Concerns you have about your team in the playoffs

[BOSSMANPC]

IF the Sabres make it......

My biggest concern is the defensive pay of the defense. They are a young group and prone to make mistakes at times. Sometimes they "pinch" and get caught leaving too many odd man rushes. This is something that the coaching staff can fix because I'm sure Ruff may hold them back more once the playoffs start. They do contribute offensively but in the playoffs defense is the winning formula.

Forwards I have no problem with. The Sabres score by committee and have two 30 goal scores (could have been three if Roy had not been injured but they say he could be back for the second round should they advance) They are forth in the east in goals scored and can get production from all four lines, so as some think this team does not rely on Miller.

Goal tending I am comfortable with. Miller is coming off of a rest period and Enroth did a great job filling in for him going 3-0-1. It sure is comforting to have a solid back up.

What are your thought's on your teams plus and minus?

 

[dash]

I just want my team to avoid any golf cart related injuries...

 

[BOSSMANPC]

I just want my team to avoid any golf cart related injuries...

I wish the Flames would have made it dash. Maybe one of them will pull a Happy Gilmore and ace a par four.

 

[dash]

There's something to be said for watching the playoffs when your team is on the sidelines. No accelerated heart rate or rise in blood pressure.

 

[dboy97]

For the Bruins what comes to mind the most is streaky scorers vs a potentially series stealing goaltender. That could be said about any of their potential playoff opponents.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

I. depth on defense....
A. How much longer is Green out?
B. How strong will he be when he comes back?
C. How will he handle the physicality of the playoffs?
1. How much of his size has he lost during the layoff?
2. How much confidence will he have going into the corners?
D. How about Wideman? What's the deal?

II. Secondary scoring
A. Who will be centering the Ovi/Knuble line?
B. Where does Arnott fit in?
1. Will he continue to spark Semin?
2. Will he be the gritty, hard worker the Caps traded for?
C. If Ovie get's locked down (not that he has yet in the playoffs....ever)..
1. Who can you rely on?
a. Laich, Chimera, Semin?
b. Young talent (Johnasson)?
2. Where will scoring from the blue line come from?
III. Who is your goaltender?
A. Pick a starter and go.....
B. Who is sitting on the bench?

(that was supposed to be a pretty outline, but you all can figure it out)

 

[BOSSMANPC]

I. depth on defense....
A. How much longer is Green out?
B. How strong will he be when he comes back?
C. How will he handle the physicality of the playoffs?
1. How much of his size has he lost during the layoff?
2. How much confidence will he have going into the corners?
D. How about Wideman? What's the deal?

II. Secondary scoring
A. Who will be centering the Ovi/Knuble line?
B. Where does Arnott fit in?
1. Will he continue to spark Semin?
2. Will he be the gritty, hard worker the Caps traded for?
C. If Ovie get's locked down (not that he has yet in the playoffs....ever)..
1. Who can you rely on?
a. Laich, Chimera, Semin?
b. Young talent (Johnasson)?
2. Where will scoring from the blue line come from?
III. Who is your goaltender?
A. Pick a starter and go.....
B. Who is sitting on the bench?

(that was supposed to be a pretty outline, but you all can figure it out)

Good summary 46/2. I think the Caps are playing the type of game that wins in the playoffs. BB, has done a super job with the team defense concept. Good luck this year bro.

 

[puckhead]

There's something to be said for watching the playoffs when your team is on the sidelines. No accelerated heart rate or rise in blood pressure.

We are all Canucks


I'm worried about injuries, of course.
and that we are starting out with 2/3 of the 3rd line on the sideline. and the most important part of that line isn't coming back.
3rd line matchups have killed us in the last three playoffs (Chi x2, Ana). We've finally been deep enough to combat that, and it's not there anymore.

I'm worried about scoring drying up, I'm worried about team defense / goaltending having a collective brainfart. I'm worried Chicago is in their heads, even if they won't admit it.
I will worry an awful lot over the next couple of months (hopefully).

still, I'm more optimistic than worried, and i can't remember the last time I've said that going into the playoffs.

 

[dare2be]

(that was supposed to be a pretty outline, but you all can figure it out)

Try this:

I.  depth on defense....
     A.  How much longer is Green out?
     B.  How strong will he be when he comes back?
     C.  How will he handle the physicality of the playoffs?
          1.  How much of his size has he lost during the layoff?
          2.  How much confidence will he have going into the corners?
     D.  How about Wideman?  What's the deal?

II.  Secondary scoring    
     A.  Who will be centering the Ovi/Knuble line?
     B.  Where does Arnott fit in?
          1.  Will he continue to spark Semin?
          2.  Will he be the gritty, hard worker the Caps traded for?
     C.  If Ovie get's locked down (not that he has yet in the playoffs....ever)..
          1. Who can you rely on?
              a.  Laich, Chimera, Semin?
              b.  Young talent (Johnasson)?
          2.  Where will scoring from the blue line come from?
III.  Who is your goaltender?
      A.  Pick a  starter and go.....
      B.  Who is sitting on the bench?

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

Good summary 46/2. I think the Caps are playing the type of game that wins in the playoffs. BB, has done a super job with the team defense concept. Good luck this year bro.

Thanks, back at you.

This is the first season that I have felt really really confident about the way these guys are playing. I said something to my (Flyers fan, knows hockey) girlfriend about a month ago when we were watching one of the Caps games. I simply said...."THIS is the kind of hockey that wins in the playoffs." and she simply replied..."Yes, it really is, and it kind of scares me". I think it was the matinee game against the Blackhawks. I really hope Wideman and Fehr get back though, as I think we need that secondary scoring.

(I meant to put the Fehr injury on my list)

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

Try this:

I.  depth on defense....
     A.  How much longer is Green out?
     B.  How strong will he be when he comes back?
     C.  How will he handle the physicality of the playoffs?
          1.  How much of his size has he lost during the layoff?
          2.  How much confidence will he have going into the corners?
     D.  How about Wideman?  What's the deal?

II.  Secondary scoring    
     A.  Who will be centering the Ovi/Knuble line?
     B.  Where does Arnott fit in?
          1.  Will he continue to spark Semin?
          2.  Will he be the gritty, hard worker the Caps traded for?
     C.  If Ovie get's locked down (not that he has yet in the playoffs....ever)..
          1. Who can you rely on?
              a.  Laich, Chimera, Semin?
              b.  Young talent (Johnasson)?
          2.  Where will scoring from the blue line come from?
III.  Who is your goaltender?
      A.  Pick a  starter and go.....
      B.  Who is sitting on the bench?

oooo!!!!! pretty!!!!

 

[dare2be]

I'm worried that the shootout is no longer at the Pens' disposal and there will be many long OT games that will wear them down.

 

[puckhead]

Thanks, back at you.

This is the first season that I have felt really really confident about the way these guys are playing. I said something to my (Flyers fan, knows hockey) girlfriend about a month ago when we were watching one of the Caps games. I simply said...."THIS is the kind of hockey that wins in the playoffs." and she simply replied..."Yes, it really is, and it kind of scares me". I think it was the matinee game against the Blackhawks. I really hope Wideman and Fehr get back though, as I think we need that secondary scoring.

(I meant to put the Fehr injury on my list)

that's a keeper!

 

[sbb122]

The putrid Power Play.

 

[pixburgher66]

Scoring and the power play. The only positives are that for the most part the playoffs are the type of game the Pens of this season excel at. They're good at low-scoring, shut down type games, and they've shown over the past few weeks they're good a close games. I'm confident in our D, goalie, and PK. I really think the goal is this: get to the second round. If they can make it past whomever we match-up with first than we have a shot at getting Sid back as well as Cooke. Don't undervalue Cooke's importance to our PK and secondary scoring. That and he's not quite as big and idiot in the playoffs (and he'll be on a very short leash, that much is certain). But, as far as worries, we gotta score more. They've shown spurts of brilliance, but until Sid "returns" we lack that gamebreaker.

 

[BOSSMANPC]

that's a keeper!

Yes it is !!!

 

[pixburgher66]

Don't worry men, I'm doing my part to ensure that the next generation of women know and love hockey. Just disregard that my methods often involve "Hey, look, he's cute!"

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

Don't worry men, I'm doing my part to ensure that the next generation of women know and love hockey. Just disregard that my methods often involve "Hey, look, he's cute!"

She played sports in college (rugby, soccer, basketball) and still plays PSL with me now. She is 130 pounds, and can put on the girly show to get a mismatch but then burn you down the middle of the field on a skinny post. I also saw her legit lay out a 200 pound (slightly out of shape) guy in a tackle football game we were playing. I love this girl. She doesn't just know sports, she really KNOWS sports. hell, she and I run perfect stunts and two deep jump coverages in football together, and my ass got recruited :tongue1:!!!

Still.....she is a Flyers/Eagles/Phillies fan.....

 

[dare2be]

She played sports in college (rugby, soccer, basketball) and still plays PSL with me now. She is 130 pounds, and can put on the girly show to get a mismatch but then burn you down the middle of the field on a skinny post. I also saw her legit lay out a 200 pound (slightly out of shape) guy in a tackle football game we were playing. I love this girl. She doesn't just know sports, she really KNOWS sports. hell, she and I run perfect stunts and two deep jump coverages in football together, and my ass got recruited :tongue1:!!!

Still.....she is a Flyers/Eagles/Phillies fan.....

That entire paragraph just got trumped by that last line...

I wouldn't have married my wife if she wasn't a pittsburgh fan AND knows enough about the sports AND participates in watching...

 

[BOSSMANPC]

Don't worry men, I'm doing my part to ensure that the next generation of women know and love hockey. Just disregard that my methods often involve "Hey, look, he's cute!"

No worries pix. You are not a "Puck bunny" your post are always quality good hockey post.