Comments on: This Team is Really Bad: Pens beat Caps 5-2

By: Owen Johnson

Owen Johnson — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 23:17:00 +0000

So we could get a good draft pick. Which I’m all for.

By: KareeLyn

KareeLyn — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 20:22:00 +0000

I’m going to try to not be negative nellie here and I’m all about patience and creating an identity in the long-run, but as far as I’m concerned every time this mess gets blamed on “a new system” God kills a puppy. I understand making adjustments, new lines, whatever. But entering the zone with possession of the puck, not shying away from the boards – there seem to be a few hockey tenants that ought to be present system-wide. I’m not sure why everyone looks so scared or why they fall apart during the 2nd, but surely there is something else at play other than adjustment to a new system. I honestly feel bad for them at this point. You can see their frustration. And it’s not motivational, it’s paralyzing. I think strong leadership is one big way to start to chip away at some of that hesitation and fear that you can smell. cough cough knuble cough

By: Unsportsmanlike412

Unsportsmanlike412 — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 19:00:00 +0000

I was there last night and watched Ovi skate around like a mad man and try to hit anything that moved. But on two separate occasions when Glass and one other Penguin tried to get this “tough guy” to fight, he cowered and skated away with his tail between his legs. No respect for a guy like that.

But hey man, nice PP goal when your team was down 5-1. Ovi, the queen of meaningless goals. Almost feel bad for #8 and the Caps…almost.

By: sonja n a

sonja n a — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 18:58:00 +0000

Speaking as a goalie mom (which I am), I have to say that pulling Neuvy last night was an atrocious decision. He was playing well … and honestly, we have to expect his (and Holtby’s numbers) to be bad. When the defense just allows the opposing team to waltz up to our net and shoot at will, the goalie isn’t going to look very good. But the reality is … if you’re relying on the goalie to save the D’s bacon, well … all goalie’s are human and just like the rest of the team makes atrocious turnover after atrocious turnover, the goalie is going to let in a few clunkers. Especially when the defense couldn’t stop a puck in a wet paper bag. Just look at our blocked shot numbers o.O

By: 28IS(still)GREAT

28IS(still)GREAT — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 17:12:00 +0000

Agreed. Too many Caps fan pin way too many hopes on untested rookies (or relative rookies). Exhibit 1 = Braden Holtby.

By: Peter Hassett

Peter Hassett — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:41:00 +0000

I do a lot of work in diagnostics– trying to figure out the cause of technical problems on websites and stuff.

I think there’s way too much noise in the signal for us to conclude that Oates is the problem right now.

By: sean

sean — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:29:00 +0000

Criticism of Oates’ coaching style is severely lacking. We are probably giving him a pass because he hasn’t been here very long. I don’t know if anybody remembers all the passes he made when there was an open net. Hershey looks lost now, this is not a coincidence, two teams, same result. People can hate on Hunter as much as they want, but he got us as far as BB ever did. On another note, the guy wearing no. 8 does not make his teammates better, and If he isn’t on top he wants to pack it in, take his little wagon and go home. This whole team needs blown up, front to back.

By: Peter Hassett

Peter Hassett — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 15:45:00 +0000

Haha, I know what you meant, Chris! I was making the same joke in my head. “It’s all been downhill since we lost Nylander.”

By: Chris Gardner

Chris Gardner — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 15:35:00 +0000

FTR, Sarcasm. Concurrency doesn’t mean Causality. The poorly
made point here is that there has clearly been a downturn. I DO think the “We
gotta change” mentality after the Habs playoff debacle is key. But there’s a tendency
to want to assign cause to far too many things. Ovi has a “C”, this coach or
that coach, my favorite mediocre player over yours. Jurcina moving had nothing to
do with it, it’s a red herring. Just like many of these other things.

My midnight post was just shorthand for all of this.

By: Peter Hassett

Peter Hassett — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 15:26:00 +0000

Wow, Matt. That is a great story. I miss Mike so much.