| |
|
|
Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Jan 16, 2008
|
|
How do we all feel about this series? As hot as the Caps have been the final few weeks, Philadelphia has been playing extremely well of late, and their goaltender Biron just shut out the Pens in the final game of the season. Philly has a bit more in the way of veteran experience than the Caps do (all apologies to Mr. Federov, he will need to continue to be a leader) but the Caps have one Alexander Ovechkin. For the Caps, here are my three keys to winning this series:
1. Get Ovechkin going early and often
2. Huet has to continue his dominant streak of goaltending, after Ovechkin, he's been the second most important player during this stretch
3. Don't let up on the intensity--the Caps have been in full-blown playoff mode for a long time, and now that they've pulled off the division championship, they cannot afford to get comfortable or let up. They still have to bring that level of desperation intensity to every game, and it will be interesting to see how much they still have left in the tank.
I think Boudreau gets this team ready to play with the right level of intensity, and I think there will be no stopping Ovechkin, So it all comes down to Huet for me, and I think he will come through. Caps in six.
|
|
|
Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 14, 2006
|
I don't see this team getting comfortable. But I wish we would have gotten Ottawa.
I think the caps win in 6. But they need to take care of business at home.
|
|
|
Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 28, 2006
|
|
I don't think ANYBODY wants to play the Caps right now, they have been on fire. I think this goes to the Caps in Five Games. They have been in Playoff mode for the past month. The last ten games have been win or stay home. I see Ovechkin as being a big game guy, the bigger the game, the better he plays. The new Coach has pulled all the right strings, what a job!! Huet has been a wall. Philly is a good team, the home ice will favor Washington big time.
CAPS in Five Games
|
|
|
Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:May 14, 2007
|
|
I think this goes to 7 games and won't predict who wins. I obviously want the Caps.
I will predict they lose the first game becuase their sole focus has been on making the playoffs for so long. It reminds me of the Redskins playoff push...they put so much into making the playoffs that they just have to exhale. I don't see how they couldn't have a let down.
I will be impressed if there isn't a let down. If they play with the same intensity and urgency...they take Philly in 5 or 6, but I'm predicting a little hiccup along the way.
Go Caps!
|
|
|
Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 30, 2007
|
|
The caps have been in playoff mode for about 3 weeks now, and I think that plays to their advantage. They are getting their chance to "exhale" now for the next 5 days. I think these guys will suit up Friday night and be ready to continue the way they have been going.
As a Caps fan I am a bit nervous, but how do you think PHilly fans are feeling right now? They are getting ready to face the top goal scorer and a team that has won 14 of its last 18 games AND a goalie who is playing lights out.
Its like that silly saying when you see a spider/snake/creepy crawly... "They're more afraid of you than you are of them". And that is how I see Philly fans right now.
We've waited a very long time for this... lets enjoy every minute of it and remember to continue to believe.
GO CAPS!!!
|
|
|
Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:May 14, 2007
|
I can see what you're getting at...I hope you're on the mark
|
|
|
Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 18, 2007
|
|
Demon, great post as always!
As a Caps fan, I'm nervious-by-nature anyway.  Looking at a few things...the teams split the 4 game series two each---with each team winning on the raod ( which kinda makes me wonder about home edge??? ). All but one were decided by 1 goal ( 1 game a SO ) and the other by two. First game we won, was Gabby's first game as our new coach!
I look at the side-by-side and it's creepy...BOTH teams are big, physical and can get nasty at times, but rely on a wide-open O with a tight passing game. Both are riding hot goalers with a more-than-able back-up. BOTH teams have 9 guys who've scored in double digits...12 who've notched DD in Assists...and 14 who are in DD in overall points. Flyers scoring is more spread-out than ours, but they have two guys who've racked-up HUGE PiM time.
I want the Caps, but I won't call the outcome...
|
|
|
Reputation:53
Level:Pro
Since:Feb 4, 2008
|
|
The Caps have momentum going into the playoffs, winning 7 straight to get in and playing well for the past few weeks. They will beat the Flyers in 5 games by good goaltending and the Ovie factor. Not only is Ovie a star on his own, but he inspires others to be as well, and the Caps have a good supporting cast. I don't think they can win the cup THIS YEAR but in the years to come, they will be solid contenders.
|
|
|
Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:Nov 12, 2006
|
|
in response to capsunited's post, as a Flyers fan i must say that i am not the least bit worried about playing the Capitals. yea, ovechkin, semin, and backstrom have been playing great hockey, but you need more than one line in a seven game series. richards is one of the best two way players in the game and is emerging as one of the great young leaders in the nhl. if he can limit AO two one goal per game this series will be no trouble at all for the flyers. the flyers have the most balanced scoring in the league and that depth is going to wear down the capitals over the course of the series. huet probably has a slight edge over biron, but i like the flyers offense, defense, and special teams more than the capitals. if the capitals werent on such a nice winning streak right now they wouldn't be getting any hype at all as a good team, and they achieved that streak playing the likes of atlanta, tb, and florida. the flyers played in the best division in hockey and still had more points than Washington. FLYERS IN 6
|
|
