Photo: Bruce Bennett
Cal Clutterbuck, who has fantastic facial hair and the best hockey name of all-time, is beginning early his trash talk for the Capitals, one of his favorite adversaries. When asked by the New York Post’s Brett Cyrgalis if he would put this team with the NHL’s elite, Clutterbuck started playing mind games.
“I don’t think it’s a positive thing when you turn on the TV every single time and you have everybody in the world telling you you’re supposed to win the Stanley Cup,” forward Cal Clutterbuck said. “I’d hate to be the Washington Capitals right now. A lot of pressure.”
“If you go in [to the playoffs] with a huge expectations, and let’s say in Game 1 you’re down 1-0 or 2-0, if the expectation is astronomical that’s placed on you from the outside, the sense of panic tends to rush in quicker. I just feel comfortable that we’ll be able to just stick with it. So I think that’s the more expectation you have from the outside, the more easy it is for things to kind of pile up on you.”
That’s Clutterbuck talking about how the Islanders have a mental advantage despite having 24 fewer standings points than the Capitals and being two points away from not qualifying for the playoffs. That’s Clutterbuck talking about how the Islanders have a mental advantage despite not winning a playoff series since 1993. That’s Clutterbuck talking about how the Islanders have a mental advantage despite losing to the Capitals in the first round last year and Tom Wilson living in his head since.
Okay, bruh.
