Rite of Spring 2018-“What happens in the playoffs stays in the playoffs”

[ozzyman314]

Still going to maintain my prediction that whomever came out of The West (in this case Vegas) is winning The Cup. 

[Dilbert]

Pierre: (interviews a Capitals player) Lets talk about your teammate Alex Ovechkin.

 

Hate Pierre McGuire.

[Morgan33]

3 minutes ago, Jimmy Lethal said:

As someone who likes the Knights, this is gonna be a comfy Finals.

 

That's what I thought in 2011.  Anything can happen.

[Kramerica Industries]

10 minutes ago, Ice_Cap said:

So at what point does Yzerman sacrifice Cooper to appease the gods?

 

Can't possibly come a minute too soon at this point.

 

Under Jon Cooper, the Lightning have:

 

*18-16 home record in the playoffs, which is pathetic

*4-9 home record in the ECF ans SCF, which is worse

*1-5 record in potential close out games in the ECF, which is worser

*blown a 3-2 series lead in their last two ECF appearances, which is the worst part of all (@Still MIGHTY can relate to this; dick move on my part to link you, btw, my many apologies)

 

That's not entirely Cooper's fault, sure. It would be nice if the $8.5M captain could do something more than be a one-timer from the left face off dot on the power play, for instance. 3 assists and one empty net goal in 17 playoff games at even strength, and this is far from the first time he's been a playoff dud but it's also his biggest dud yet too. Turns out bringing in a bunch of Rangers players who never got over the hump there aren't the recipe for getting over the hump here, either. Go figure. Never would've imagined that could be the case, huh.

 

I was disappointed of course but at least slightly at peace in both 2015 and '16 because the Lightning lost to objectively better teams, and given the status of their roster in May 2016 it was impressive as it was to go seven against Pittsburgh (  the offside rule forever) although up 3-2 at home they should've been able to close it out.

 

But losing, once again up 3-2, to a Capitals team that was, by consensus, the underdog in this series? There's no excuses. Pathetic end to the season after missing the playoffs in the worst division in the NHL a year ago. I'm ready for change, because this team, with this coach and this core (beyond just Hedman, Stamkos, and Kucherov mind you) has gone as far as its gonna go. We're either the Sharks East or the Ducks East at this point, but this team isn't winning the Cup as currently constructed. 

 

As I think I might've posted somewhere above, but maybe not, the NHL's highest scoring offense just got shut out for the last 159 minutes and 27 seconds of this series. Laugh out ing loud, 'mate. That's absolutely pathetic, I don't care how good Holtby was in these last two games.

[Alex Houston]

Its a shame these Caps are gonna lose to Vegas in 6. I get a Nashville and San Jose feeling about this team. Prove me wrong District. Prove me wrong.

[Crabcake]

Let’s not forget that the Caps were in double OT of a Game 3 they absolutely had to win or this never happens. 

 

This is amazing. So freaking happy for Ovechkin and the boys. I think that choker label has well and truly been vanquished. 

 

Im just gonna try and enjoy this moment. Don’t have to worry about Vegas till Monday. 

[Dynasty]

This is probably Washington's best shot at a title for the foreseeable future. Good luck to them.

[DC in Da House w/o a Doubt]

Hey let's go big Caps keep it going baby four more wins. Beat the Branson Golden Knights 

[Crabcake]

Also, so so glad that Ovi actually touched the freaking trophy. Superstitions are dumb. Enjoy the moment for God’s sake. 

[ozzyman314]

1 minute ago, Crabcake47 said:

Also, so so glad that Ovi actually touched the freaking trophy. Superstitions are dumb. Enjoy the moment for God’s sake. 

Caps are one of the most snakebitten franchises in The League, so they really didn't have anything to lose   

[habsfan1]

6 minutes ago, Crabcake47 said:

This is amazing. So freaking happy for Ovechkin and the boys. I think that choker label has well and truly been vanquished.

 

Not yet.

 

It will be vanquished when Ovechkin raises Lord Stanley. The labeling will continue like crazy, if he and his Capitals get beat by an expansion team.

[habsfan1]

[Red Wolf]

I've been pretty mellow on the Vegas thing, but now that the Caps are in, I say to HELL WITH THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS! 

[Lee Noire]

14 minutes ago, habsfan1 said:

That’s beautiful

[Crabcake]

13 minutes ago, habsfan1 said:

 

Not yet.

 

It will be vanquished when Ovechkin raises Lord Stanley. The labeling will continue like crazy, if he and his Capitals get beat by an expansion team.

I beg to differ. First of all, as mentioned before, this ain’t your daddy’s expansion team. Vegas is a different beast - great coach, great keeper, super deep. 

 

Second of all, what the Caps did this postseason imo covers all their bases in terms of choking. Down 2-0 in the first round after two home L’s? Win the next four. Lose a heartbreaking Game 1 to the Pens and immediately have the “here we go again” thoughts start? Win four of the next five. Blow a 2-0 lead in a series? Win it in 7. This team showed fight, heart, and mental strength that hasn’t been seen in a Rock the Red-era Caps team. They remind me a lot of the ‘16 Sharks. People generally don’t call the Sharks chokers anymore iirc. 

[FiddySicks]

After all this time, Ovi and the Caps FINALLY get over the hump. What an awesome story and what a great thing to witness. You could really see the emotion in Ovechkin’s face. It was really touching to see. 

 

And, after all that, they’re going to get OITGDNHL’d so hard and get completely killed by a god damn expansion team. 

[ozzyman314]

5 minutes ago, Crabcake47 said:

I beg to differ. First of all, as mentioned before, this ain’t your daddy’s expansion team. Vegas is a different beast - great coach, great keeper, super deep. 

 

Second of all, what the Caps did this postseason imo covers all their bases in terms of choking. Down 2-0 in the first round after two home L’s? Win the next four. Lose a heartbreaking Game 1 to the Pens and immediately have the “here we go again” thoughts start? Win four of the next five. Blow a 2-0 lead in a series? Win it in 7. This team showed fight, heart, and mental strength that hasn’t been seen in a Rock the Red-era Caps team. They remind me a lot of the ‘16 Sharks. People generally don’t call the Sharks chokers anymore iirc. 

Pretty much. 

Personally I had whatever team coming out of The West winning The Cup no matter who won in The East. 

[Sport]

Here's the annual graphic about touching the conference champoinship trophies. (click a bunch of times to expand)

 

 

[FiddySicks]

So Eric Lindros kicked that whole stupid tradition off, huh? 

 

 

Figures. 

[habsfan1]

14 minutes ago, Crabcake47 said:

I beg to differ. First of all, as mentioned before, this ain’t your daddy’s expansion team. Vegas is a different beast - great coach, great keeper, super deep. 

 

Second of all, what the Caps did this postseason imo covers all their bases in terms of choking. Down 2-0 in the first round after two home L’s? Win the next four. Lose a heartbreaking Game 1 to the Pens and immediately have the “here we go again” thoughts start? Win four of the next five. Blow a 2-0 lead in a series? Win it in 7. This team showed fight, heart, and mental strength that hasn’t been seen in a Rock the Red-era Caps team. They remind me a lot of the ‘16 Sharks. People generally don’t call the Sharks chokers anymore iirc. 

 

I will say that the Caps played a complete game. Like Vegas, every line played their best hockey, when they needed to.

 

As far as the Sharks are concerned, no offence but I still hear examples of them being defined by failure. As far as the Capitals are concerned, if they play like they've been doing, it will be harder to define them as "chokers" or "failures", in the event they do come up short to Vegas. However, my opinion about that is subjective, I'll leave that up to everyone else to decide what the Capitals legacy will be if they lose the Cup.