Destiny sure seems like a Lady this morning. When I woke up this morning there were strains of a song from one of my favorite bands (a band who hails from the land of Hockey – Canada).
“There are those who think that life has nothing left to chance
A host of holy horrors to direct our aimless dance”
Back when these playoffs started I wrote that although I do think the Washington Capitals have a lot of talented players, I still thought our favorite flightless fowl had the edge on this team. I wrote that there is a monkey on the Capitals’ back that would see our Penguins through. Last night’s game seems to reaffirm, in me, that assessment.
This morning, despite some words to the opposite, I would be willing to bet that some of the Capitals are willing to believe that there is a “host of holy horrors” directing their “aimless dance”. After the Game, it was reported that Nicklas Backstrom slammed his stick and was overheard saying “this league”, preceding it with an expletive. Furthermore, Coach Barry Trotz challenged a goal for Goalie interference, where there was no chance of being over turned. That challenge appears to be an act of desperation. So, it would appear that at least these 2-Capitals may see themselves as “play things, who dance upon the strings of powers they could not perceive”.
Perhaps the “planets aren’t aligned” for the Capitals. Or maybe it is just a case of those planets being aligned for Jake Guentzel, who is still burning red hot. Regardless of whether or not the planets are aligned for Guentzel or aren’t aligned for the Capitals, Domink Simon tried to one-touch, redirect a Sidney Crosby pass on net. However, the attempted shot pinballed off of ex-Penguin Matt Niskanen on to the stick of Guentzel. Guentzel wasted little time in depositing the puck in the back of the net.
In the end it may a little of both. “The gods may be malign” for the Capitals since they weren’t satisfied with the help they already received and kept tempting fate. Tom Wilson got away with his attempt to injure Brain Dumoulin. Emboldened by his free pass on that play he gambled one more play, this time on Zach Aston-Reese. In game terms he got away with it. In fact, that blown call by the referees allowed him to be on the ice to kick Olli Maatta’s skates out from under him (slew footed him). But like all gamblers the laws of probability caught up with him and the league finally suspended him.
That suspension may serve to be a most costly play. Without Wilson’s over-the-line play Alex Ovechkin was a bit of a non-factor. Wilson’s hulking frame and deliberate attempts to injure certainly open up the ice for Ovechkin.
“Blame is better to give than receive”
It is doubtful that the Capitals will be willing to admit that Wilson in particularly and the whole team in general are to blame for their loss. Even after Wilson’s suspension the Capitals were still seen straying over the line. On Guentzel’s opening tally, Dimtri Orlov dangerously cross-checked Guentzel in the back, sending him head first toward the goal post. Orlov did not really enter the scene until after the puck was coming back out of the net. The karma (if you believe in that) that may be coming back to the Capitals cannot be all that good.
All in all the doubts are certainly surfacing in the Capitals’ minds and regardless of who is to blame, the door is back opened for the Penguins to continue their quest for a 3-peat.
3elieve!!!
Odds and Sods
Was that Evgeni Malkin, I saw, channeling Patric Hornqvist, diving to the ice to shove in a rebound goal to take the lead, a goal that would prove to be the game winner? Luck was on the Capitals’ side earlier in the series as Toronto over-turned an obvious Hornqvist. However, luck is a fickle lady and the officials in Toronto found their glasses. They were finally able to see the white ice between the goal line and the puck.
Matt Murray was on his game last night. He controlled his rebounds and played his angles much better. He looked like the Matt Murray from last year. The only goal he ceded was a power play goal from between the circles. He played well enough to earn the 2nd Star of the Game (Guentzel was the 1st Star).
Although the Penguins’ defense is still giving up dangerous scoring chances, they continued doing a good job cutting down the total number of shots. More importantly they seemed to have learned their lesson from game 3, late in the game, rather than pinching in to keep the play alive and risk an odd man break, they backed off and supported one another to keep the puck in front of them, rather than letting it behind them and having to chase it. In fact, when the Defense to jump up, I saw a lot of forwards cycling back to cover the open point.
I really hated to see the Pens lose to the Capitals this night. But what it came down to was they, weren’t tough enough. The Capitals played dirty and tough and Rutherford was overzealous in his grab for Bassard, who has been a serious no-show since coming to the team. You can’t have 4 lines of finesse players. YOU NEED GRIT and RAW force to wear down teams. That is what the Capitals did to the Pens and I wish it was the other way around.
If there is any blame to go around for the loss, it was due to poor management.
Hey Greg,
You make really good points. The Pens weren’t tough enough, Brassard really didn’t help the team and more importantly the cost was way too high; Gustavsson, Cole, and Reaves. I mentioned several times this year, what I thought was a great move last year was when Sullivan put a hitter on every line. This year almost no one was hitting, they were just getting hit.
As a Canadian…. I love Rush!!
What’s not to love”
I saw every tour from somewhere near the late 70s through (I think) the mid 90s.
Hey Other Rick,
Terrific game summary.
My Lord, where would we be without Guentzel and Crosby? Agree with your sentiments about Geno’s Horny-esque diving effort on our second goal…arguably the turning point of the series.
Not to be a ‘Donald Downer,’ but I still have concerns. The Caps are doing a really good job of keeping us out of the prime scoring areas. Holtby’s vulnerable when you make him move and react to multiple shots, but we’re not getting a whole lot of traffic or second-chance opportunities.
We could sorely use some secondary scoring, too. We really miss a (healthy) Kessel.
Regarding Ruhwedel. Like you, I’m more comfortable with him as a seventh d-man. But overall, I think he’s done a really solid job. In particular, he made a great play on Vrana last night.
Anyway…LET’S GO PENZ!
Rick
Thanks Rick
There are at least 2 hockey games left to play. So, like you, I am not making plans for round 3 just yet. However, despite Vegas listing the Pens and Caps with equal chances to win the Conference and Cup I do think the Pens have a slight edge.
Interesting observation about the Caps boxing the Pens out of the Prime scoring areas. I hadn’t really thought about that yet. Perhaps it really comes down to the Pens not really being practiced at getting into the Prime scoring lunch pail goals. Only Hornqvist makes his living in the blue-paint. The rest of the team still tends to be peripheral players. The really weren’t able to shut down the Pens transition game or passing. The Pens were able to generate scoring chances off of the rush well scoring chances in general
However, the Caps have been able to shut down the Pens, limiting their shots. So, the Pens may not have really gotten their playoff faces on yet. The Pens may not have gotten back into the idea of working for their goals. Watching the Power Play last night, I was getting really frustrated at how many times I watched players just stand their instead of trying to find open ice. In essence, I really am not seeing the Caps having to work all that hard defensively. I still see the Pens as being lazy (as a team, not all players.)
I agree Holtby is the key. If the Pens start working a little harder and working around the net, they will start chasing him from games.
Speaking of getting into High Scoring areas. How was Oshie given that opportunity to shoot the puck between 2-Pens defenders in the slot on that PK.? Talk about lazy and not playing desperately.
Please don’t misunderstand my view of Ruhwedel. I do like him and appreciate what he is doing. Defensively, he would appear to be playing better than others who have been caught pinching at critical times. However, I really odon’t see him more than a swing man, filling in as needed.
The Other Rick
A win is a win is a win. Me personally I’m still leary of the Caps – I thought they
once again out played the Penguins – If this happens in Game 5 on there home
ice we will again be behind in the series and facing elimination.
The Pen’s “D” got away with some serious mistakes and poor decisions with
the puck. They have numerous chances to clear the puck out of the zone – while
not being pressured yet hurry a weak attempt. This needs to improve drastically
by Game 5.
Where the hell is “PHIL THE THRILL” – We need him now!!
Hey Mike,
If you look at the Vegas line right now; Tampa Bay, Nashville, Vegas, and Winnipeg all have better odds than the Penguins and Capitals to win the Cup. And the Penguins and Caps are tied at 6 – 1. There is a pretty good reason for that. Neither team is actually playing well enough to impress.
My worries aren’t so much over what the Capitals are or will do but over what the Penguins will or won’t do. I do think that the Capitals will do their part to keep their streak of futility alive. It doesn’t seem they can help themselves. For me the question is will the Penguins take advantage of the Capitals self-destructiveness.
As for Phil, he hasn’t been close to the Kessel of the regular season or the last 2 post-seasons. The team would seem to be trying to deny that he is hurting but he really doesn’t look like he can skate like we have seen in the over these last 2 seasons. As 55 on Point noted, if he is hurt he should have sat or sit in favor of say Sprong. Kessel’s contributions to the team are far above the contributions Sheary, Kuhnhackl, Rowney, or Brassard have brought but they are not what we fans have come to expect. If he had been given some rest, maybe he would be flying right now, like always.
Finally, the question that should be going through the Caps mind is that if this has been their Sunday best Punch, then they may be in for a world of hurt when/if Kessel does start rolling and/or Sullivan finally gives Sprong the nod to inject some CORSI beast into the line-up.
Fortune favors the bold, that’s cold maybe Tanger won’t get us killed just yet.
Hi,
He was turning the puck over multiple times( throw it anyway to opponents and bad on the boards etc) and other players were continuously coming to his aid mostly the whole game. He’s just atrocious. Just Brutal. No defense . Lazy
It is what is with Letang. I still think his minutes needs to be reduced.. Dumoulin and Shultz is the key for Defense. Ruhwedel has been great . Rig has been good. I like the Rig -Shultz although I think Määttä Shultz is better. It looks like Sully will rotate d paring in the playoffs..
Letang will kill them . To be honest he’s injury wait to happen. It almost happen to last night.
You can count on Shultz, Dumoulin and others to get the job done. I believe in them and hope for better secondary scoring.. I like Letang to sit in the press box and I wanna see Pedan in the mix.
Hey Dee,
I like Pedan too. However, did you see that he signed to play in the KHL next year, so this may be the only time we may see him in a Pens uniform.
I do like Ruhwedel and I think we are getting the most out of him, but I think he is a 7th man and is only a 6th man right now because Cole was traded and Hunwick (at least in my opinion) is at best a 7th man in WBS. Also, Sullivan’s reluctance to try Pedan, Tinordi, Bengtsson, or Czuczman may be a contributing factor. If/had he given any of these kids a shot, we may not be having this conversation.
Although, like many here on these boards, I do cringe when Letang is on the ice an the Pens are in their defensive zone, I do want to defend him on one point; he isn’t afraid to stand up for his team and play physical. Although he is not blessed with Maatta or Dumoulin’s frame he isn;t afraid of throwing what he does have around, he doesn’t back down when challenged (in fact he occasionally takes a bad penalty because of it), but he and Oleksiak seem to be the only 2 Pens willing to call Tom Wilson out. If I found a genie in a bottle and got 3 wishes those 3 wishes may be 1) Letang learns how to be more Defensively responsible and 2 – 3) Both Letang and Sheary grow up to about 6’4 and 6’2 respectively and gain the proportionate amount of muscle. I do like both of those players but they would be causing me to pull out my hair – if there was any left.
Good Morning.
I’m pulling my hair more just think about Sully’s and Reechi’s Decisions with this team. Really with Sheary , Letang , Defense miscues and Secondary scoring. Line Combos.
I’m trying my best to be positive with this team. I believe(have faith) that they will win game 6 tonight and game 7 . They will get their ish together.
I hope and praying hard Sully reduces Letang minutes for the rest of the playoffs. Especially game 6 and 7
Keep him off the ice for crucial moments and not on the top powerplay. sully needs to get pens d back to simply style patient D mentality first then let offense do its thing. I don’t understand why D are pinching and weak on the boards. Plus no communication and simplify hockey right now..
I stated many times that sheltering Letang will help the Penguins win games and get the cup this year. I hope Sully get that it needs to happen before it to late. This isn’t the regular season.
I believe Dumoulin and Shultz will get the job done. They have earned their spots to be the pens top line D pairing. It’s time to rely and give them this opportunity to help the team. They have been the best defenseman despite the d miscues and defensive breakdowns. Maybe Määttä-Letang or Rig-Letang in very limited minutes but give Määttä or Rig extra minutes with Ruddewel or Rig. Or just the together.
Idk . Shultz needs to be the guy not Letang.
Yea. Chad might be 6/7 defenseman but he has been solid and his game has got better to transition into a great defenseman one day beside his size. He could be 5/6 defenseman one day. I don’t mind him at all. I have nothing bad to say about him. He does his job well despite his size. If it was up to me Dumoulin-Shultz Määttä-Rig Pedan -Rudwedel would be my pairs if Letang was long gone not on this team right now.
Sheary has ok speed and ok chemistry with brassard but it time to put Sprong on the fourth line(brassard) with limited minutes for secondary scoring. Give Sprong 2-3 shifts with Sid -Jake in the ozone. I
I know he needs to work on more puck support but he can’t be more worser than Sheary.
Sheary isn’t doing much. I don’t expect nothing from him. I know Brassard needs to bring more offense. Sheary is the problem for Brassard. He needs a finisher and shooter right now . Not Kessel. I would try him(Sprong) on the second powerplay maybe the three line and load up Kessel -Malkin-Hags for some shifts.
It gotta be desperation and better line combos. I like Simon but Hornqvist should go back with Sid-Jake for some shifts and limited Simon ‘s minutes.
I would try Jooris as wing . He’s hardworker with big body . He was a great sample size that can play center or wing. I would give him a try with Sid. Whatever it takes.
Yes. Sully has won back to back cups. He needs to get creative and out the box. Stop playing favorites and hold players accountable that’s hurting this team and not contributing offensively..
Sheary needs to be scratched. Letang in the press box or reduced minutes whether he likes it not.
I love Simon but I don’t think he’s should be on the top line right now unless sully will playing him long term there. Sid-Jake needs better help there.(RW) Don’t me wrong Simon has been good but he can’t take e stupid penalties like in the regular season to change momentum or mess up Jake-Sid tough work in the o zone.
Give Sprong a chance with Brassard for crucial secondary scoring.
Also I have no doubt in my mind Geno and Kessel will be difference tonight with the top line.
I hope Murray is in control of his net and make big timely saves..
Hey Darth Aggie,
So the question may be are Letang’s short comings enough to over-come the growing Monkey on the Caps back. The bad karma the Caps get from their dirty hits and slew footing opponents may be the Pens best weapon.