Caps @ Sabres GNT | 7 PM ET | 12.26.11

[ritari330]

Caps keys:
Special teams on the road (27th ranked PP and PK on the road)
Play well early
Win

 

[ritari330]

 

[ritari330]

 

[ritari330]

 

[TiLoBrown]

Remeber the game against New Je.....yea, I'm sorry.

 

[ritari330]

 

[dash]

Yikes, a Ruff start for the Caps...

 

[ritari330]

not.. enough... facepalm

 

[ritari330]

So wait, who are we trying to get fired tonight?

 

[beantownmaniac]

Yikes, a Ruff start for the Caps...

 

[ritari330]

Hey look, MP85, 4-1

 

[ritari330]

4-2, OV snipes one on the PP

 

[puckhead]

lol. so this about sums it up?

 

[BOSSMANPC]

Just got home from a party but got to see a good bit of the game. What is wrong with the Caps? Damn, like they were saying on the Sabres post game show they look disinterested in playing.

Is there a problem with OV and his teammates? Regehr lites up OV big time and none of his mates give it a second look. They said Kaleta stuck his leg out and tried to trip OV and they said none of OV's mates do anything. They were saying it looks like this team is a bunch of individuals and don't play as a team.

A few weeks ago it looked like they were playing to get BB fired, they accomplished that but it looks like nothing has changed.

I'm not trying to be an ass but this team with the talent they have look like shit.

Do any of you Cap fans have any idea what the problem is? Any rumors going around? This team has way too much talent to be where they are in the standings.


Lets Go Buffalo !!!

 

[elocomotive]

Do any of you Cap fans have any idea what the problem is? Any rumors going around? This team has way too much talent to be where they are in the standings.

Wish I knew, Boss.

I will say that the stuff about OV is overdone and ridiculous. He works hard, his teammates love him, etc. He's just struggling, his skills seem diminished and I'm not sure why. He's only in his mid-20s. He's not playing well, but I don't think it goes deeper than that. His teammates know he can handle himself. He's not some coddled star who needs protection. He fucking wrecks people. There is however a certain guy named Semin who I've been saying for a long time is a cancer. They need to unload him so to speak.

Green coming back would help to. Transition to O has been a major problem this year, and nobody on the team (maybe the league) is better at that than Mike Green. Plus he helps the PP. That said, one guy should never make that much difference.

Personally, I've never been as frustrated as this year. I frequently turn games off in the middle and walk away b/c it's just not enjoyable. If we had mild expectations, it would be different. But two years ago this was the best offense the league had seen in a decade. Now we're the fucking Devils. It makes zero sense.

I will say I am SICK TO DEATH of the dump and chase. You need to use it some, but it seems like all we do. It is not where are skill lies. You coach a team to it's strengths, not trying to impose a system upon a team that IT must adapt to. They've been trying to do that for a year and a half. Frankly, I'd rather see a 6-5 loss than what they are trying to do now. Play better D and dump & chase, but not at the expense of taking chances and utilizing the offensive skills of this squad.

But what is being a Caps' fan if not a tortured existence. Only Sabres' fans can really understand.

 

[BOSSMANPC]

Wish I knew, Boss.

I will say that the stuff about OV is overdone and ridiculous. He works hard, his teammates love him, etc. He's just struggling, his skills seem diminished and I'm not sure why. He's only in his mid-20s. He's not playing well, but I don't think it goes deeper than that. His teammates know he can handle himself. He's not some coddled star who needs protection. He fucking wrecks people. There is however a certain guy named Semin who I've been saying for a long time is a cancer. They need to unload him so to speak.

Green coming back would help to. Transition to O has been a major problem this year, and nobody on the team (maybe the league) is better at that than Mike Green. Plus he helps the PP. That said, one guy should never make that much difference.

Personally, I've never been as frustrated as this year. I frequently turn games off in the middle and walk away b/c it's just not enjoyable. If we had mild expectations, it would be different. But two years ago this was the best offense the league had seen in a decade. Now we're the fucking Devils. It makes zero sense.

I will say I am SICK TO DEATH of the dump and chase. You need to use it some, but it seems like all we do. It is not where are skill lies. You coach a team to it's strengths, not trying to impose a system upon a team that IT must adapt to. They've been trying to do that for a year and a half. Frankly, I'd rather see a 6-5 loss than what they are trying to do now. Play better D and dump & chase, but not at the expense of taking chances and utilizing the offensive skills of this squad.

But what is being a Caps' fan if not a tortured existence. Only Sabres' fans can really understand.

They were talking about Semin as well. He has gone from looking like a future super star to an average player.

I know OV can handle himself but still most of the time a team mate comes over when a star player gets drilled like that. Even when it's a good legal check.

eloco like I said I am not trying to kick any team or player when they're down but things just seem so out of whack on that team. You would think a new coach would have changed the system to accommodate the talent but apparently that hasn't happened. I haven't seen enough Caps games to make an intelligent judgment of my own that's why I asked for Caps fans input.

You're right being a Sabres fan I do understand the frustration.

I hope your team turns things around and hang in there buddy we still have over a half of the season to go. Good luck the rest of the way.

 

[ritari330]

The way I see it Boss, the problems are
-Semin being Semin
-Only 1 line being able to score when not on the rush
-The wrong defensemen for Dale's system, putting square pegs into round holes so to speak
-No consistant goaltending anymore, although it's gotten better recently
-Special team play on the road
-Mike Green being unhealthy
-Not placing Knuble on the top line just to see if it'll work. Just stubborn.

The defensive lapses can imporve, but I don't think the offense will change that much, but with my knowlege, its baffling to me

The defensive side of our problems can improve over time, but it'll take some time,

 

[BOSSMANPC]

The way I see it Boss, the problems are
-Semin being Semin
-Only 1 line being able to score when not on the rush
-The wrong defensemen for Dale's system, putting square pegs into round holes so to speak
-No consistant goaltending anymore, although it's gotten better recently
-Special team play on the road
-Mike Green being unhealthy
-Not placing Knuble on the top line just to see if it'll work. Just stubborn.

The defensive lapses can imporve, but I don't think the offense will change that much, but with my knowlege, its baffling to me

The defensive side of our problems can improve over time, but it'll take some time,

Thanks for the feed back ritari. I'm sure things will get better for the Caps so hang in there.

It's nice for the Sabres finally getting some injured players back because that makes a difference too.

I am sure the Caps will make the playoffs and do fine.

 

[ritari330]

GMGM needs to do something though. As much as I defend him and feel he does a great job building a team and drafting, if he doesn't do a thing, then he will and should lose his job by the end of the year

 

[elocomotive]

The way I see it Boss, the problems are
-Semin being Semin
-Only 1 line being able to score when not on the rush
-The wrong defensemen for Dale's system, putting square pegs into round holes so to speak
-No consistant goaltending anymore, although it's gotten better recently
-Special team play on the road
-Mike Green being unhealthy
-Not placing Knuble on the top line just to see if it'll work. Just stubborn.

I largely agree. So in sum, just about everything is wrong.

Being a hard-nosed, gritty player, I think Dale has brought more of the same of what Bruce was trying to do. And relatedly, what Glen Hanlon had tried before he was fired and the team started being succesful. I think the D-men and goalies are just underachieving and will come around (especially if Green gets healthy). I think the offense is completely not working and needs (a) Semin to be gone, addition by subtraction and (b) to go back to a more aggressive, quick hit style they had success with. Maybe that "kind of hockey" can't win a Cup, I don't know. But I think there is more than one way to win a Cup and I know the current style may not even make the playoffs and has them working their butt's off just to scrap together 2 goals on a given night. It sucks.

Congrats to the Sabres on the win. I know you guys are struggling too, and 2 points is a bid deal right now. Kudos.