I haven't gotten that far. I have looked ahead to next round, but I haven't even really thought about a potential finals matchup. There are so many games to be played and so much can happen as far as injuries and stuff.
- rival22

Yeah, no doubt - it's easy for me to speculate since I don't have a horse in the race

You guys probably don't want to jinx things by looking ahead, but if you get to the finals, who is the preference : Chicago or LA ? Who do you think the Pens would match up better against ?
- MadCap2008

My pre-season prediction was a Pens-LA finals. I won't say more than that right now, because you are right, no looking ahead.

Yeah, no doubt - it's easy for me to speculate since I don't have a horse in the race
- MadCap2008

As a Caps fan how do you feel about Ovie? Does he have a place in Wash next year or are you eager to see him move on?

As a Caps fan how do you feel about Ovie? Does he have a place in Wash next year or are you eager to see him move on?
- nbartley9

He obviously had a terrible series, didn't produce (when even a small production in Games 3 to 7 would probably have helped them advance) and just doesn't seem to be able to create much 5 on 5 against good defensive teams. He had a great 2nd half of the season (though his stats were heavily PP padded), was hopeful that he had turned things around after a multi-year drop-off in production. I think most would like to see if the 2nd half performance can be replicated with Oates as coach for a full camp/season. The bigger questions are do they bring back Ribeiro, will Kuznetsov arrive at some point next season (i.e. post-Olympics, post-KHL season maybe ?), will they be able to bolster their 4th line and add a Top 6 dman. It's going to be interesting to see how they fare in a real division next season.

As a Caps fan how do you feel about Ovie? Does he have a place in Wash next year or are you eager to see him move on?
- nbartley9

I think OV gets traded to Ottawa. Once there, he & Melnyk form a detective agency which keeps the NHL safe from plots and conspiracies which others don't even believe exist.

I'd watch that show.

I think OV gets traded to Ottawa. Once there, he & Melnyk form a detective agency which keeps the NHL safe from plots and conspiracies which others don't even believe exist.

I'd watch that show.
- s0rcerer1984

Oh, I would absolutely watch that!

Oh, I would absolutely watch that!
- kill.monsters

I'd call it "OV & the Mel."

I think OV gets traded to Ottawa. Once there, he & Melnyk form a detective agency which keeps the NHL safe from plots and conspiracies which others don't even believe exist.

I'd watch that show.
- s0rcerer1984

You mean "The Delusional Duo" I hear the pilot comes out next spring.

I think OV gets traded to Ottawa. Once there, he & Melnyk form a detective agency which keeps the NHL safe from plots and conspiracies which others don't even believe exist.

I'd watch that show.
- s0rcerer1984

Give Ovechkin credit for this : if there WAS a conspiracy, the beneficiary would certainly be the Rangers.

He obviously had a terrible series, didn't produce (when even a small production in Games 3 to 7 would probably have helped them advance) and just doesn't seem to be able to create much 5 on 5 against good defensive teams. He had a great 2nd half of the season (though his stats were heavily PP padded), was hopeful that he had turned things around after a multi-year drop-off in production. I think most would like to see if the 2nd half performance can be replicated with Oates as coach for a full camp/season. The bigger questions are do they bring back Ribeiro, will Kuznetsov arrive at some point next season (i.e. post-Olympics, post-KHL season maybe ?), will they be able to bolster their 4th line and add a Top 6 dman. It's going to be interesting to see how they fare in a real division next season.
- MadCap2008

I think a big internal change the Caps should make, is stripping the C from Ovechkin and giving it to Laich.

I think OV gets traded to Ottawa. Once there, he & Melnyk form a detective agency which keeps the NHL safe from plots and conspiracies which others don't even believe exist.

I'd watch that show.
- s0rcerer1984

I will preface this by saying that Ovechkin looked stupid complaining about officiating after crapping the bed in Game 7, but he at least had evidence to support his claim (i.e. the PP opportunities WERE heavily tilted in the Rangers direction). To lump him in with Melnyks delusional rantings isn't fair.

Someone might have already posted this on here, but after last night's games Tomas Vokoun leads all goalies in both GAA (1.28) and SV% (.962) in the post-season, while Marc-Andre Fleury is 2nd to last in both categories (3.40, .891) only to Evgeni Nabokov. Vokoun deserves to continue starting until he has two consecutive bad games.

I think a big internal change the Caps should make, is stripping the C from Ovechkin and giving it to Laich.
- cap1681

I think Ovechkin haters would love to see this for the humiliation factor, but it isn't practical to strip him of the C (Laich/Brouwer, etc, can be leaders in the room without having the C). If you were inclined to do this, he should just be traded.

Give Ovechkin credit for this : if there WAS a conspiracy, the beneficiary would certainly be the Rangers.
- MadCap2008

Haha. Good point.

Truthfully, i think the guy gets a raw deal at times by the media; Way more vitriol than he often deserves. That being said, if he ever wants to win a Cup, he needs to learn to be dominant in all three zones, not just the O-zone. He wears a 'C' on his uniform; back-checking, blocking shots, etc... is something he needs to approach with the same zeal he does for scoring goals. He can't just be OK at it; he's 'The Guy' in Wash. and he needs to be great at it.

Someone might have already posted this on here, but after last night's games Tomas Vokoun leads all goalies in both GAA (1.28) and SV% (.962) in the post-season, while Marc-Andre Fleury is 2nd to last in both categories (3.40, .891) only to Evgeni Nabokov. Vokoun deserves to continue starting until he has two consecutive bad games.
- kill.monsters

It seems like a no-brainer that he will start until he has a really bad game, right ?

I think Ovechkin haters would love to see this for the humiliation factor, but it isn't practical to strip him of the C (Laich/Brouwer, etc, can be leaders in the room without having the C). If you were inclined to do this, he should just be traded.
- MadCap2008

I agree. Can't do it. Once he has it, you can't rip it off his chest without causing a major issue.

I've always thought one of the Penguins biggest mistakes was giving Jagr the 'C' back in the day. He was a great scorer, but he wasn't a leader. I view OV the same way; Best offensive player on the team, but not the best leader. Laich or Rebiero would be a better choice.

I think Ovechkin haters would love to see this for the humiliation factor, but it isn't practical to strip him of the C (Laich/Brouwer, etc, can be leaders in the room without having the C). If you were inclined to do this, he should just be traded.
- MadCap2008

Not going for the humiliation factor, it just seems like ever since he's been named captain, his play has dropped off, until this year. I think if he isn't wearing the C, he is more focused on just playing hockey. Plus, i don't think it's a coincidence that the Caps starting winning when Laich came back from injury.

Haha. Good point.

Truthfully, i think the guy gets a raw deal at times by the media; Way more vitriol than he often deserves. That being said, if he ever wants to win a Cup, he needs to learn to be dominant in all three zones, not just the O-zone. He wears a 'C' on his uniform; back-checking, blocking shots, etc... is something he needs to approach with the same zeal he does for scoring goals. He can't just be OK at it; he's 'The Guy' in Wash. and he needs to be great at it.
- s0rcerer1984

I would be happy if he could just get back to being dominant offensively 5 on 5. If he became dominant in all three zones that would be fantastic, but he at least needs to be dominant in the offensive zone.

I will preface this by saying that Ovechkin looked stupid complaining about officiating after crapping the bed in Game 7, but he at least had evidence to support his claim (i.e. the PP opportunities WERE heavily tilted in the Rangers direction). To lump him in with Melnyks delusional rantings isn't fair.
- MadCap2008

I don't know how anyone can watch those games and not at least understand where he's coming from.

I don't know how anyone can watch those games and not at least understand where he's coming from.
- canadianpenfan

Luckily for most teams, the rangers cant score even when given a 5 on 3

It seems like a no-brainer that he will start until he has a really bad game, right ?
- MadCap2008

I sure hope so. Even last night there were people on here saying they hope Fleury gets another chance soon, and that "Vokoun is on a short leash," but I think it's time to move past that. Vokoun currently has better stats than Quick, and people are already talking about how incredible Quick has been and saying that he looks like he's ready to lead the Kings to another Cup. I want to be clear that I do NOT think that Vokoun is as good as Quick, but when you have the goalie with the best stats of all goalies still in the playoffs and the goalie with the worst stats of all goalies still in the playoffs you start the one with the best stats until they dip drastically. Vokoun is the starter right now, and should be unless we lose two close games because of his play.

I would be happy if he could just get back to being dominant offensively 5 on 5. If he became dominant in all three zones that would be fantastic, but he at least needs to be dominant in the offensive zone.
- MadCap2008

He led the NHL w/ 32G/56pts in 48Gms. Don't care how he is doing it, the guy is doing his job in the O-zone.

I think what killed him against the NYR is that the Rangers excelled at keeping him out of the O-zone for long stretches. Once his line got hemmed into their own zone, they don't seem to be able to breakout & push the play back into the O-zone quickly. I see the same thing with Malkin a lot. If he and Neal are forced back into the Pens D-zone, they never make it back to the O-zone except to dump it in after a long, defensive shift. On the other hand, Crosby/Dupuis seem to excel at getting possession in the D-zone quickly & then sustaining pressure in the O-zone a bit before needing a change. If OV was more dominant in the D-zone at backchecking, I think he'd end up with significantly the more O-zone time.

I don't know how anyone can watch those games and not at least understand where he's coming from.
- canadianpenfan

You may want to pull Bartley out of the Sens board.

It seems like a no-brainer that he will start until he has a really bad game, right ?
- MadCap2008

Did you see the quotes out of the Caps today?

Greg Wyshynski ‏@wyshynski
Asked about Caps adding more winners to room. Alzner said it could help. Oates called it cliche.

Greg Wyshynski ‏@wyshynski
McPhee not disappointed with way team played in Game 7. Said Rangers.got a break on Asham goal, changed momentum

Obviously context could shape them a little different, but it really doesn't strike me that McPhee or Oates want to change much. Gotta be frustrating for fans.

Did you see the quotes out of the Caps today?

Greg Wyshynski ‏@wyshynski
Asked about Caps adding more winners to room. Alzner said it could help. Oates called it cliche.

Greg Wyshynski ‏@wyshynski
McPhee not disappointed with way team played in Game 7. Said Rangers.got a break on Asham goal, changed momentum

Obviously context could shape them a little different, but it really doesn't strike me that McPhee or Oates want to change much. Gotta be frustrating for fans.
- rival22

I sympathize with McPhee & Oates, but what can they do? Boudreau and Hunter got shipped out of town for not keeping OV happy. I doubt they would be any different. And if you can't call out your Captain/Star player(s) for having a weak series, who do you call out? Its a team culture issue and it starts with the owner, Leonis.