I yelled that's a hit from behind as soon as it happened, it's BS
- HankdaTank

It really was. It's tough to call a penalty that late but the aftershock of the goal makes it a million times worse

I don't know Jan, I'm not one to be all rainbows & unicorns about the Rangers but I didnt think it was a badly played game. Last shift there were a couple mistakes but overall I thought they played decently.
- mdw7413

Other than some bad turnovers by the Rangers and some breakdowns, the Caps really didn't generate much at all. Rangers just need to break out of this scoring drought they are in

Was anyone else not impressed by the Caps' physical play though?

I don't know Jan, I'm not one to be all rainbows & unicorns about the Rangers but I didnt think it was a badly played game. Last shift there were a couple mistakes but overall I thought they played decently.
- mdw7413

I think people just need to get used to the fact that post-season hockey is uglier, tougher hockey and the Rangers aren't going to be flying through the neutral zone at a 1,000 miles per hour like they did in the regular season.

It's going to be tough. And it's going to be a grind. Arguably the best player in the world did the Rangers in tonight.

That hit is irrelevant. We sound like Pens fans whining about that.
- rangerdanger94

Agreed

I thought the Rangers had a mini meltdown at the end of the 1st and a meltdown on the last shift. The big story is this team not finishing with all that pressure early in the game. Holtby made a big save late on a rush not long before the goal was scored too.
- Blueshirts4ever

Nash is teetering on the edge right now with the fan base. He better start scoring or he will be eaten alive by game 3-4

I thought the Rangers had a mini meltdown at the end of the 1st and a meltdown on the last shift. The big story is this team not finishing with all that pressure early in the game. Holtby made a big save late on a rush not long before the goal was scored too.
- Blueshirts4ever

Yup, going to have some breakdowns throughout the game. People forget we are playing a good team with the best goal scorer in the NHL and one of the best centers.

Completely agree Sil, finishing was the issue, overall game was pretty good.

I think people just need to get used to the fact that post-season hockey is uglier, tougher hockey and the Rangers aren't going to be flying through the neutral zone at a 1,000 miles per hour like they did in the regular season.

It's going to be tough. And it's going to be a grind. Arguably the best player in the world did the Rangers in tonight.
- Pete V

What else does Ovechkin have to do to gain people's respect? This dude might be the best pure goal scorer of all time let alone just in the game today and people poop on him for "coasting" sometimes.

I think people just need to get used to the fact that post-season hockey is uglier, tougher hockey and the Rangers aren't going to be flying through the neutral zone at a 1,000 miles per hour like they did in the regular season.

It's going to be tough. And it's going to be a grind. Arguably the best player in the world did the Rangers in tonight.
- Pete V

People might not agree with me, but this loss could be the wake up call they need

Was anyone else not impressed by the Caps' physical play though?
- rangerdanger94

Theres usually that feeling out stage in game 1 so I kind of expected a lighter hitting game. I sure noticed and impressed with Ovechkin tho, and he's much more intimating then 15 Tom Wilsons out there

Nash is teetering on the edge right now with the fan base. He better start scoring or he will be eaten alive by game 3-4
- TPC

I already hate him. And it takes a lot for me get that way

I don't know Jan, I'm not one to be all rainbows & unicorns about the Rangers but I didnt think it was a badly played game. Last shift there were a couple mistakes but overall I thought they played decently.
- mdw7413

Two bad turnovers by Miller. PP invisible. Nash-Brassard-MSL did basically nothing. Stepan and Kreider were okay. Hagelin-Hayes-Fast the best line by far. Fourth line was non-descript. Pockets of pressure but nothing consistent, other than the stretch late in the first and when pushing for the tying goal.

Klein moved to play with Staal, as he and Yandle were struggling to together. Boyle got caught on first goal and has to keep Ovi wider but also was key on keeping puck in for the Rangers goal. He was crushed from behind on second, but has to play it or moved more to corner and the rest of the Stepan line as well as McD all made misplays on the ice in that sequence. Hank was good not outstanding but very good. Not enough pressure on Holtby, as he had a relatively easy game.

nash taking long shots from bad angles with no traffic in front is not going to cut it. i know everybody likes to get the puck to the net, but weak wrist shots from outside the face off circles which the goalie can see aren't going in. he's going to be public enemy #1 in the playoffs if he keeps this up.

Theres usually that feeling out stage in game 1 so I kind of expected a lighter hitting game. I sure noticed and impressed with Ovechkin tho, and he's much more intimating then 15 Tom Wilsons out there
- Slimtj100

Everytime he gets the puck in the offensive zone I feel a little sick in my stomach. haha

Two bad turnovers by Miller. PP invisible. Nash-Brassard-MSL did basically nothing. Stepan and Kreider were okay. Hagelin-Hayes-Fast the best line by far. Fourth line was non-descript. Klein moved to play with Staal, as he and Yandle were struggling to together. Boyle got caught on first goal and has to keep Ovi wider but also was key on keeping puck in for the Rangers goal. He was crushed from behind on second, but has to play it or moved more to corner and the rest of the Stepan line as well as McD all made misplays on the ice in that sequence. Hank was good not outstanding but very good. Not enough pressure on Holtby, as he had a relatively easy game.
- airjan23

The loss of Zucc will be bigger then we originally thought. MSL really needs to step up

The loss of Zucc will be bigger then we originally thought. MSL really needs to step up
- TPC

Loss of Zucc was huge in this game. Major impact throughout lineup.

Two bad turnovers by Miller. PP invisible. Nash-Brassard-MSL did basically nothing. Stepan and Kreider were okay. Hagelin-Hayes-Fast the best line by far. Fourth line was non-descript. Klein moved to play with Staal, as he and Yandle were struggling to together. Boyle got caught on first goal and has to keep Ovi wider but also was key on keeping puck in for the Rangers goal. He was crushed from behind on second, but has to play it or moved more to corner and the rest of the Stepan line as well as McD all made misplays on the ice in that sequence. Hank was good not outstanding but very good. Not enough pressure on Holtby, as he had a relatively easy game.
- airjan23

I thought AV did a terrible job tonight, badly out coached. He didn't get the matchups of G and Mac out there enough on Ovi

Two bad turnovers by Miller. PP invisible. Nash-Brassard-MSL did basically nothing. Stepan and Kreider were okay. Hagelin-Hayes-Fast the best line by far. Fourth line was non-descript. Klein moved to play with Staal, as he and Yandle were struggling to together. Boyle got caught on first goal and has to keep Ovi wider but also was key on keeping puck in for the Rangers goal. He was crushed from behind on second, but has to play it or moved more to corner and the rest of the Stepan line as well as McD all made misplays on the ice in that sequence. Hank was good not outstanding but very good. Not enough pressure on Holtby, as he had a relatively easy game.
- airjan23

People are ready to fire AV when he wouldn't play Miller regularly early on this season. Now he plays him and they poop on Miller for his rookie mistakes.

PP wasn't bad to the extent I'd say it was invisible. But no production as always is a big issue.

Nash-Brass-MSL left a lot to be desired, agreed. Nash showed a little willingness to get to the front of the net but far from what we need from him.

Boyle...I can't fault him for either goals.

At the end of the day, this was a game where a bounce was going to decide the winner. And the Caps got the bounce. poop happens move on.

Loss of Zucc was huge in this game. Major impact throughout lineup.
- airjan23

A lot of time Zucc is the one that makes things happen when the energy level is on the low side. They will miss him, but, suck it up. They have to find a way to make up for it. Put the big boy pants on for Saturday.

A lot of time Zucc is the one that makes things happen when the energy level is on the low side. They will miss him, but, suck it up. They have to find a way to make up for it. Put the big boy pants on for Saturday.
- Blueshirts4ever

Based on the anger they showed at the end tonight, I could them winning 5-1, 4-0 kinda win on saturday. They really didn't play terrible overall tonight, just an extremely frustrating difficult loss

Was anyone else not impressed by the Caps' physical play though?
- rangerdanger94

They are nothing special, we handled them in the regular season and their core is the same one we beat the last two times out, I'm not worried, every jack arse is making them out to be the Broad St Bullies, give me a break

Two bad turnovers by Miller. PP invisible. Nash-Brassard-MSL did basically nothing. Stepan and Kreider were okay. Hagelin-Hayes-Fast the best line by far. Fourth line was non-descript. Pockets of pressure but nothing consistent, other than the stretch late in the first and when pushing for the tying goal.

Klein moved to play with Staal, as he and Yandle were struggling to together. Boyle got caught on first goal and has to keep Ovi wider but also was key on keeping puck in for the Rangers goal. He was crushed from behind on second, but has to play it or moved more to corner and the rest of the Stepan line as well as McD all made misplays on the ice in that sequence. Hank was good not outstanding but very good. Not enough pressure on Holtby, as he had a relatively easy game.
- airjan23

Jan I love ya as a blogger, and I agree there were mistakes throughout the game, I think your being a little overly critical after a tough loss though. You make valid points, and I'm not disagreeing with the points you brought up, but those same points could be brought up in a win. I just think it was a close game and we came out on the short end of the stick on this one.

Loss of Zucc was huge in this game. Major impact throughout lineup.
- airjan23

Extremely glad he is locked up. He is a catalyst. Just hoping he feels ok if we make it past this round. We need him.

I thought AV did a terrible job tonight, badly out coached. He didn't get the matchups of G and Mac out there enough on Ovi
- Slimtj100

Had Boyle out there in two situations he had no business being a part of, that's on AV

Jan I love ya as a blogger, and I agree there were mistakes throughout the game, I think your being a little overly critical after a tough loss though. You make valid points, and I'm not disagreeing with the points you brought up, but those same points could be brought up in a win. I just think it was a close game and we came out on the short end of the stick on this one.
- mdw7413

If we are gonna lose a heartbreaker, do it in game 1