to the Eastern Conference Final!!
 
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Riggins44

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Really have to hand it to the Penguins. After Games 5 and 6 I thought it was very unlikely they would be able to pull themselves together and win Game 7 on the road in Washington. But they showed the heart of a true champion and were able to shut out the Capitals and win Game 7 2-0. The Caps really had alot of good chances to score. Fleury was absolutely amazing as he blocked shots in every conceiveable way and played like a man posessed. he had seemed to have made up his mind before the game that no shot would pass him by no matter what. After the 2nd period the Caps became increasingly frustrated and the confidence and momentum they had after Game 6 was largely gone, though they still generated a number of good shots until about the last 2 minutes when Holtby was pulled. Very impressive effort by Fleury and the Penguins.
 

Ambrose

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Nashville beats St. Louis in 6 games, the first time that franchise has advanced into the conference final. One of the things I like about the NHL is that it has teams in cities that don't have any other pro teams in the NFL, NBA and MLB -- Nashville, Columbus, San Jose, and of course the six Canadian cities other than Toronto. However it does mean a continuing heavy dose of undeserved Subban-mania from the media.

Edmonton bounces back from blowing a 3-0 lead at the end of Game 5 to crush Anaheim at home 7-1 and force a seventh game. Edmonton has a lot of young players with fresh legs and they skated circles around the Ducks in this one. Should be a classic Game 7 on Wednesday.

Edmonton may have the next Crosby in Connor McDavid.
 

Don Wassall

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Wow! I've never been more happy to be so wrong. After a tough start, Pittsburgh came out and played great. Considering what had happened in the previous games, this was one of the best games I've seen Pittsburgh play, and one of their best games that I've seen. To shut out a team like the Capitals at home is amazing. The Caps came out swinging, and actually played really well too, but just couldn't capitalize on their chances. Pittsburgh was faster, more aggressive, and created more chances than in the previous two games. Their defense was impressive, constantly flustering Washington's attackers, and were aggressive in joining the Penguins' attacks. Marc-Andre Fleury was simply amazing, making some incredible saves. This is definitely one of the best games I've ever seen him play. Holtby was great as well, and kept the score at 2-0 several times when it looked like Pittsburgh was going to pull away.

Congrats to the Caps on a great year. Go Penguins! On to the Eastern Conference Final!!

The Penguins finally played with desperation, and as a result resembled the team that rolled through the playoffs last year for the first time. They finally abandoned the "rope a dope" strategy that Washington had totally solved late in Game 5 and all through Game 6 and played more aggressively on defense. Caps only mustered 6 shots in the third period when their backs were to the wall, and Fleury was fantastic the entire game. I'd say the biggest difference in such a close series was that Fleury outplayed Holtby, as unlikely as that seemed before the series started.

It's probably the end of an era in Washington with so many free agents and restricted free agents. I was watching the NHL Network after the game, and Ovechkin's defensive lapses led to both Pittsburgh goals, and he could have prevented Rust from getting his shot off if he hadn't half-assed it.

The Penguins under Dan Byslma following the '09 Cup win were a lot like the Caps, looking great in the regular season then annually losing to a lower-seeded team in the playoffs. They were easy to knock off their game; now under Mike Sullivan they have nerves of steel and tremendous resolve and character. Sullivan has been the ideal coach for their talent.
 

Riggins44

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I never watch hockey except for the playoffs, and then I find it very compelling. Being a Capitals fan, I am starting to realize how Chicago Cubs fans felt during all those years of disappointment and heartbreak.

Cubs, Caps, very similar team names. Coincidence? I think not.
 

Don Wassall

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I never watch hockey except for the playoffs, and then I find it very compelling. Being a Capitals fan, I am starting to realize how Chicago Cubs fans felt during all those years of disappointment and heartbreak.

Cubs, Caps, very similar team names. Coincidence? I think not.

Since you're only a fan during the playoffs, I'll rub it in a little. :aaaaa: I don't dislike the Capitals more than any other rival of the Penguins, but after Sidney Crosby was hammered and knocked out of Game 3 and then missed Game 4 (and didn't play as well as he usually does when he came back), I really really really wanted the Penguins to eliminate the Capitals again.

Here's an emotional report on it by Scott Van Pelt of BSPN, who even chokes up at the end. Van Pelt is one of the very few people at BSPN I respect.

http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=19355394&sf77998798=1

And then there's this rant from a Russian sports writer about Ovechkin. I've noticed over the years that Ovechkin is way too one-dimensional, content to lull about waiting to unleash his world-class slapshot, and he excels at checking opponents very hard, but is indifferent to all the other aspects of playing 200 feet, especially defense. He's probably someone like Evgeni Malkin, another Russian who it's better to have as the secondary star on a team rather than the superstar a team is built around and relies on in crunch time.

Slava Malamud is the Official Russian Sports Writer

https://twitter.com/SlavaMalamud

I wanted to post this in another thread but given the size of the rant and how it could be buried I decided it was likely better to make a new thread;

1/ #Caps problems extend beyond a bad def pair, an underperforming goalie. The failure is endemic and systematic. It’s the result of choices

2/ fanboy owner Leonsis made in 2004 when he decided his business model would be not building a winner but servicing a marketable megastar.

3/ There’s nothing wrong with building a team around a star, but it has to be the right kind of star. Ovi just isn’t the “win first” type.

4/ I’ve known Ovi since he was 17. Kid was born with a silverware set in his mouth. Always told he is the greatest, teammates must be worthy

5/ but his demands on himself stay the same. He’s not the bloodied inspirational leader. He is the tousled-hair sexy charismatic ruffian.

6/ Yes, he’s the NHL’s favorite stripper who’s been giving the hockey world a lap dance for 13 years. Sorry, but the length of your erection

7/ hockey world, is unhealthy by now. You need to face the truth: the Caps personality-cult culture is counterproductive to winning the cup.'

8/ Fueled by innumerable fanboy blogs and media whipped into terrified subservience by CapsPR, the culture feeds on self, kills all dissent,

9/ and spurns all criticism. You know, Caps fans, that despite all the issues Oates and Hunter had, your main problem w/ them was trying to

10/ turn Ovi into a man of the system. You hate that. You want your boy toy wild and free. Everyone wants this of Ovi, even RUS coaches.

11/ Compare this to Crosby who will take any role on CAN w/o complaint. You call 87 a whiner, but who whined the loudest during the lockout,

12/ threatening to stay in the KHL? Who whines now, threatening to leave the league to get an Olympic trinket? While Leonsis bends over

13/ backwards to satisfy all his ridiculous demands. This is a guy who looks out for himself and his public image (Wild and Sexy Rebel,

14/ Patriot of Motherland). His only interest in the Cup is how his reflection will look in it. Problem is, Leonsis has the same priorities.

15/ He has dissolved himself and the team in Ovechkin’s 13-year-long marketing campaign. It worked out great financially. The price to pay

16/ is being humiliated every year by real winners. Congrats, Caps, you've sold lots of t-shirts. Congrats, Caps fans, you've been had.

17/ Oh, and that sound you’ve just heard is your window of opportunity slamming shut. I hope this wild ride on the Charisma Train was fun.

18/ Rant out. Enjoy your Redskins mini camp.
 

Jack Lambert

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I too, was really hoping the Caps wouldn't win the series after that hit on Crosby. The Pens' Game 7 win was extra sweet this year. An interesting stat I saw last night was that the Penguins are now 6-0 all time in road Game 7's, which is VERY impressive. It's the best mark out of any major pro sports team. I'm looking forward to Game 1 against Ottawa on Saturday. On paper, the Penguins blow Ottawa away, but that's why they play the games. The Senators deserve to be in the East Finals; winning two series to get there is never easy. However, if the Penguins can put forth the effort they showed in Game 7, I don't see Ottawa winning the series. I'm just hoping there's no drop off after Wednesday's dramatic win over a big-time rival. Go Penguins!

Anaheim outlasted Edmonton 2-1 in the other Game 7 last night. The Oilers looked great during the first part of the game, and then Anaheim slowly started taking over and imposing their will to the point where the Oilers couldn't get out of their own zone for very long. Cam Talbot kept Edmonton in the game, and he's the sole reason why it was only 2-1. He stopped a LOT of great Anaheim chances. Led by young Connor McDavid, the Oilers have a good young core, and I think that they'll be a force in the league if they're able to keep their team together. I think I'll be going for the Ducks in the West finals, if just to stop the Subban hype.
 

Don Wassall

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Yes, the Penguins regained their best and most effective style during Game 7 last night and now must keep it going and not relapse into the turtle mode that worked against Columbus but not Washington. After playing against two very physical teams back to back, Ottawa should be one where they can dominate play more. But their depleted defense corps is their biggest weakness so that may be a continuing problem.

Edmonton and Toronto should be major forces next season. Will be very interesting to see how Nashville does against a much more experienced playoff team in the Ducks after playing so well against Chicago and St. Louis.
 

Matra2

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Slava Malamud is the Official Russian Sports Writer

Just to be clear Malamud is the Twitter official Russian sports writer. That means he is Democrat/SJW friendly and almost certainly not employed in Russia itself. He makes some good points but he appears to have it in for Ovechkin - maybe because Ovechkin doesn't criticise Putin?

Anyway, one Canadian team left - the one with Liberal Party civil servant fans so I'll be hoping Pittsburgh beat them. I'm already having visions of NBC's OTT coverage of P.K. Subban if Nashville make the finals.
 

Jack Lambert

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First game of Nashiville Anaheim tonight in the West. This'll be the first good chance I'll get to watch the Predators. I was reading articles today about Subban, and one of them insinuated that the main reason Nashville has gotten good was because of the Subban-Weber trade. They mentioned how he's still playing and how Montreal lost first round, so they're definitely comparing the two teams. I'm sure he's a decent player, but changing the course of a franchise? Way overblown. How about Pekka Rinne for one, who's been stellar these playoffs?

Go Ducks. It's been tough for them advancing the last few years, but hopefully they can end the Subban hype for this year.
 

Don Wassall

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Nashville was the lowest ranked seed in the Western Conference, but they got hot at the right time as often happens in the playoffs. Normally I'd like to see them beat Anaheim as Nashville is hockey crazy right now and it's always good to see hockey catch on in a U.S. city, but because of how Subban will be given the Tiger Jr. treatment by the media if the Predators win (to the extent they even cover the finals), I'll be rooting for the Ducks.
 

Jack Lambert

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Unfortunately, Nashville won in OT last night, 3-2. Rinne was good like usual. From the parts of the game I was able to watch, I didn't think Subban made many big plays; at least, the announcers didn't mention him too much. Maybe I just missed his ice time, but I heard a lot more of fellow defensemen Roman Josi, Mathias Eckholm, and Ryan Ellis over Subban. Of course, in no way is the media coverage he gets justified. Maybe he just played a bad game or something, but man, he shouldn't be a "key" player for the Predators.

To answer Don's point. I think if the Predators do make the finals, MSM sites like BSPN will likely magically become "interested" in the finals with Subban playing, just like they became "interested" in golf when Tiger rose to prominence. If the Predators are in the Final, look for a TON of stories about him, some of which will likely be those typical "sob stories" of the racism he's had to endure.

Also, for those interested, Ottawa and Pittsburgh are about to start on NBC.
 

Jack Lambert

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Well, Pittsburgh loses Game 1, 2-1. I guess I kind of expected a bit of a letdown after an emotional win over a rival and the change of going from the Caps to Ottawa's trap system. It looks like I was right, as the Pens looked pretty lethargic. Despite this, it was two mistakes by Pittsburgh's defensemen that gave Ottawa both of their goals. The Pens missed a LOT of chances as well, including at least 3-4 off of the post. Given the circumstances, I'm not too concerned yet, but if they lose Game 2, I'll be a bit more worried.

As a side note, Ottawa plays an absolutely boring defensive style of hockey reminiscent of the Devils in the 1990's. It was hard for me to watch the whole game tonight. Their trap system is absolutely grating and hard on the eyes. I can't imagine that style is too appealing to casual fans.
 

Riggins44

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Since you're only a fan during the playoffs, I'll rub it in a little. :aaaaa: I don't dislike the Capitals more than any other rival of the Penguins, but after Sidney Crosby was hammered and knocked out of Game 3 and then missed Game 4 (and didn't play as well as he usually does when he came back), I really really really wanted the Penguins to eliminate the Capitals again.

Here's an emotional report on it by Scott Van Pelt of BSPN, who even chokes up at the end. Van Pelt is one of the very few people at BSPN I respect.

http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=19355394&sf77998798=1

And then there's this rant from a Russian sports writer about Ovechkin. I've noticed over the years that Ovechkin is way too one-dimensional, content to lull about waiting to unleash his world-class slapshot, and he excels at checking opponents very hard, but is indifferent to all the other aspects of playing 200 feet, especially defense. He's probably someone like Evgeni Malkin, another Russian who it's better to have as the secondary star on a team rather than the superstar a team is built around and relies on in crunch time.

Slava Malamud is the Official Russian Sports Writer

https://twitter.com/SlavaMalamud

I wanted to post this in another thread but given the size of the rant and how it could be buried I decided it was likely better to make a new thread;

1/ #Caps problems extend beyond a bad def pair, an underperforming goalie. The failure is endemic and systematic. It’s the result of choices

2/ fanboy owner Leonsis made in 2004 when he decided his business model would be not building a winner but servicing a marketable megastar.

3/ There’s nothing wrong with building a team around a star, but it has to be the right kind of star. Ovi just isn’t the “win first” type.

4/ I’ve known Ovi since he was 17. Kid was born with a silverware set in his mouth. Always told he is the greatest, teammates must be worthy

5/ but his demands on himself stay the same. He’s not the bloodied inspirational leader. He is the tousled-hair sexy charismatic ruffian.

6/ Yes, he’s the NHL’s favorite stripper who’s been giving the hockey world a lap dance for 13 years. Sorry, but the length of your erection

7/ hockey world, is unhealthy by now. You need to face the truth: the Caps personality-cult culture is counterproductive to winning the cup.'

8/ Fueled by innumerable fanboy blogs and media whipped into terrified subservience by CapsPR, the culture feeds on self, kills all dissent,

9/ and spurns all criticism. You know, Caps fans, that despite all the issues Oates and Hunter had, your main problem w/ them was trying to

10/ turn Ovi into a man of the system. You hate that. You want your boy toy wild and free. Everyone wants this of Ovi, even RUS coaches.

11/ Compare this to Crosby who will take any role on CAN w/o complaint. You call 87 a whiner, but who whined the loudest during the lockout,

12/ threatening to stay in the KHL? Who whines now, threatening to leave the league to get an Olympic trinket? While Leonsis bends over

13/ backwards to satisfy all his ridiculous demands. This is a guy who looks out for himself and his public image (Wild and Sexy Rebel,

14/ Patriot of Motherland). His only interest in the Cup is how his reflection will look in it. Problem is, Leonsis has the same priorities.

15/ He has dissolved himself and the team in Ovechkin’s 13-year-long marketing campaign. It worked out great financially. The price to pay

16/ is being humiliated every year by real winners. Congrats, Caps, you've sold lots of t-shirts. Congrats, Caps fans, you've been had.

17/ Oh, and that sound you’ve just heard is your window of opportunity slamming shut. I hope this wild ride on the Charisma Train was fun.

18/ Rant out. Enjoy your Redskins mini camp.

It's interesting he says "He is the tousled-hair sexy charismatic ruffian." An older lady I know used to go to an upscale hair salon in DC. One day she was in there getting her done and a young man was there getting his hair highlighted. There were one or two big guys with the young guy just hanging out, so it sounded like his bodyguards. She asked one of the staff who he was and it was Ovechkin. She got his autograph and she has been a Caps fan ever since, even though she doesn't really like any other sports.

The criticism you and Malamud raise about Ovi is completely fair. He has never gone beyond the second round of the playoffs in what, something like 7 or 8 tries. He is outstanding during the regular season, but for whatever reason, he just doesn't have the ability and knowledge of a Tom Brady, Larry Bird, Sidney Crosby, etc., to put it all together and win the whole thing. Maybe the approach Barry Trotz used in Games 5 and 6, where Ovechkin was relegated to the 3rd line, will work in the future and the Caps will center the team around a young star like Burakovsky and the Caps will be able to win the whole thing, or at least get to the finals.
 

Don Wassall

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I did notice that Ovechkin already has some gray hair. Not coloring it at his age indicates a lack of vanity to me, unless for some reason he likes the look of it.

I just don't think Ovechkin has a strong all-around game, he's two-dimensional -- great shot and pulverizing checks when he's in the mood, but little else. I don't know if he's a good leader or not, but it's obvious there's something lacking in the makeup of the Capitals, especially the last two years when they had the strongest top-to-bottom roster in the league.
 

Jack Lambert

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Great win for the Penguins tonight, a 1-0 victory to even up the series. Pittsburgh looked a lot better tonight, dominating Ottawa in terms of puck possession. At one point, Ottawa went something like 15 minutes without a shot on goal.

Unfortunately, it looks like Rust and Schultz will be out with injuries.
 

Don Wassall

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Ottawa isn't nearly as good as Washington, but the Penguins have to find a way to score more. I think they will as they've had plenty of chances and have hit the post and crossbar several times. They're also deep and have been able to rotate in capable replacements for their never ending stream of injured players. Hopefully Hornqvist isn't out for long though.
 

Jack Lambert

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Some good news on the injury front: Schultz, Hornqvist and Rust are day-to-day and are going to Ottawa. One of these games, those post shots have to start going in.

Game 3 of Anaheim/Nashville on tonight.
 

Don Wassall

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Someone wrote on a hockey forum that Hornqvist is "made of titanium" and I had to laugh because he does seem indestructible considering the beating he subjects himself to game after game. I can't recall another player who gives himself up so often like Hornqvist does. He had to really be feeling bad to miss last night's game. I had the chance to meet him and he's not a big man by any stretch, about six feet tall and just very lean and tough like almost all hockey players.
 

Jack Lambert

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Great bounce back win for Pittsburgh last night!! After getting thoroughly outplayed in Game 3, Mike Sullivan made a gutsy move and reinserted Murray into the starting lineup, and boy did it pay off!! Murray was great for the most part in Pittsburgh's 3-2 win, making a lot of key saves, especially in the third period. The Penguins played a lot better than in Game 3, finally finding the back of the net with some consistency against Andersen. They had to hold on at the end, but it was a good victory, and now Pittsburgh has home ice back. I'm just hoping they're able to give a great effort for more than 1 game in a row. The Penguins are going to need to play just as hard on Sunday.
 

Jack Lambert

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Some bad news for Nashville as Ryan Johansen is out for the rest of the playoffs. Johansen has been one of the Predator's best players this postseason, so it's a huge loss for them. Big opportunity for Anaheim at home today.
 
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