GNT | Caps @ Pens | Battle in the Burgh | 2.7.13

[pixburgher66]

Very true, that is a questionable defensive core, but the Caps offense has been fading for a while. They were 1st in Goals per Game in 2009-2010, 19th in 2010-2011, 14th in 2011-2012, and now 23rd this year.

It's truly astonishing how a team with so much firepower is in 23rd place. I suppose a lot of that is because of the "system". The Caps are one team that really, really, really needed a full training camp.

 

[dare2be]

I was going to say that the offensive downfall seemed to coincide with the departure of Boudreau, but it started way before that. Maybe he wasn't part of the problem after all.

I think the problem lies more in the defense. While their offensive production dropped off from 2009-10 to 2010-11, from 1st to 19th, their defensive rank went from 16th to 4th. Then next year while their offensive numbers remained relatively the same, their defensive numbers dropped back to 2009 levels.

________ GPG GAG
2009-10: 3.82 2.77
2010-11: 2.67 2.33
2011-12: 2.66 2.76
2012-13: 2.27 3.73

This year, it's just bad on both sides.

 

[element1286]

Yea, they had that philosophy change after 09-10, which seems to have been disastrous. They might not have had all the pieces in 09-10, but they at least had an identity.

 

[Darkstone42]

I really think they just need to be more aggressive in the offensive zone. Look at what they've done in each of the last two third periods against the Penguins. They came out desperate and put pressure on the Penguins' defense. They carried play. They scored goals.

But they lost those games because they didn't do that all game. They played cautious.

OV in particular needs to be cut loose.

 

[dare2be]

I really think they just need to be more aggressive in the offensive zone. Look at what they've done in each of the last two third periods against the Penguins. They came out desperate and put pressure on the Penguins' defense. They carried play. They scored goals.

But they lost those games because they didn't do that all game. They played cautious.

Same could be said about the Pens in those 3rd periods...they had a comfortable lead and took their foot off the intensity pedal. I'd say it's a combination of both.

OV in particular needs to be cut loose.

To which team?

 

[element1286]

I really think they just need to be more aggressive in the offensive zone. Look at what they've done in each of the last two third periods against the Penguins. They came out desperate and put pressure on the Penguins' defense. They carried play. They scored goals.

But they lost those games because they didn't do that all game. They played cautious.

OV in particular needs to be cut loose.

That might be true, but I would question whether they still have the talent to do so.