Sam Hitchcock: Capitals Profit from Lightning's Sloppiness

Your first game against the Bruins was pretty much the same....but then you woke up!

There was no urgency to the forecheck like we saw in the New Jersey and Boston series. When the Lightning are relentless on the forecheck, they win games. Washington was winning the lion's share of the puck battles and Holtby is no slouch. Hopefully the Bolts respond the same way they did against Boston and Vasi needs to be the best Russian on the ice.

Just the start we needed ...

I like Cooper putting Point on the first powerplay unit over Killorn, he deserves to be there.

We're getting lucky with these penalty calls. Either way, gotta make sure you capitalize on them.

We're getting lucky with these penalty calls. Either way, gotta make sure you capitalize on them.
- jvar17

Lucky? I’ll say.
Refs are atrocious.

Lucky? I’ll say.
Refs are atrocious.
- Iggysbff

Yeah, it's been poor all post season. I just wish there was some consistency.

lol.

Awful pass by Miller.

Sorry Lightning. The Bolts are taking this Caps team lightly and they are for real.

The Lightning need to stop with the bullpoop and pick it up in the third period. Need to score even strength goals, or else it's going to be a short series, (frank).

The Lightning need to stop with the bullpoop and pick it up in the third period. Need to score even strength goals, or else it's going to be a short series, (frank).
- jvar17

It's going to be a short series. Everyone takes this Caps team lightly and they are good. They play a structured game.

It's going to be a short series. Everyone takes this Caps team lightly and they are good. They play a structured game.
- PittsPens

That definitely seems to be the case. The Lightning played great team defense against the Bruins last series, but they haven't carried it over to this one. The Lightning haven't showed up this series, and the Caps sure as hell have, and are deservedly up 2-0.

Cooper's going to have to make adjustments, whether it's new lines or a breakout that can get through the Capitals defense. We aren't generating enough scoring chances, and the chances we do get are gobbled up by Holtby. Next game is a must win, I'm just hoping it's not as disappointing as this game. The last second/minute goals at the end of the period are infuriating.

That definitely seems to be the case. The Lightning played great team defense against the Bruins last series, but they haven't carried it over to this one. The Lightning haven't showed up this series, and the Caps sure as hell have, and are deservedly up 2-0.

Cooper's going to have to make adjustments, whether it's new lines or a breakout that can get through the Capitals defense. We aren't generating enough scoring chances, and the chances we do get are gobbled up by Holtby. Next game is a must win, I'm just hoping it's not as disappointing as this game. The last second/minute goals at the end of the period are infuriating.
- jvar17

Not playing D, no hitting, a mess in the neutral zone, goalie giving up softies. The goals in both games at the end of periods have been devastating to the team. It will for sure be a short series if they continue to play like they have. Caps have dominated them.

Conspiracy theory: Putin has put the memo out to the Lightning's Russian players that he wants Ovechkin in the NHL Finals so he can use Ovi on a grand stage to further his propaganda machine. Is it any wonder why Kuch has been invisible and Vasy has been swiss cheese.

WTF? Its the Caps... you guys should be whipping their collective asses...

WTF? Its the Caps... you guys should be whipping their collective asses...
- PREDX1

This is clearly the Lightning from Jan - Mar. Not the Lightning from Oct - Dec and the first two rounds of the playoffs. No urgency to play D with structure, tentative to hit and play in general, dumb offensive mistakes leading to breakaways the other way. The PK has sucked all year so I guess that hasn't changed.

Credit to the Caps, Bolts have a must win now on the road - let's see if they get back to their style of play.

This is clearly the Lightning from Jan - Mar. Not the Lightning from Oct - Dec and the first two rounds of the playoffs. No urgency to play D with structure, tentative to hit and play in general, dumb offensive mistakes leading to breakaways the other way. The PK has sucked all year so I guess that hasn't changed.

Credit to the Caps, Bolts have a must win now on the road - let's see if they get back to their style of play.
- stammerman

Caps are doing this without Backstrom...

Getting ugly quickly. Wake up boys Caps are playing for real and you’re not.

Caps getting great depth scoring.
Caps scoring at the ends of periods - did the same against the Pens as well as a few very quick starts.
Caps are playing desperate solid hockey.
Caps are very confident after defeating their round 2 nemesis.

Recipe to win - Caps hockey!

I hate Trotz but thought you guys would be lucky to get to round 2. Unless you can play amazing faultless hockey it's not going to be pretty. If that does actually happen that you can play elite level with everything going good, strap the helmets on cause the Caps play rough.