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Post by ivanbalt on Oct 12, 2023 5:55:03 GMT -5
Not sure why the late start, but season begins Friday. New coach and the veterans seem to be healthy for now. At this time, my expectations/hopes are a wild card slot since I'm not sure how the new system is going to work.
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Post by alienrace on Oct 12, 2023 7:05:05 GMT -5
My expectations aren't too high. The Caps, Pens, two perennial powerhouses are now a collection of broken down old men who are clinging to a "window" that is clearly shut.
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Post by ivanbalt on Oct 16, 2023 8:03:29 GMT -5
Bad performance Friday, but I couldn't even watch it since it was on ESPN+. I get the NHL is always going to go for the cash grab at the expense of fans, but how is the first game of the season not on the RSN?
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Post by alienrace on Nov 1, 2023 15:41:55 GMT -5
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Post by ivanbalt on Nov 6, 2023 14:52:00 GMT -5
Looks like his season is officially over and career with it. Sad end, but he'll ultimately retire a Caps legend.
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Post by alienrace on Nov 15, 2023 9:03:05 GMT -5
Caps are starting to look like they might have something here with all the young bloods. Huge win over defending champs last night 3-0. Really like Milano, Protas, Malenstyn and McMichael. Fast, big, and good skills. Team seems to have a good blend of youth and vets now, and sit in 2nd place.
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Post by ivanbalt on Nov 16, 2023 7:08:07 GMT -5
Defense has improved. After giving up 2 in the 3rd period on Friday I thought they were done but they held out.
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Post by alienrace on Nov 24, 2023 8:02:25 GMT -5
Laughlin and Beninatti mentioned this, that given the amount of players called up from Hershey, they are really familiar with the Carberry system.
5 straight wins, 2nd place in Metro. Wouldn't have thunk it a month ago. Loved seeing them win in OT for once too.
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Post by ivanbalt on Nov 25, 2023 9:01:28 GMT -5
Ugly loss yesterday, but the Oilers are in theory a very good team even though they've been pretty bad so far.
Good news is that the Caps game kept me from watching any of the Dolphins/Jets game.
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Post by ivanbalt on Dec 13, 2023 10:04:14 GMT -5
So the Caps and Wizards will be moving to Alexandria which sucks. I guess it's Virginia's turn to subsidize a billionaire.
This is probably going to be the new trend where stadiums and arenas aren't enough and owners now need huge amounts of land for additional development that they can control.
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Post by alienrace on Dec 13, 2023 12:19:07 GMT -5
So the Caps and Wizards will be moving to Alexandria which sucks. I guess it's Virginia's turn to subsidize a billionaire. This is probably going to be the new trend where stadiums and arenas aren't enough and owners now need huge amounts of land for additional development that they can control. It's not set in stone yet. Bowser just made an offer today to try and keep them in DC. Leonsis wanted 600m in renovations, she's offering 500m, says it's "final". Might have all just been a ploy to get the renovations he wanted.
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Post by alienrace on Dec 13, 2023 12:20:07 GMT -5
Either way it's just across the river, and honestly easier to get to for most people. Well, other than the infernal GW Parkway.
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Post by ivanbalt on Dec 13, 2023 12:45:20 GMT -5
So the Caps and Wizards will be moving to Alexandria which sucks. I guess it's Virginia's turn to subsidize a billionaire. This is probably going to be the new trend where stadiums and arenas aren't enough and owners now need huge amounts of land for additional development that they can control. It's not set in stone yet. Bowser just made an offer today to try and keep them in DC. Leonsis wanted 600m in renovations, she's offering 500m, says it's "final". Might have all just been a ploy to get the renovations he wanted. Pretty sure it's official now pending Virginia legislative approval. I'm sure it was already a done deal between Leonsis and Virginia regardless of what DC did since the new site has "mixed use" development plans.
I usually go once or twice a year to a game and me and wife stay there because we can walk to the Mall and there's numerous bars/restaurants in Chinatown. Some new "complex" just doesn't have the same appeal.
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Post by ivanbalt on Feb 14, 2024 7:46:47 GMT -5
Good news: Ovi has gotten hot and scored in 6 straight.
Bad news: No one else is really scoring and they keep losing.
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Post by alienrace on Feb 14, 2024 9:00:52 GMT -5
Hard to watch. Might have to get used to this until Ovi retires. That said, he keeps it up and sometime next year he'll have the record.
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Post by alienrace on Mar 8, 2024 13:13:28 GMT -5
Kuzy traded to Carolina. The rebuild is in full swing now.
Been a hard season to watch. Injuries, inconsistency. Horrendous goaltending. That said, they seem to have some great young players and it will be interesting to see how they integrate all of it with the older guys like Ovi, Karlson, Oshie, and Wilson. I think Backstrom is likely done, sadly.
They still have a halfway decent shot at the playoffs somehow. They are 6 points behind Tampa, 7 behind Philly with 3 games in hand. If they could just string together a few decent nights. They keep winning the tough games and losing the easy ones.
As for Kuzy, sad to see him go but he clearly has personal issues and needs a change of scenery.
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Post by ivanbalt on Mar 10, 2024 11:00:44 GMT -5
Had class on Thursday so I missed the beatdown of the Penguins, but went to the game last night and was pleased that they took care of business against a very bad Blackhawks team. Younger players are starting to step up so they might be able to squeak in.
Agree on Kuzy, hope he can figure things out.
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Post by alienrace on Mar 11, 2024 7:54:25 GMT -5
The Pens look like they are a year behind the Caps in terms of a rebuild. Watched them again yesterday and they just looked awful against a really good Oiler team.
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Post by ivanbalt on Mar 23, 2024 13:09:08 GMT -5
Went to bed before the end of last night's game, but looked like a thrilling win. They did a great tribute to Kuzy for his return.
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Post by alienrace on Mar 26, 2024 10:19:03 GMT -5
In playoff position, and Ovi has been red hot. Lindgren has been key, and Kemper looks like a total bust now. Hopefully they can beat the Wings tonight and keep it going.
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Post by alienrace on Mar 27, 2024 9:14:34 GMT -5
Huge win last night.
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Post by ivanbalt on Mar 29, 2024 5:22:29 GMT -5
Thankfully no more games against the Leafs.
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Post by ivanbalt on Apr 10, 2024 5:22:45 GMT -5
Big, big win last night. Somehow the Caps are back in control of the wildcard spot no one seems to want.
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Post by alienrace on Apr 16, 2024 7:42:24 GMT -5
Well, win and they're in. Lose and they're out. With how up and down they have been, not holding my breath.
I do think they made the right coaching choice though.
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Post by ivanbalt on Apr 17, 2024 5:14:08 GMT -5
They're in, time to ruin the Rangers' season.
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Post by alienrace on Apr 17, 2024 7:39:55 GMT -5
They're in, time to ruin the Rangers' season. If there is one top team that I think could be vulnerable to that, it's the Rags. Lingren is hot at the right time too.
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Post by ivanbalt on Apr 19, 2024 12:41:09 GMT -5
In other NHL news, Coyotes officially sold and move to Utah. Apparently the former Coyotes owner has the right to reactivate the team if he can get a new arena built in next five years. Why?
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Post by alienrace on Apr 19, 2024 12:44:43 GMT -5
Apparently the former Coyotes owner has the right to reactivate the team if he can get a new arena built in next five years. Why? I think they had a pretty loyal fanbase actually, the issue was getting a reasonable arena built for them. The former owner really had little choice to sell or have the team taken away as I understood it due to snags in getting it built to this point.
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Post by ivanbalt on Apr 19, 2024 13:12:16 GMT -5
Apparently the former Coyotes owner has the right to reactivate the team if he can get a new arena built in next five years. Why? I think they had a pretty loyal fanbase actually, the issue was getting a reasonable arena built for them. The former owner really had little choice to sell or have the team taken away as I understood it due to snags in getting it built to this point. I feel for the fans, but that team has always had problems whether it's finances or arenas. Doesn't seem like the various cities are too keen on a new arena even with a good amount of private financing. Even if an expansion team goes back to Arizona, it shouldn't be the former owner in charge again. Apparently he regularly didn't pay bills among other complaints.
Should have went to a Canadian city but Bettman hates Canada.
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Post by ivanbalt on Apr 24, 2024 5:39:48 GMT -5
At this point, I'm hoping the Caps can steal one or two. They played better last night, but Rangers are clearly the better team.
Non-stop penalties don't help either. So much for letting them play during the playoffs.
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