huzer

Don’t feed the trolls.This is now a couple of drive by, single negative post, with no response.

Seconded!

I don't disagree. Violence sells, and high speed violence is even better. I guess for me, regarding Tom Wilson specifically, it seems odd that his suspension and fine history hasn't come into play at all. It's not like he's got a clean reputation. Yet Josh Anderson can manhandle him like a rag doll (sarcasm, he goes down a touch easy when anyone initiates contact with him). Interesting that this suspended hit by Wilson looks quite similar to the hit he laid on Carrier. Anyway, it is what it is.

What stinks about that screen grab is that it doesn't show the follow through. It looks as though Wilson is all tucked, but he follows through with that elbow. Anyway, Wilson doesn't get the benefit of the doubt from me. He was looking to injure with that hit, and was successful. But hey, it's playoff hockey.

All these pixels spent on Xhekaj. I respect the kid and his path to the NHL, but ultimately, he's a third pair dman. The team needs a few more holes filled. I can only wish that the most significant weakness to discuss was our 6/7D. Folks act like the staff has stapled a future top pair guy to the bench.

Sometimes a series just doesn't go your way. Lots of examples, but one that comes to mind easily is Montreal in '93, you can look at the Buffalo series and see a sweep, and then see every game was 4-3, and 3 of 'em went to OT. Of course, Montreal still doesn't have the depth to cover injuries, losing a Carrier, Montembeault, Laine (I'm convinced our thoughts on him would be different if he was 100%) hurts. The Caps have the depth to fill in for Fehervary and Protas. Yesterday's game was certainly there for the taking, despite some of the lapses. Just couldn't hold on.

There's a difference between criticizing officiating and blaming them for losses. I don't blame them for losses, but do find the officiating to be subpar. Even if the Habs were up 2-0, I'd say the same.

"Well, if they weren't 5'8", they wouldn't be crosschecked in the face! They're lucky we aren't calling the Canadiens for facial interference!" /s What will be frustrating, coming out of this series, will be the continued theme of the small and soft Canadiens were manhandled by the rough and tumble Capitals, a team built for the playoffs! And while it happens every year that the refs swallow the whistles in exchange for more violence (that's really what the casual fan thinks hockey is about, right?) that doesn't make it right. Playoff hockey shouldn't be about rewarding undisciplined play, changing the rules from what would be a penalty in December to being perfectly acceptable in April. Unfortunately, it's obviously a league mandate to do so. I know people are saying we should play like eye for an eye, but there really aren't any players that play with that edge. Anderson? and...?? Thus far, any time the Habs have been involved in a scrum, they come out with the extra penalty. Damned if you do, damned it you don't.

If we're going to go with the ship that sailed, Sergachev would look great on the blue line.

No. The few times he's put it on net, right-catching Thompson just snares it, as Laine usually seems to shoot top short side. Thompson just has to play catch. Overall, I didn't get to see the third last night, but it sounds like the team woke up a bit but couldn't sneak one in the net. The 2nd period reminded me of the first 50 minutes of game one. I will say for as much as the refs have swallowed the whistle, that was a weak "boarding" call on Anderson.

This feels similar to the TB final. Outclassed team that can put up a valiant effort. I think they can get a win in the electrical atmosphere at home, but this feels like a series that’s over in 5.

My goodness, being forced to watch ESPN coverage, you’d think the Caps were the second coming of the Broadstreet Bullies combined with the 80s Oilers. The tireless fawning over Ovechkin has gotten old, too. Ready for a strong 2nd from the Habs!

I don't have Instagram, so I can't see the story, but that's a fan account.

My goodness, it’s a bridge too far when people are defending an obvious troll. Tis a thread that should just be deleted.

Isles eliminated with their SO loss to Philly.

You are correct, sir. Right game, wrong team!

Magic number vs any team is 3 (only 1 for the Rangers). Let's go for a wildcard pretender sweep tonight (CBJ, FLA, NYI losses) and the Habs can officially clinch on Friday.

I think the Habs resigned their UFA in Evans. I don't think all 3 players will be replaced with rookies, though.

Similarly, my family has tickets to a Colorado Eagles (AHL) game on Saturday. Prices have gone through the roof now that Landeskog is doing a conditioning stint with the Eagles. We could probably make a tidy profit on our tickets!

NHL site has decent goalie stats, for those that want to dive a little deeper. https://edge.nhl.com/en/goalie/20242025-regular-8478470 I've said it before, Monty's biggest problem is he's following Price.

Yep! Just one of those visual things that looked funny when I first saw it. They used to offer English and French broadcasts with ESPN+ last year. Not so for this season.

On Saturday night feeds that the put on NHL net, it's usually the straight TSN/Sportsnet feed. Stinks that NHL net broadcasts means that the other feeds normally available on ESPN+ are blacked out. Heck, I'd rather hear the Florida broadcast team.

At least it's the former.

I really, really dislike being forced to watch the NHL network broadcast. It's so bizarre to have the broadcasters sit in a remote studio trying to follow the video feed, and neither Hradek or Rupp are remotely competent. If Hradek says Mon-TEN-bow one more time, I'm hucking a puck at the screen. Oh, and seeing the above vid, interesting difference in the abbreviation for Florida between RDS and english networks.

Columbus gets a bit of a boost with Monahan returning. He was PPG prior to his injury. Habs should get a boost with Guhle returning. It's going to be interesting to watch.