Comments on: Capitals During Wartime: Bruce vs. Dale

By: Capitals During Wartime: Our Misery is Their Trending Topic

Capitals During Wartime: Our Misery is Their Trending Topic — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 05:01:54 +0000

[...] a series about Washington's struggles before the 2012 trade deadline. Read previous entries about coaching, negativity, road performance, and [...]

By: Video: Alex Semin Dives Face-First to Block a Shot

Video: Alex Semin Dives Face-First to Block a Shot — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:13:40 +0000

[...] In 21 games with Bruce Boudreau, Semin was whistled to the box 16 times and had only 10 points. So while the team’s puck possession and goal scoring is down under Hunter, at least one of the team’s stars has seen his play improve [...]

By: A-town down

A-town down — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:10:00 +0000

Thank you, Ian! I thought I was taking crazy pills.

Evidence is apparent in the game, Peter. I think you need to start watching them, again.

We are finally getting good chemistry going, knowing where each other are on the ice, and knowing where we’re going to be on the ice. The moment we lose the sync is when we get scored against. However, that is happening a lot less as of late, and is constantly getting better.

I don’t have the numbers but if my memory serves me, we were minus 18 when dale took over. Now we’re even. If Caps we’re a stock, I’d be going all in right now.

D is making strides, but we’re not there, yet. People need to go. I know this is upsetting to some, but I’ll put money that Neuvy is gone by the summer. We have Holtby, and Grabauer, who are doing really well. Neuvy hasn’t been dependable, and I feel the only reason we play him, besides giving Vokes a rest, is to boost his trade value. Teams are in need of goalies and his contract ends this year.

By: Ian Oland

Ian Oland — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:03:00 +0000

I miss Neil’s shot plot chart.

By: Peter

Peter — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:22:00 +0000

But there is no evidence to lead you to think scoring chances are down.

By: Ian Oland

Ian Oland — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:44:00 +0000

I think that there’s some truth to the fact that the goaltending has gotten better. You have two goalies that are starters, who are used to being the number one guy. When they both were going in-and-out with Bruce, neither guy really got very comfortable. Vokoun has started 50-60 games for the last 5 years. Neuvirth has never technically been a back-up since beyond junior.

I also think the shot discrepancy is somewhat less of a big deal, because I agree with A-town down, that these shots are of less quality and around the perimeter. The defense is much more committed as well. With Bruce, Ovechkin and other wingers were hovering around the blueline waiting to break out. Now they are more committed and coming down as far as the circles. Blocking shots too!

The key is finding a balance. Huntsy needs to open these guys up a little bit more and let them play to their strengths. It’s good that they’re learning how to cycle and score off rebounds. This team has always needed to learn how to do this. But there needs to be a little bit more give on management’s side. We’ve figured out how to keep the puck out of our nets much better. Now let’s scoar moar goals.

By: Peter

Peter — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:51:00 +0000

Rapid transformation? It’s been more than 30 games and the team had been getting objectively worse until last week.

I wasn’t setting expectations either.

And I’m not sure you’ve got the word “ingenious” nailed down yet.

By: Peter

Peter — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:49:00 +0000

You’re wrong about the GAA drop off. That was just a reversal from awful goaltending under BB to typically superb goaltending under DH.

You can appeal to Neil Greenberg for scoring chance differentials under Bruce vs Dale, but I think those numbers will bear out as well.

By: A-town down

A-town down — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:47:00 +0000

I wasn’t calling you an idiot, but you have to admit, for someone to expect a rapid transformation from the wreck we were to an unstoppable winning machine is…what…ingenious?

By: A-town down

A-town down — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:44:00 +0000

Also, in response your comment, “Caps aren’t limiting shots against either (which is also part of DH’s plan), so basically they have failed to implement a system that isn’t a good idea anyway.” is highly mistaken.

You’re missing the point of DH D strat. You see the shots against numbers not being much different, which taken by itself is true. However, the GAA from Bruce to DH is down one goal.
DH isn’t just limiting shots. That’s impossible. He’s limiting scoring opportunities, and forcing the other team to make weaker shots.

And as for Rehlicz as a stick being ad halloc fallacy, I don’t know what else you would call that move. To see if he could make it with the caps? He wasn’t even given a chance, played less than 5 mins…and why even bother sign him a half a mil one year contract?

And I think we are becoming a power house of team, instead of a team that depended on the top lines to make goals, so that when they didn’t we would lose. That’s why I think we have a damn good chance. You think we had a better chance before? Really?