2021 Stanley Cup playoffs skating thread

All three of the Caps-Bruins game ended in OT on dumb mistakes. That's the margin in this series. I'll be Captain Obvious and say that Friday night is the season for Washington, because the Caps aren't rallying from down 3-1.

 

Boston completely dominated the OT last night, and it should have ended several times before it actual did end. Caps looked like they used up all their offensive punch in the third period.

 

I was going to say last night, but then the keeper gaff distracted me, the Caps had a lot of heavy legs skating in the OT period. It was all they could do to get pucks into the zone and mount some kind of pressure. Bruins looked just a little fresher (maybe the hid it better).

Here's hoping Friday ends in regulation with a Caps win. I need the Bruins to get bounced just so Marchand has to sit for the rest of the playoffs. I get he's an effective asshole and it works for him, but how do you take a whack at a guy with your stick after the whistle and stay in the game? It wasn't one of those I'm going to get your goad kind of love taps, it was a full whack and nothing.

 

If Colin Campbell and George Parros see no issues, he'll ... well ... skate.

If they punish Kadri, they need to better explain why he gets punished while Tom Wilson did not. Kadri is dirty and a repeat offender, but so is Wilson.

 

Injuries have really hit the Caps hard, especially at center. They get Kuznetsov back but lose Eller. Raffl had to play third-line center last night just to get Oshie back on the wing. Then Sprong goes out and Carr has to play on the wing, his playoff debut. No doubt they had dead legs at the end. Hopefully Sprong and Eller are available Friday.

EDIT: Did not realize Sprong was a healthy scratch and that Carr was in there for added defensive impact, per Lav's presser today.

 

Didn’t/couldn’t watch last night. Who did he slash? You’re not talking about the one on Dillon are you?

 

No way should Kadri get suspended for that. If you want to throw him out of last night’s game, Ok, but anything more than that is too much.

 

I can't find the video. Looking at some of the reactions on Twitter, I think that is what you are talking about and I'm starting to wish I could see a video of it. I'm wondering if my general hatred of Marchand is making the incident seem worse than it was.

 

Complete head shot, he’s getting suspended.

 

Been there, done that over the seasons with the Preds, Caps, Wings... And is it just me or do the Preds always go through this four-week stretch of utter suck every November? Every year about that time people panic and I just shrug. It's another November in Nashville hockey.

I like David Poile. He's been good for the team in the past except during his rare postseason fire sales. Maybe he should focus his energy on USAH?

 

Not saying he won’t be, I just don’t think he should be.