Here we go! The Stanley Cup Final, the centerpiece of the great northern tradition of frozen realms, to be contested by two cities south of the Mason-Dixon line that’ll have temperatures around 90 degrees this weekend. I could not care less about the big-market or heritage-y teams missing the final, I just want good hockey, and I think this is going to be good hockey.
Let’s do predictions.
By Peter Hassett 4 days ago
We are halfway into the playoffs. Err, we are halfway in by calendar, but really we’re more like 80 percent done by number of games. I feel like the conference finals are when the playoffs stop being “I’m just gonna turn on the TV and watch whoever thrash each other” and more like “ah yes, the pinched duel between Tkachuk and Burns continues apace tonight at 8 PM.” That’s still really good unless you hate the remaining teams, and I’m told a number of you do. Even if that’s the case, you will watch three out of four of ’em have their hearts broken soon. That sounds nice.
Time for predictions.
By Peter Hassett 3 weeks ago
The first round is over, and I’m not even going to brag about going six-for-eight in my predictions. You’re not going to hear me tooting my own horn about getting every series right except for the historic Boston upset and the curse-ending Toronto win. If you’re looking for gloating about me besting Ian and a quarter with my raw intellect, you’ll have to look elsewhere. I’m too busy making more very good predictions for the second round.
Come join.
By Peter Hassett 1 month ago
In 2017 the Washington Capitals faced the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Down 2-1, it was a tight series, with the Caps relying on their power play (then coached by Blaine Forsythe) for a big chunk of their scoring. Compounding problems was the other end of the ice, where the Leafs were outmatching the Caps in dangerous chances, 39 to 30. With their offense foundering and Toronto getting lots of zone time, Washington grew frustrated.
For a while this frustration was indescribable. Then defender Kevin Shattenkirk took the microphone. “We’re kinda getting a little too horny getting in there,” he said, changing the course of history forever.
By Peter Hassett 2 months ago
Friends, it is time again for the best two weeks in hockey: the quarterfinal round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. There will be two intense games a night for the foreseeable future, and they will all be bananas.
why watch overtime playoff hockey when you can simply snort cocaine and ride a motorcycle out of a helicopter
— Jon Bois (@jon_bois) April 17, 2014
Time for predictions.
By Peter Hassett 2 months ago
Last week we asked you, dear readers, which teams you’ll be supporting in the playoffs. It turns out the Washington Capitals will not be participating.
More than 1500 respondents ranked their top three teams, plus the one team upon which they wish naught but suffering.
By Peter Hassett 2 months ago
The Washington Capitals will not be in the 2022-23 Stanley Cup tournament, but the Penguins won’t be either, so that takes some of the sting out.
I’m desperately curious about what you’re gonna do for the playoffs. What teams are you going to root for? Who are you going to root against? Do you even care now that the Caps are out?
Please fill out this survey; it’s fun and it’ll take you maybe one minute.
By Peter Hassett 2 months ago
When John Carlson took a 90-mph slap shot to the side of the head in late December, there were immediate fears for the defenseman’s well-being and concerns that he may never play hockey ever again. Carlson was immediately transported to the hospital during the third period where he was diagnosed with a fractured skull and severed temporal artery.
Three months and after a lot of hard work later, there is good news to report: Carlson’s career will continue and he will make his incredible return to the Capitals against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night.
Carlson’s return is worth celebrating but it comes at a pivotal moment for the Capitals where the landscape of the team has greatly shifted. The Capitals were firmly in playoff position in late December when John was last in the lineup, but their play cratered in the months following. GM Brian MacLellan signaled the team was throwing in the towel when it dealt five veteran players at the trade deadline, but head coach Peter Laviolette is still gunning for a playoff spot despite all odds.
With 10 games remaining in the Capitals’ season, an uncomfortable question must be posed: Is a John Carlson comeback even worth it this season?
For Carlson personally: the obvious answer is yes. But for the Capitals as a team, the answer is much less clear.
By Ian Oland 2 months ago
The other night, I sarcastically tweeted that the Capitals won “the equivalent of a preseason game” against the Buffalo Sabres when they pulled out a 5-4 victory in the shootout.
And hooooo boy, that got some people on Twitter BIG mad at me. So we’re going back in time and morphing into Livejournal blog mode to properly talk this one out.
The reason I’m writing is that I was really confused about the reaction. I also felt like I needed to “own” my comment and explain why I see various parts of the fandom at completely different places in what they think “is best” for the team we all love and root for.
With the Washington Capitals losing five consecutive games in regulation coming into Thursday’s game against Anaheim, their chances of making the playoffs were approaching single digits. Dealing away pending unrestricted free agents at the trade deadline seemed like the most logical decision, but with the franchise promising Alex Ovechkin to go for the Stanley Cup every year, that scenario was not certain.
Thursday evening, Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan gave Capitals fans the first sign of what’s to come over the next week, trading away the team’s best overall defenseman, Dmitry Orlov, and chippy, high-impact depth forward, Garnet Hathaway, to the Boston Bruins for draft picks.
In the press release announcing the deal, MacLellan signaled the direction the Capitals are going moving forward.
By Ian Oland 3 months ago
