The rule says 4 minutes, which is what was assessed ingame. I do not believe it was ever by rule a 5 minute major, but could be situationally(and still can be if the refs consider it intentional).
The Caps are no more "thugs" than any other team at this time of year. The refs seem to have, moreso than alot of years, a pretty clear set of what they will allow go and what they will not. The play that injured Crosby was not intended to do so.
For starters, the Capitals must remember how to shoot. Washington led the league with a shooting percentage of 10.5 percent during the regular season, but that number has dipped to 7.6 for the playoffs and just 6.3 in this series with Pittsburgh. Caps stars Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov are capitalizing on their chances, but secondary scorers such as T.J. Oshie, Marcus Johansson and all-time playoff darling Justin Williams remain goalless for the series.
And efficient shooting isn’t Washington’s only problem; they’re not getting great goaltending from the traditionally impenetrable Braden Holtby, either.
Caps, year after year, come out sluggish early in big games. Just mystifies me. And all the money-ball analytics people can just put their head in a toilet and flush; I have no interest in seeing them scramble onto their keyboards to say how the Caps are doing great in all these advanced metrics and they need to keep doing what they're doing. Sometimes, madden mentality is really all that matters....score more, screw the advanced stats. They can't elevate a puck, and if you can't elevate a puck you're not going to beat a goalie in the playoffs. Simple as that.
From what I saw in game 4, Penguin backup goalie MA Fleury was absolutely lights out. While, like you said, Holtby was not. IMO, that's your difference right there---at least, it was in the game Crosby sat out.https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/washington-is-not-fulfilling-its-campaign-promises-the-hockey-team-that-is/
We call those analytics "fancy stats" in hockey. And they are horribly misunderstood. Fancy stats do not tell you who will win, nor who is playing better. They tell you who has an advantage, all other things being equal(which they never are). Without looking up the numbers, I will say my eyeball tells me Washington is doing decent to good in possession. They need to keep doing that. They need to finish on their scoring chances, they need to keep the game along the boards in the defensive end better(ie away from prime scoring areas), and Holtby has to find his game again. In other words, Washington needs to keep doing what they do well, while fixing what they are not doing well.
And most teams seem to always take a period off during games. It is incredibly frustrating.
Alright.
I'm looking forward to the Penguins / Caps game after the K Derby tonight on NBC.
What about tomorrow's Blues / Predators game; 3M/ET NBC?
Caps, year after year, come out sluggish early in big games. Just mystifies me. And all the money-ball analytics people can just put their head in a toilet and flush; I have no interest in seeing them scramble onto their keyboards to say how the Caps are doing great in all these advanced metrics and they need to keep doing what they're doing. Sometimes, madden mentality is really all that matters....score more, screw the advanced stats. They can't elevate a puck, and if you can't elevate a puck you're not going to beat a goalie in the playoffs. Simple as that.
I got what you need after this game:
View attachment 67217198
Edit: well, maybe you won't need it, 2 goals in almost no time!
The better team won.
Looks like the ice is really bad in Pitt. Players wiping out, struggling to find the puck, things like that. Pitt playing better in second, but Caps extend their lead.
I just want the Pens to lose, whether it's the Caps tomorrow or if the Pens make the ECFs, I hope the Rags or Sens beat them. God forbid another final, the Preds, Ducks or Oilers I hope will beat them. My reasoning, I'm a Flyers fan.
Craziest. Rivalry. Ever.
I remember the playoffs a few years back... it was nuts!
Congratz MG!
Congratz MG!
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