Series Thread: First Round - Washington Capitals vs. New York Islanders

[naslundfan19]

I was never that impressed. He's a "good enough" NHL HC, but not a guy you think will win championships.

Unfortunately, this is a messed-up year, so he'll get a pass. The Caps are still a playoff-caliber team, losing only Holtby really. My prediction is that Leonsis doesn't make a change for one more season.

Yeah, the weirdness of this season probably saves him. And if Samsonov is seriously hurt, Holtby might be back anyway.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

The Caps may still make the playoffs but they’ve aged out of being able to do anything once there, apparently. 4 wins the last two years.

 

[Mofo]

Yeah, the weirdness of this season probably saves him. And if Samsonov is seriously hurt, Holtby might be back anyway.

Nah, there’s no money to do it. You can only sign so many Dillons and Paniks to fill out a roster. The Caps have Ovechkin’s final contract looming after next season and Holtby’s going to earn a big deal elsewhere. I wish him luck, wherever he goes, so long as it’s not the Pens.

 

[elocomotive]

The Caps may still make the playoffs but they’ve aged out of being able to do anything once there, apparently. 4 wins the last two years.

Just like Carlson was too old going in to this year, right? And Ovechkin has obviously hit a wall, only tied for the league goal lead.

Nobody on this board spews more incorrect predictions and analysis than BBB.

 

[mattola]

Islanders in 7

Isles in 7, in the 4th OT.


#teamNoNeck

Despite that guy John Carlson peaking a couple years ago.


Isles in 6.

Winners

 

[elocomotive]

By the way, props to the Isles. But having to beat the Pens and Caps in a series just to make it to the second round is a bad beat.

Barry Trotz may be the best coach of the 21st century.

 

[dash]

Barry Trotz may be the best coach of the 21st century.

Teddy KGB knew...

 

[esls79]

By the way, props to the Isles. But having to beat the Pens and Caps in a series just to make it to the second round is a bad beat.

Barry Trotz may be the best coach of the 21st century.

Randy Carlyle >= Barry Trotz

 

[forty_three]

Fair thee well, Holtby. We'll always remember The Save. Thanks for everything!

Serious question; what do you think the Caps' plan is if Samsonov is really hurt? I mean, I know his agent has said he should be ready by next season, but they also said back and neck injuries.

Surely they aren't going to rest it all on Pheonix Copley's shoulders, are they?

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Serious question; what do you think the Caps' plan is if Samsonov is really hurt? I mean, I know his agent has said he should be ready by next season, but they also said back and neck injuries.

Surely they aren't going to rest it all on Pheonix Copley's shoulders, are they?

I honestly think the NHL is at least six months from playing regular season hockey again. The US isn't going to be in a position to allow fans in the building by December, players will not want to bubble again and I don't think the league itself can keep operating without fan revenue.

So he should have plenty of time to get healthy.

 

[puckhead]

 

[forty_three]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
*gasp*
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA




I can't wait for them to hire Babs and him put Ovi on the 4th line 2PP unit.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
*gasp*
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA




I can't wait for them to hire Babs and him put Ovi on the 4th line 2PP unit.

“Mike Babcock is clearly not happy with Backstrom’s play tonight as he’s only logged 8 minutes in the first two periods.”

 

[Mofo]

I fully support this. Reirden was never a transformative coach that instilled confidence. In the Leonsis era, the three best coaches are Jim Schoenfeld, Barry Trotz and probably Dale Hunter edges out Bruce Boudreau.

Trotz beat Washington despite a massive mismatch in talent. It speaks to his qualities as a good coach as much as Reirden's qualities as a not-good one.

 

[elocomotive]

Like the move in DC dumping Reirden. You just can't trust a guy so little hair.

I'll be pulling for Laviolette. Think he might be the right guy/right attitude. And he's taken every team he's coached to a Stanley Cup final. I'm all for seeing if he can squeeze one more deep run from this gang in the next couple seasons. That's about what we have left before it's time to break up the band.