R2 - Series Thread - Capitals (M1) vs Penguins (M2)

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

I can list Penguins who played well too.

And nobody’s saying Caps aren’t a good team.

Letang was getting out of position, gifting a clear path to the net, giving away breakaways that directly led to tying and winning goals. In the last two games. Not early in the game, at late and critical points.

Yes the Caps capitalized, but why is it weird? Letang was playing D like Anders Eriksson

It’s like the expression about a chain being as strong as its weakest link

It is weird because when you say "x team lost it rather than y team winning it" that implies that x team dominated the series/game, yet they still lost.

This was not the case. You could argue it was an even series, but a better assessment is that the Caps were the better team throughout. The better team won and deserved to do so.

[Erick Estrada]

Letang has always been a bit of a boom/bust player so I don't see much of a change there as he was still a point a game in the playoffs. Lack of secondary scoring is what ultimately did the Penguins in as they really only had two forwards going. Kessel with only one goal which is way off his playoff totals from the past two seasons.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

It is weird because when you say "x team lost it rather than y team winning it" that implies that x team dominated the series/game, yet they still lost.

This was not the case. You could argue it was an even series, but a better assessment is that the Caps were the better team throughout. The better team won and deserved to do so.

Fair perspective but not my opinion. I don’t think and did not say or imply the Pens dominated. I think it was an even series.

And really bad defensive decisions at very specific and critical times created very avoidable opportunities, that turned in to goals at bad times, and specifically and directly caused losses.

I won’t argue that the Caps were the better team throughout. I won’t say they didn’t deserve to win. Could have been a coin toss. It was even, until game breaking mistakes gave it away.

[Shazam]

Meh, that's how Letang always plays.

They won two cups in a row. Whatever the Pens did is a fair bit better than, well, everybody else.

They finally looked gassed this round.

[Tsawwassen]

The Penguins have a pattern happening. They are the 2 time defending champions (2016, 2017) and they lose in the 2nd round at home in OT. Turn back time 25 years ago, the Pens are the 2 time defending champs (1991, 1992) and they lose in the 2nd round at home in OT.