New York Rangers vs Washington Capitals
- Thread starter Darryl
- Start date
bustaheims
Well-known member
cw said:
At the same time, he's only taken 40 faceoffs through 12 games - or less than 4 per game on average, so, "faceoff specialist" is a little generous. He's being used as a 4th line centre, period.
Heroic Shrimp
Active member
Potvin29 said:
I'll third that. There's no way in which it was or could have been deliberate.
maplesyrup
New member
The hack to the face or the hack in general?... Because I see something more than a defensive manoeuvre.
bustaheims
Well-known member
Sarge said:
It's a little over aggressive, but, at that point in the game, adrenaline is pumping. I sincerely doubt his intention is anything more than getting inside position on Hagelin and maybe knocking him to the ice. My guess is, in addition to pushing him back a little, Ward wanted his stick there to get in Hagelin's way, but was a little too forceful with his swing and . . . well, you know the result. I really don't see anything malicious there.
Heroic Shrimp
Active member
Sarge said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc1mtfAYS3s
Ward's motions were of those of a guy who thought the opposing player had a step on him, when in fact he didn't. Ward isn't watching Hagelin at all. Ward's arms and torso push back hard and fast on a body that wasn't located or moving the way he thought. He's swinging his body to push back on Hagelin to keep him away from the puck, and meets no resistance.
Ward would have to be the dumbest person in the world, seconds from a crucial 1-goal victory, to actually try to high-stick an opposing player. There are deliberate high sticks and there are careless ones. This was a careless one at the worst possible time.
That's the way I see it.
Kin
Active member
bustaheims said:
While I agree I do think something has to be said about the fact that he was out there taking that faceoff. In OT, with about 30 seconds to go on a PP and in a crucial game is not a situation where most 4th line centres will see the ice. He was out there to win a big faceoff and he did.
But with that said it's not like he won the faceoff and then made a great no look saucer pass. He won a faceoff back to the point, the wingers got in front of the net and a point shot went through. Mitchell did his part, which was win the faceoff, but he wasn't instrumental in the goal and the reason he was counted on to be out there is more a statement on how the other Rangers' centres are crummy on the draw.
L K
Well-known member
Scoring seems really low in these playoffs (aside from that first Flyers-Pittsburgh series). Ovechkin certainly hasn't been anything special offensively, but he has 9 points in 13 games so it isn't like he has completely disappeared. And to be honest, given that the two series Washinton has faced so far are Boston (stingy defensive team) and New York (stingy defensive team) I don't think it is all that shocking. Not that New Jersey isn't a defensive team, but I think you might see a little more scoring if the Capitals are able to pull off the comeback and win Games6 and 7.
Well that seemed like pretty clear-cut goalie interference.
Brian Glennie
New member
Good. I like Washington's fans and I can't stand the logo Richards keeps flashing on his mouthguard.
