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 miss Ash.

Luckily for most teams, the rangers cant score even when given a 5 on 3
- mighty13duck

That PP is really bad.

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.
- s0rcerer1984

Solid points, can't argue with this.

That PP is really bad.
- canadianpenfan

One PP they look like pee wees and the next, like allstars. Never know with the rangers.

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.
- s0rcerer1984

A LOT of this falls on McPhee, but if he is totally handcuffed by Leonsis, then yeah... they've got bigger problems.

One PP they look like pee wees and the next, like allstars. Never know with the rangers.
- bixll

I haven't seen the one where they look like all stars.

I haven't seen the one where they look like all stars.
- canadianpenfan

Through the year. I have not watched them yet in the playoffs.

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.
- s0rcerer1984

No sympathy for McPhee, the guy has been here for 16 years and the team has won 3 series since his 1st year (when they had an improbable run to the Finals). 3 series wins in 15 seasons - those stats don't typically equate to long-term job security (and he oversaw teams which sucked long before anyone had heard of Ovechkin). Boudreau was shipped out because he had lost the team - he tried to change the style, it didn't work and he had to go (I like Boudreau, but Anaheim's playoff performance was pretty reminiscent of the Caps under him, wasn' it ?). Hunter left on his own, and few were sad to see him go.

I am hopeful about Oates.

I haven't seen the one where they look like all stars.
- canadianpenfan

Either the Caps PK suddenly became amazing or the Rangers PP is awful. I'm thinking it's the latter.

They really are like a machine at times - no panic, seem like they know they are going to get the goal when they need it, Quick will make the big save when they need it, etc. I think Chicago/Pittsburgh would be more fun to watch, but the more I see of the Kings the more I think they are going to get to the finals again.
- MadCap2008

Sure a wide open Pittsburgh v. Chicago match-up would be appealing for several reasons. It would be a better watch than Pittsburgh v. LA. Regardless, both the Kings and Chicago would present problems for Pittsburgh, if it advances that far - albeit different problems. I just think Pittsburgh might matchup a little better with Chicago. There is something about the Kings that I don't want a part of. Now, if we play Detroit or San Jose, I'd like that better.

Either the Caps PK suddenly became amazing or the Rangers PP is awful. I'm thinking it's the latter.
- MadCap2008

Rangers PP hasn't been that great all year.

No sympathy for McPhee, the guy has been here for 16 years and the team has won 3 series since his 1st year (when they had an improbable run to the Finals). 3 series wins in 15 seasons - those stats don't typically equate to long-term job security (and he oversaw teams which sucked long before anyone had heard of Ovechkin). Boudreau was shipped out because he had lost the team - he tried to change the style, it didn't work and he had to go (I like Boudreau, but Anaheim's playoff performance was pretty reminiscent of the Caps under him, wasn' it ?). Hunter left on his own, and few were sad to see him go.

I am hopeful about Oates.
- MadCap2008

Even while Oates played,(I hated him) I always thought of the guy being good behind the bench. Which I don't normally like ex-player coaches, I think if there is anyone that can put Ovie's head in the right place its Oates. He had him going very good the second half this year. He was blocking shots and everything, I was amazed. Then the playoffs came along..

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

This does piss me off. The Caps essentially quit after the Rangers scored the 2nd goal. The Asham goal DID change momentum, but it made it 1-0 at the time against a team in the Rangers who have a lot of trouble putting the puck in the net.

Sure a wide open Pittsburgh v. Chicago match-up would be appealing for several reasons. It would be a better watch than Pittsburgh v. LA. Regardless, both the Kings and Chicago would present problems for Pittsburgh, if it advances that far - albeit different problems. I just think Pittsburgh might matchup a little better with Chicago. There is something about the Kings that I don't want a part of. Now, if we play Detroit or San Jose, I'd like that better.
- Oneonta Penguin

I hear you on San Jose/Detroit, I think the Pens would handle either pretty easily. It's tough to see either advancing past this round, though.

Even while Oates played,(I hated him) I always thought of the guy being good behind the bench. Which I don't normally like ex-player coaches, I think if there is anyone that can put Ovie's head in the right place its Oates. He had him going very good the second half this year. He was blocking shots and everything, I was amazed. Then the playoffs came along..
- nbartley9

Oates was an amazing player and he is turning into a very good coach. What he did with Washington after that start is pretty impressive. As for the play-offs, that series was one that could have gone either way and that was before game one.

PK unit did exactly what you want, try and strand a guy boxed into a small area on the perimeter. Crosby being the x factor he is still makes the play. That has to be deflating.
- Gunner Staal

As someone who also prided myself on defense first I am impressed by what the PP is able to execute. And as someone who played the PK if it was us and not the goalie it was tough to take. In the playoffs where everything is magnified, special teams play means more too. Guys are obtained JUST for that purpose. To fail can't help but be personal. Believe me when I say Ottawa wil try to check us into the parking lot next game.

Oates was an amazing player and he is turning into a very good coach. What he did with Washington after that start is pretty impressive. As for the play-offs, that series was one that could have gone either way and that was before game one.
- Oneonta Penguin

they need better defensive personal and effort.

they need better defensive personal and effort.
- powerhouse

I won't disagree with you on that

I hear you on San Jose/Detroit, I think the Pens would handle either pretty easily. It's tough to see either advancing past this round, though.
- MadCap2008

Wow do I miss Lidstrom.

Question for anyone who understands the realignment/playoff format for next season - is this accurate ?

The top three teams in each division will make up the first 12 teams in the playoffs. The remaining four spots will be filled by the next two highest-placed finishers in each conference, based on regular-season points and regardless of division. It will be possible, then, for one division to send five teams to the postseason while the other sends three.
The seeding of the wild-card teams within each divisional playoff will be determined on the basis of regular-season points. The division winner with the most points in the conference will be matched against the wild-card team with the lowest number of points; the division winner with the second-most points in the conference will play the wild-card team with the second fewest points.

The teams finishing second and third in each division will play in the first round of the playoffs. The winners of each series will play for berths in the Conference Championship series.

The two divisional champions in each conference will then play in the conference finals to advance to the Stanley Cup Final.

I hear you on San Jose/Detroit, I think the Pens would handle either pretty easily. It's tough to see either advancing past this round, though.
- MadCap2008

I have counted out Detroit for most of the year, but yet, they continue to surprise me. No, they shouldn't beat Chicago. That said, Zetterberg, Datsuyk and Kronwell - Howard have done very well.

I have counted out Detroit for most of the year, but yet, they continue to surprise me. No, they shouldn't beat Chicago. That said, Zetterberg, Datsuyk and Kronwell - Howard have done very well.
- Oneonta Penguin

I'm not sure if it will be a long series (I tend to think it won't), but I think that they will be close games. Hawks might win it in 5, but it will be a bunch of 3-2 games I think.