Like I said before the series the Caps are playing with house money this series and they sure as shit played like it in the 1st period. That first period was the best defensive period I’ve seen the Caps play in a very long time. It was just unfortunate that the offense even with some good chances couldn’t get the biscuit into the net.
Aside from that it just wasn’t the Capitals game for the rest of the game.
Of course we had to let that big dumb idiot get the first goal of the game, the kid cant even stop on two skates, but he is left untouched and he gives the Rangers the 1-0 lead.
Then the flood gates opened and not 30 seconds later the Rangers got on the board again off a just wanted it more type goal off a hit on the side boards and a feed to a 2v1 and a wide open Artemi Panarin who beat Lindgren low glove side. 2-0 Rangers.
Then off a Rangers faceoff win in our zone Jimmy Vesey ripped a wrister that was deflected and Lindgren couldn’t make the adjustment, 3-0 bad guys.
When a hope seemed to be fading the Capitals finally struck by some beautiful passing from Protas and Wilson who found a crashing Martin Fehervary who tapped the puck past the Rangers’ goalie, 3-1 Rags going into the 3rd period. This was Fehervary’s first career playoff goal.
The 3rd period was the complete opposite of the Caps 1st period effort, just no sense of urgency when you’re already down two goals.
Chris Kreider put the nail in the coffin in game 1 who was left alone on the breakaway because the one Cap’s defender was pinching in the offensive zone and the other wasn’t anticipating the outlet pass, 4-1 Rangers which was the Final.
This game was definitely a wake up call for our lackluster offense which has been relatively asleep all season to be fair, but having 4 power-play chances and not scoring one time is pathetic.
Not to mention Alex Ovechkin having ZERO shots on goal, Ovi was unselfish tonight when he had a look he passed first. He has to know it’s shoot first for him because him scoring is a huge momentum swinger for the team and himself. This was the 4th time he has gone shot-less in his career in the playoffs, just unacceptable.
Ovi was also taking the full powerplay shifts he should not be out there the whole time anymore.
Charlie Lindgren was relatively good last night making 27 saves on 31 shots in his postseason debut, but like I mentioned before if the Capitals want a chance in this series he needs to steal us a couple games which is a tall task vs this high powered offense.
Overall, we need more high danger chances against Shesterkin, it seemed like our defensemen where just gliding the puck at him when he was screened. We need more high velocity shots at him for more rebound chances.
We need more phsyciallty agaisnt these guys because they are faster we have to punish them when given the chance (legally of course).
Also, how bout the Caps about to go on a powerplay and Max Pacioretty gets into it with some Rangers in front of their bench and cross checked a Rangers and immediately eliminated the Caps powerplay! You are suppose to be a seasoned veteran you can not be making bone head decisions like that.
Also, it looks like we may have lost Vincent Iorio who got sent shoulder first into the board by Lefreniere and it didn’t look good, very dislocated shoulder/broken collarbone type reaction from him.
Speaking of defense John Mr Reliable Carlson was nails last night playing 28 minutes and stopping mutliple scoring chances himself.
If you want to think optimistically when the Capitals won the Stanley Cup they lost the first game in 3 of the 4 series they won…….
The boys are back at it for game 2 Tuesday at MSG, where expect to see a ton of shots from Ovi.
The Morning Skate 