Series Thread: TkSecond Round: Pittsburgh Penguins v. Washington Capitals

[skinzfan]

typical series with Caps/Pens. Caps will get up 3-1 then lose three straight.

 

[Dacks]

I wrote a whole post about that many pages ago. And I don't really disagree with you all even if I see the hit slightly differently. He's gonna get a game or two and it will be earned.

I think the difference is the assumption of intent that imports to how you view the resulting circumstances. Example - I've heard that "he was going to hit Dumoulin from behind" a few times. But he could have, and he literally didn't. He actually came wide to come alongside for the shoulder.

I like Tommy. But he's too reckless. You all see a "headhunter." I see a big hitter that isn't being as responsible as he needs to be. That inference of intent colo(u)rs how we view the result. You want call him a piece of shit, go for it. I could care less. We both agree he needs a timeout.

So you care! Maybe even a lot!

I've been mad at OV hits before. Same with Orpik. But those guys are generally just big hitters whose hits sometimes go wrong.

Wilson, on the other hand, sends to be going for a borderline hit every time. It really looks like he's trying to unjure - not just hit - when he lines someone up. He knows not to make it too blatant, but also that the NHL is pretty forgiving on borderline hits. I still remember his "accidental" knee on Sheary last year, and him laughing at ZARs injury is not a good look at all.

 

[Dacks]

Also, this is going exactly to script. Every series between these teams in the OV / Sid / Geno has featured a controversial hit that injured a Pen. Gonch, Maatta, Sid, and now ZAR. I guess when Dumo didn't miss any time, Wilson figured he had to hit someone else.

 

[forty_three]

Looking around hockey message boards and one thing is clear. There seems to be a lack of clarity between "initial point of contact" and "Principal point of contact". Probably at the league level as well.

He may have hit shoulder first, but that wasn't what he was aiming for.

 

[Markwassillylaugher]

what is wrong with Kris Letang??? he has been just simply aweful since coming back. Sorry Penguin fans but the Caps will be moving on in 6! I hate to say it but Kessel, and hornquist have been no shows.

 

[elocomotive]

Wilson, on the other hand, sends to be going for a borderline hit every time. It really looks like he's trying to unjure - not just hit - when he lines someone up. He knows not to make it too blatant, but also that the NHL is pretty forgiving on borderline hits. I still remember his "accidental" knee on Sheary last year, and him laughing at ZARs injury is not a good look at all.

Yeah. He had matured so much this season and we had seen more discipline from him during the season. His big hits had turned into better forechecking and backing off a hard check at times to make a better defensive play. But clearly he's reverting to old ways and now he's gonna be the one receiving the discipline.

 

[elocomotive]

what is wrong with Kris Letang??? he has been just simply aweful since coming back. Sorry Penguin fans but the Caps will be moving on in 6! I hate to say it but Kessel, and hornquist have been no shows.

Hornqvist has 9 points in 7 games. I wouldn't exactly call that a "no show."

 

[elocomotive]

Me going to work this morning...

And the thought in the back of my mind for next week...

Still though. Keep the faith. Keep... the... faith.

 

[dare2be]

Pens don't have the mojo this year. Relax, Caps take this in 5 like I've been saying.

 

[Duke of Douchington]

Hearing today.

Postgame injury = suspension time.

Time to punish the outcome, not the incident.

 

[elocomotive]

Pens don't have the mojo this year. Relax, Caps take this in 5 like I've been saying.

I'm feeling good. Did before the series started - Caps are just stronger down the middle and on defense. But you never know in hockey and that Pens bunch is a dangerous one. At some point the second and third lines will contribute in this series for the Pens.

Caps are a bad 5-minute stretch in game 1 away from having won 7 in a row. I like the focus of this team right now. They fought hard last night.

And Mojo has never been on the Pens, Dare. He plays for the Devils.

 

[Duke of Douchington]

If this team makes it past the second round with the ragamuffin group of DSP, Stephenson and Djoos and company, when Shittenkirk, Alzner, Schmidt, Mojo, Williams couldn't do it...the fuck.

 

[Dacks]

I'm feeling good. Did before the series started - Caps are just stronger down the middle and on defense. But you never know in hockey and that Pens bunch is a dangerous one. At some point the second and third lines will contribute in this series for the Pens.

Caps are a bad 5-minute stretch in game 1 away from having won 7 in a row. I like the focus of this team right now. They fought hard last night.

And Mojo has never been on the Pens, Dare. He plays for the Devils.

Caps have a lot going for them right now. Holtby is playing well. And they are doing a very good job of exploringe the Pens D for odd man rushes. Pens play a high risk high reward game, but if you anticipate their pinches, and have the skill to make a quick play, you'll get an odd man rush. Doesn't help when Letang is making the wrong choice most of the time.

That said, these teams are so even, it seems like whoever gets the breaks, wins. Pens got a few pinpoint deflections in game 1. Caps have had the breaks otherwise, imo - the 3rd goal looked to be going wide before hitting Murray, for example. Those types of plays might decide the series - I don't see either team having an easy game.

 

[Ewa PGH Fan]

Looking around hockey message boards and one thing is clear. There seems to be a lack of clarity between "initial point of contact" and "Principal point of contact". Probably at the league level as well.

He may have hit shoulder first, but that wasn't what he was aiming for.

Agree! ZAR tried to take the hit on his shoulder to protect himself but the hit was aimed higher.

 

[forty_three]

If this team makes it past the second round with the ragamuffin group of DSP, Stephenson and Djoos and company, when Shittenkirk, Alzner, Schmidt, Mojo, Williams couldn't do it...the fuck.

As a fan of a team that plays the Caps often. I would take DSP and Stephenson in a heartbeat. Very underrated the both of them. And they want it.

 

[Dacks]

What the hell is the world coming to when I'm reading Daniel Carcillo's tweets and nodding my head in agreement.

 

[elocomotive]

Tom Wilson will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety today.

 

[Dacks]

Reading the comments, in general, I think you can break down fan opinion into one of two general categories.

1) Hockey is fast, and people are going to get hurt. Unless you are outright targeting the head, injuries are just unfortunate collateral damage.
2) Head injuries are too serious to ignore; players should take more responsibility for hits that result in head contact, regardless of intent.

I'm much more in the latter camp. I see both perspectives, but having seen the impact of concussions first hand, I find the first stance pretty irresponsible.

 

[elocomotive]

What the hell is the world coming to when I'm reading Daniel Carcillo's tweets and nodding my head in agreement.

Comments are hilarious. Clean hit... Dirty hit... Hit to the shoulder... Hit to the face... Frozen screen cap where hit looks fine.... Frozen screen cap where hit looks dirty... I hope they all murder each other (Flyers fan)... Back and forth.

It is interesting that more comments lean towards clean than dirty given our conversation has leaned more dirty than clean.

 

[Darkstone42]

Reading the comments, in general, I think you can break down fan opinion into one of two general categories.

1) Hockey is fast, and people are going to get hurt. Unless you are outright targeting the head, injuries are just unfortunate collateral damage.
2) Head injuries are too serious to ignore; players should take more responsibility for hits that result in head contact, regardless of intent.

I'm much more in the latter camp. I see both perspectives, but having seen the impact of concussions first hand, I find the first stance pretty irresponsible.

Having experienced the impacts of concussions first hand, I'm also in the latter camp.