re: 2017 NHL Playoff Thread: PENGUINS WIN THE CUP, Crosby robs Malkin of the Conn Smythe

Lmao.

Sigh.

Gg

Terrible by larson

Nice work getzlaf

Devastating

Win 2 on the Pond then give up 10 goals in your brand new arena and return to Cali tied at 2.

Awful

Yeah. Playoff Hockey is brutal. Gg

4 pt night for the Ducks C. On the road in a game 4. That is incredible

Ducks vs Pitt SCF is happening and Hog and Drewbie will fight at an Arkansas sonic.

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Pekka Rinne currently has the highest save % of all time during a playoff run. Min 200 shots LINK

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Fake News! He hasn't been challenged in any of the 8 games we've played!

First off, credit to Rutherford and the Penguins for getting revenge in the best possible way: on the scoreboard. Game 4 was billed as a potential cage match, and the Penguins instead played smart and tried to win, rather than throwing hits left and right. They fed off the building, and took advantage of their chances.

As for the Caps, what the hell else can you do? This is the second game in the series that the Caps have utterly dominated in every facet of the game, yet still lost. They had twice as many shot attempts, shots and goals, and scoring chances. Their edge in high danger chances was merely half again as much as the Penguins. The Caps have taken at least 33 shots in each game, for a total of 142, which is a metric shite ton. And they have just 9 goals, or 3 ore than the Pens scored in just Game 2.

Holtby was meh again. He hasn't had a bad series, but he hasn't been great, and Fleury has been otherwordly. His sequence of saves on Eller from point blank was amazing. He has been the difference in the series. The Schultz game winner was an awful goal to let in, from the blueline with absolutely no screen. That's a save an NHL goalie has to make. The Orlov goal was... well, it was the worst own goal I've ever seen on any level. He even made a kicking motion towards the goal. He was under zero pressure, and he just booted it in his own goal. Simply awful play.

Speaking of awful plays, Tom Wilson shouldn't be allowed to skate another shift. His attempted knee on knee check was disgusting and I don't care that he missed. That play has no business in hockey, and was entirely an intent to injure. Just a piece of garbage play.

Ultimately, the difference was that the Caps committed SIX penalties in the offensive zone. I don't even know how you do that. I get committing a penalty when you're on defense and trying to do whatever you can to stop the offense... but 6 O-Zone penalties in one game seems nigh on impossible. Yeah, they made a bad call on Oshie. That doesn't let them off the hook for the other five.

With this many free agents, I think you blow it up. Not everybody, but I think it's time to do a soft reboot. You trade Carlson for sure, and start building the team around Kuznetsov and Mojo. I think you start quietly shopping Ovechkin and Backstrom, and see who brings a bigger return.

This team had 11 forwards score at least 10 goals in the regular season. That's some serious scoring depth. In the playoffs, the bottom 6 has scored one goal, and it was by Tom Wilson, the one forward who DIDN'T score 10 goals.

And the defense has been garbage except for Schmidt, after allowing fewer goals than any team all year. It's just mystifying. Who do you get rid of? Carlson is an easy call because you can get something for him and you let Alzner walk... but can you find someone who can take Orpik? Do you let Orlov walk?

Anaheim completely dominated the 2nd period