2015 Stanley Cup playoffs

If Henrik wasn't playing so well, these games would been more one-sided. He made a save on Ovi in Game 3 that was mind-boggling and there have been numerous others. He's kept them competitive and of course Laich is going to say that. The Caps have been the aggressor for almost every second of the series. They're forcing the Rangers to adjust. Which the Rangers can do, which is why I'm still not confident. But through four games, the 3-1 edge is what it should be.

That asskicking of Gleason did the Rangers a whole lot of good.

 

I think the series has been fairly well played on both sides. Barry Trotz is outcoaching Alain Vigneault. Not that AV is doing a poor job. The Caps are doing the things that Cosmo said in his post to prevent transition opportunities. They are forcing the Rangers to the outside. They are dropping to block a lot of shots. They are playing aggressively deep in the Rangers zone. The Rangers are playing really aggressively, too, and have controlled more of the action than Washington has. Their defensemen are pinching and they have gotten a lot of opportunities. They are maybe a bit too cute with the passes, but Holtby has been tested and he is playing amazingly.

The main difference has been the mistakes. On the first Caps goal yesterday, the Rangers had a small letdown and Washington seized on it. Kreider had the puck taken away from him in the Rangers end and rather than play through, he kind of stood still and picked his nose while the play developed. It's almost like the Caps smelled the mistake happening and were determined to turn it into something. I can't remember who the Caps player was, but he knocked Derek Stepan on his butt, freeing up Burakovsky in the slot. It was sort of a microcosm of how the Caps have been playing. Keeping the Rangers contained defensively, and trying to get a goal or two on any Rangers letdown. And they have capitalized on the mistakes remarkably well. Those mistakes have been the difference because both goalies are playing well.

 

I don't think AV is blowing the series. I just think Trotz has been better. Ultimately, the Rangers need to put the puck in the net to win, and it's not like they aren't getting chances. They are just not getting it done. I still think Trotz has outmaneuvered AV so far. The Rangers have a deeper team. But Trotz is getting more out of the talent he has. Washington has played an incredibly disciplined series. They have forced the Rangers into a cycle game and there has been no adjustment from NY to try to open things back up -- where they would have a big advantage. It has played into Washington's hands. Also, AV has not found a way to get the power play right. He had two months before the playoffs to figure it out -- it was struggling the entire second half of the season -- and it's still the same stale formula that is not working. With the offensive talent they have, it should at least be average. It wasn't a problem when they were outskating teams full strength, but it is now, because Washington has played really disciplined and largely kept the Rangers out of transition.

 

Just saw this. That was a rematch -- those two have a thing for each other. Glass and Gleason went at it during the last game of the regular season. It was one of the better fights of the year. They both walked away with bloody faces from that one.

 

I don't know how much Melrose knows, seriously. I would suspect a few on here know more. But you can't get the best of a team when they score more goals. Hockey is one of those games you win by scoring more than the other team. There's no column for getting the best of, only one for winning (and losing). That one says 3-1 Caps.

The Rangers are an outstanding team. You're not going to get lucky and beat them. As well as the Caps have played throughout, they haven't blown them out. Each game has had a high pucker factor. The Rangers' overall skill leaves me feeling unsettled. This is definitely not over.

And JC, it is odd. I don't know about the worst player in the league (though maybe so), but I notice a number of coaches have guys they seem to really like and no one can figure out why. Or dislike. Oates wasn't a big fan of Jay Beagle. Trotz loves him and from what I've seen, Trotz is in the right with that guy. A good grinder to have on your side.