Comments on: ovechkin defeats rangers, bad coaching http://www.homermcfanboy.com/2012/05/01/ovechkin-defeats-rangers-bad-coaching/ Damn it feels good to be a homer. Tue, 14 May 2013 14:31:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Eric http://www.homermcfanboy.com/2012/05/01/ovechkin-defeats-rangers-bad-coaching/comment-page-1/#comment-13338 Eric Tue, 01 May 2012 17:36:54 +0000 http://www.homermcfanboy.com/?p=4139#comment-13338 I feel as if some people may have read this article and thought, Damn, its already in writing, so Dale Hunter will follow it? Lets not take this so literally. Point is, we need the Caps to play as a team. It is hard to do that when we have defense being the last people back when the Rangers are on a rush. Thats not going to happen when we pass it to the point and the Defense decide to take their eyes off the puck and miss it, giving the Rangers a break away (or even the guy fresh out of the penalty box a breakaway). Thats not going to happen when we have Defense a little scared of physical play so they give up positioning and end up wrapping their arms around the Ranger like he just got back from overseas. Thats not going to happen when Defense has a hissy fit due to a clean hit, and decides to go back to sandbox rules and kick the Rangers feet out from under him. It also wont happen when Defense has the height, and almost the size to be gritty and rough, and spends more time watching the play and getting hit people half his size. Does anyone see a trend here? Luckily, people like Brouwer and Beagle have been busting their asses down low in the D Zone, and trying to get it at least in the neutral zone. Otherwise, the Rangers would probably spend the whole game in the Offensive zone. So, Lets all sit back and look at it again. Are the Caps perfect? NO! Is there a lot of room for improvement? YES! Is what we are doing working? Possibly. But if we keep it up, we are going to be one sore/tired team. Basically, Everyone needs to try and step it up, and see what happens. I feel as if some people may have read this article and thought, Damn, its already in writing, so Dale Hunter will follow it? Lets not take this so literally. Point is, we need the Caps to play as a team. It is hard to do that when we have defense being the last people back when the Rangers are on a rush. Thats not going to happen when we pass it to the point and the Defense decide to take their eyes off the puck and miss it, giving the Rangers a break away (or even the guy fresh out of the penalty box a breakaway). Thats not going to happen when we have Defense a little scared of physical play so they give up positioning and end up wrapping their arms around the Ranger like he just got back from overseas. Thats not going to happen when Defense has a hissy fit due to a clean hit, and decides to go back to sandbox rules and kick the Rangers feet out from under him. It also wont happen when Defense has the height, and almost the size to be gritty and rough, and spends more time watching the play and getting hit people half his size. Does anyone see a trend here? Luckily, people like Brouwer and Beagle have been busting their asses down low in the D Zone, and trying to get it at least in the neutral zone. Otherwise, the Rangers would probably spend the whole game in the Offensive zone. So, Lets all sit back and look at it again. Are the Caps perfect? NO! Is there a lot of room for improvement? YES! Is what we are doing working? Possibly. But if we keep it up, we are going to be one sore/tired team. Basically, Everyone needs to try and step it up, and see what happens.

]]> By: Bill http://www.homermcfanboy.com/2012/05/01/ovechkin-defeats-rangers-bad-coaching/comment-page-1/#comment-13334 Bill Tue, 01 May 2012 15:25:06 +0000 http://www.homermcfanboy.com/?p=4139#comment-13334 Great article. I think Hunter will take the PK posture over loose play in the opposite end. He's trying to get his stars to play responsibly, establish the forecheck, and get to the net. We have too many situations where are stars fire it on net from the blue line and it's either a) blocked out to neutral or b) a miss collected by the defense. End of forecheck. Ovechkin shows these traits more than anyone. He needs to work harder to get his shots through blocks and on net. If the Caps are going to put up 4+ goals a game, they need the defense to join the rush. The defense can't join the rush if Ovechkin fires one off a shin pad that bounces back into the neutral zone to open up a breakaway (this happened at least once against Boston). He also tries to cut across from one circle to the other too often, and the D are ready for it. This usually happens immediately after gaining the zone. If Ovi can be counted on to turn it over 50% of the time right after gaining the zone (when the D is going for a change) it opens up way more opportunities for odd man breaks going the other way. Basically Ovechkin needs to simplify his play to get pucks on net once the forecheck is established. The best stat from yesterday's game was that he had 7 shots on net out of 10 attempts. That means he's either getting it through shin pads with remarkable consistency or he's making the simpler play. If he can keep that up, Hunter will play him more. I'm optimistic that the dynamic will change as Ovi limits his risky plays. Great article. I think Hunter will take the PK posture over loose play in the opposite end. He’s trying to get his stars to play responsibly, establish the forecheck, and get to the net. We have too many situations where are stars fire it on net from the blue line and it’s either a) blocked out to neutral or b) a miss collected by the defense. End of forecheck.

Ovechkin shows these traits more than anyone. He needs to work harder to get his shots through blocks and on net. If the Caps are going to put up 4+ goals a game, they need the defense to join the rush. The defense can’t join the rush if Ovechkin fires one off a shin pad that bounces back into the neutral zone to open up a breakaway (this happened at least once against Boston).

He also tries to cut across from one circle to the other too often, and the D are ready for it. This usually happens immediately after gaining the zone. If Ovi can be counted on to turn it over 50% of the time right after gaining the zone (when the D is going for a change) it opens up way more opportunities for odd man breaks going the other way.

Basically Ovechkin needs to simplify his play to get pucks on net once the forecheck is established. The best stat from yesterday’s game was that he had 7 shots on net out of 10 attempts. That means he’s either getting it through shin pads with remarkable consistency or he’s making the simpler play. If he can keep that up, Hunter will play him more. I’m optimistic that the dynamic will change as Ovi limits his risky plays.

]]> By: ExKiwi Krol http://www.homermcfanboy.com/2012/05/01/ovechkin-defeats-rangers-bad-coaching/comment-page-1/#comment-13333 ExKiwi Krol Tue, 01 May 2012 15:14:00 +0000 http://www.homermcfanboy.com/?p=4139#comment-13333 Schultz played the first Ranga$ goal poorly. As poor as Oliver Twist on a cloudy day. As poor as Mother Teresa after a snow storm. As poor as the worth of Kim Kardashian on TV. As poor as the Tasmanian Devil after a tornado. As poor as.....you get my drift. Schultz played the first Ranga$ goal poorly. As poor as Oliver Twist on a cloudy day. As poor as Mother Teresa after a snow storm. As poor as the worth of Kim Kardashian on TV. As poor as the Tasmanian Devil after a tornado. As poor as…..you get my drift.

]]> By: Scott http://www.homermcfanboy.com/2012/05/01/ovechkin-defeats-rangers-bad-coaching/comment-page-1/#comment-13332 Scott Tue, 01 May 2012 14:23:52 +0000 http://www.homermcfanboy.com/?p=4139#comment-13332 You missed the most questionable coaching decision of all on the team. why is Dennis Wideman getting a jersey? he has been horrible in the playoffs. he doestn't move anyone out of the crease. he doesn't hit anyone. every time the oppisition scores he is on the ice. his -6 is the worst on the team, yet he still has played every game so far. could we get some Orlov love here? You missed the most questionable coaching decision of all on the team. why is Dennis Wideman getting a jersey? he has been horrible in the playoffs. he doestn’t move anyone out of the crease. he doesn’t hit anyone. every time the oppisition scores he is on the ice. his -6 is the worst on the team, yet he still has played every game so far. could we get some Orlov love here?

]]> By: luke http://www.homermcfanboy.com/2012/05/01/ovechkin-defeats-rangers-bad-coaching/comment-page-1/#comment-13331 luke Tue, 01 May 2012 14:17:12 +0000 http://www.homermcfanboy.com/?p=4139#comment-13331 and Fingerman's point about blowing leads is well-made. Except that the Capitals keep winning anyway. They are now 4-2 in their last six (and three of those wins were against a more-experienced (if not better) playoff team then New York. They haven't lost back-to-back games in over five weeks and in that same span they managed to put together back-to-back wins three times. as Jason Chimera might say it. We need to... Accept that the Capitals keep winning anyway. and Fingerman’s point about blowing leads is well-made.

Except that the Capitals keep winning anyway.

They are now 4-2 in their last six (and three of those wins were against a more-experienced (if not better) playoff team then New York.

They haven’t lost back-to-back games in over five weeks and in that same span they managed to put together back-to-back wins three times.

as Jason Chimera might say it. We need to…

Accept that the Capitals keep winning anyway.

]]> By: luke http://www.homermcfanboy.com/2012/05/01/ovechkin-defeats-rangers-bad-coaching/comment-page-1/#comment-13329 luke Tue, 01 May 2012 14:09:44 +0000 http://www.homermcfanboy.com/?p=4139#comment-13329 You know i have to disagree. In truth, mostly because we won, but still... The bottom line is; 1)Ovechkin doesn't score off the rush anywhere near as often as he used to... 2)but his one-timer off a face-off or a slick cross-ice pass is still pretty money (i know, i know, let's just say game 1 was "off" for everyone) 3)He tries to rush the puck up the ice, but he doesn't back off (good) defenders anymore like he used to, or create open ice, like he used to. 4)Often a hard-working team can turn a good-poke-check into a sudden-dump-and-chase-good-board-work-throw-it-on-net-ugly-goal. New York is absolutely THAT team... Beagle is not a guy who gives up that poke-check, Ovechkin is. Conversely... 1)Under ten minutes left in a tied road game 2)Power play face/off (<-nick cage style!) in the scoring zone 3)Backstrom taking the face-off ^THAT is the time you want a well-rested and highly-motivated (thank you new yorkers) Ovechkin out there on the ice. Beagle is not a guy who scores that goal. Ovechkin is. Why NOT play people to their strengths? Let's not kid ourselves about contemporary sports: Ovechkin is paid to FILL SEATS and SELL JERSEYS during the regular season and hopefully win in the playoffs... Hunter is just paid to win. Which he did. You know i have to disagree. In truth, mostly because we won, but still…

The bottom line is;
1)Ovechkin doesn’t score off the rush anywhere near as often as he used to…
2)but his one-timer off a face-off or a slick cross-ice pass is still pretty money (i know, i know, let’s just say game 1 was “off” for everyone)
3)He tries to rush the puck up the ice, but he doesn’t back off (good) defenders anymore like he used to, or create open ice, like he used to.
4)Often a hard-working team can turn a good-poke-check into a sudden-dump-and-chase-good-board-work-throw-it-on-net-ugly-goal. New York is absolutely THAT team…

Beagle is not a guy who gives up that poke-check, Ovechkin is.

Conversely…
1)Under ten minutes left in a tied road game
2)Power play face/off (<-nick cage style!) in the scoring zone
3)Backstrom taking the face-off
^THAT is the time you want a well-rested and highly-motivated (thank you new yorkers) Ovechkin out there on the ice.

Beagle is not a guy who scores that goal. Ovechkin is.

Why NOT play people to their strengths?

Let's not kid ourselves about contemporary sports: Ovechkin is paid to FILL SEATS and SELL JERSEYS during the regular season and hopefully win in the playoffs…

Hunter is just paid to win.

Which he did.

]]> By: Fingerman http://www.homermcfanboy.com/2012/05/01/ovechkin-defeats-rangers-bad-coaching/comment-page-1/#comment-13328 Fingerman Tue, 01 May 2012 14:05:02 +0000 http://www.homermcfanboy.com/?p=4139#comment-13328 Totally agree on the Ovechkin stuff. Something that's being somewhat overlooked this morning in the aftermath of the win is that it's not like barely playing Ovechkin when the Caps have a one-goal lead is necessarily working most of the time--even if they came up with the win in games 5 and 7 and game 2 last night The fact is, they gave up one or two-goal leads in all three of those games and had to rely on getting the lead back with late (or overtime goals) to win. Sure, Ovechkin isn't the greatest defensive player, but it would be nice to actually attack the other team occasionally when you have a lead instead of, as you say, basically killing a penalty for the rest of the game after going up by a goal. Totally agree on the Ovechkin stuff. Something that’s being somewhat overlooked this morning in the aftermath of the win is that it’s not like barely playing Ovechkin when the Caps have a one-goal lead is necessarily working most of the time–even if they came up with the win in games 5 and 7 and game 2 last night The fact is, they gave up one or two-goal leads in all three of those games and had to rely on getting the lead back with late (or overtime goals) to win. Sure, Ovechkin isn’t the greatest defensive player, but it would be nice to actually attack the other team occasionally when you have a lead instead of, as you say, basically killing a penalty for the rest of the game after going up by a goal.

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