Hockey Trash Talk & BS thread

I guess we can agree to disagree on the definition. Failing to meet expectations, failing to perform in a pressure situation, that's choking to me. Caps continually excel during the regular season yet fall short when it comes playoff time. I am not sure how else you would describe it.

 

Regular season doesn't equal playoffs. How many presidents trophy winners even make it past the first round?

 

Sure, defining 'choke' is necessary. I think choking can apply to a team who drops a significant lead in a game or series because they repeatedly fail to pack the killer blow or perhaps a team who just doesn't show up when the chips are down proverbial speaking. I would say the Caps played their guts out. The erased a 3 goal deficit in game 6, something that showed character. Furthermore Holtby made some huge saves in game 6. That game was one save or one lucky bounce from going the other way.
I also think saying the Caps choked belittles what the Pens accomplished by playing solid team defense in front of a green goalie. His confidence is now sky high. There is only one winner each year. The Stanley Cup may very well be the toughest trophy to win in pro sports. I just think the word 'choke' is too quickly applied to situations of loss.

 

Few

 

If the Pens had lost that game in OT last night, that would have been a choke.

 

I disagree with your definition, but that's fine. Anything less than a finals appearance this year is a let down IMO - choking under pressure in the playoffs.

Congrats to the Pens on a well played series.

 

Agreed. The pressure was on, and they were expected close that series out at home. A series loss for them at that point would have been an even bigger choke.

Bottom line is, I'm salty that the Caps continue to come up short in their quest for the Cup.

 

Exactly

 

The modern NHL is the best example of league parity I have ever seen. The NHL isn't like the MLB, NBA, or NFL. In those leagues usually the top 3 teams are far better than anyone else and one of them wins the championship greater than 90% of the time. I find that a lot of fans feel that the NHL should be the same way when it's not. In the modern NHL any team 1-8 in the playoffs can win the Cup, especially if they stay healthy and the goalie gets hot.

The Pens have every one of their superstars on the ice healthy and they have a hot goalie. The Caps didn't look confident all round and the goaltending, while very good, was never as timely as on the other side of the ice this round. That's really the story at the end of the day. Did Holtby not elevate his game? Who knows. Maybe he's tired. Maybe he just doesn't have another gear after his, likely, Vezina season.

All I know is that even after everything you can say that might not of been working for Washington they were still one bounce from taking the series home for a game 7. That seems pretty even to me.

 

I have no love for the Caps. But I have a LOT less love for the pens. I think it sucked!!
But meh.....the Playoffs are mostly 'blah' to an Oilers fan.

 

Listen up you salty sack of loser-sauce .... your team is the east coast version of the tried and true loser pioneers; Vancooter Can'tnucks.

 

The cat came back

 

What a bunch of hosers eh

 

I was rather enjoying the break from the fly vile.

 

Lol

 

He won't last long , don't fret

 

it's like having two injured players back for the conference final. The anti is has been upped.

 

That was a serious divine intervention play. I'm hearing the Duck quacks are already trying to get him in net for another division title. When Beagle stated he wasn't a goalie, quack management scoffed, saying they KNOW a goalie when they see one and the offer is still good. However, a name change is in order .... maybe 'mallard' or 'slopebeak' etc..

 

Translation: " I'm going to cry and complain to a mod again "

How is that snake belly stew Oz ? .. well looks like you're set for another year of nuck toast.