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New York Times
05-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
What I'm seeing from Capitals before NHL playoff bout vs. Hurricanes
ARLINGTON, Va. — Spencer Carbery, four days into his five-day break from the Stanley Cup playoffs, could've had a relaxing Sunday night. That's not how it worked out for the head coach of the Washington Capitals. He, like most of the rest of us, watched the Winnipeg Jets' out-of-control, double-overtime Game 7 win over the St. Louis Blues. Advertisement It was not a particularly chill experience. 'Actually, it's worse watching other games, for me, than it is coaching in the moment on the bench,' Carbery said on Monday, the Capitals' last practice day before the start of their second-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes. 'Because you just feel for the players and the staff. Even watching (Jets-Blues Game 7), you're just gutted for those two teams, and you're just like, 'Oh no.' And someone has to lose. Same thing with Colorado-Dallas. 'This time of year, your whole season and everything that you work for is on the line, and one penalty call, one missed assignment, one shot at the net can decide eight months of hard work. That's what we signed up for. It's high pressure but high reward as well.' When Carbery's team eliminated the Montreal Canadiens on April 30, there were still six other series being played. He said he's used that to his advantage — or at least made the attempt. 'There's no doubt it's nice to be able to take a deep breath,' Carbery said. 'We can start to get ready for the second round and now some teams are fighting it out. You get to watch that. You get to take a breather. You get to reset mentally and use the rest physically to prepare as well for what you're about to embark on. Yeah, I would be lying if I sat here and said that it wasn't nice to be through the first obstacle and watch other teams.' But ultimately, as Carbery said, 'it doesn't mean anything.' The proof he offered was the second round in 2023, when he was an assistant with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto had just eliminated the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games, then got to wait around for the winner of a war between the Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins. The Panthers won in seven games and needed overtime to do it. '(The Maple Leafs were) rested, ready to go on home ice,' Carbery said. 'I'll never forget that game. Florida came in and kicked the crap out of the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 1.' Advertisement The bright side for Washington and Carolina both, then, is that neither had to wait on the other. They're waiting on the schedule. Nothing more than that. In the meantime, the rest of us have had reflection time as well. Here are some thoughts on what we've seen from various Capitals, now that we're sufficiently removed from the first round. Alex Ovechkin: All systems are go for the ol' fella. Washington didn't win his minutes territorially against the Canadiens, but they didn't really need to; the Caps outscored Montreal 5-2 with him on the ice, and he added two other goals on the power play. He's an interesting watch at five-on-five, too, because he's physically engaged — 19 hits, tied for the team lead — without being all that effective, let's say, away from the puck. Dylan Strome: Like Ovechkin, Strome has been outstanding with the puck on his stick. There were moments in the middle of the series, though, where it wasn't on his stick enough. Strome's not a zone-entry wizard, and Washington's defensive zone exits — thanks to a pretty effective Canadiens forecheck — were sloppy. Carolina's been known to forecheck a bit, too, so that's something to watch. Jakob Chychrun and John Carlson: The Capitals outscored Montreal 3-2 with them on the ice, and Chychrun's first-period goal in Game 5 was gigantic, but the two had some ugly moments in front of their own net — particularly Carlson. If we find out down the line that he was dealing with an injury, don't be surprised. He's also 35 years old. Overall, in about 70 minutes with them on the ice, Washington allowed 17 high-danger chances with them on the ice. Among pairings with at least 20 minutes together, Chychrun-Carlson was eighth in on-ice high-danger chances against per 60 (16.5). That's a lot of chaos, especially against a team like Carolina that funnels shot attempts toward the net as a means of causing mistakes and creating more prime chances. Advertisement '(It's) not necessarily the initial shot or the initial delivery that becomes problematic,' Carbery said. 'It's usually the events quickly that follow. … They end up stressing you constantly and eventually, usually what happens is crap, you give up a rebound or a third or a fourth one, it ends up paying off. Logan Thompson: He was good enough in Games 1 and 2, offering glimpses at the play that put him on early-season Vezina Trophy short lists, but Thompson still didn't quite look comfortable — and Game 3, featuring poor play (from him and the rest of the Caps) and an injury scare felt like a disaster. By Game 5, Thompson was back at his best, stopping 28 of 29 shots, saving nearly three goals above expected and generally looking more comfortable. If that's what he gives Washington reliably, look out. 'I've been on him all year to try and get him flustered and get him off his game and keep him on his toes,' Wilson said. 'Maybe it's just practice makes perfect. And now he's just finding that rhythm, where he's just in his happy place and he's just feeling good.' Anthony Beauvillier: We might be selling him short here; Beauvillier had five points against the Canadiens, including a huge goal and overtime setup for Ovechkin in Game 1, and generally added a well-rounded set of tools to that top line. There's no reason to think that he'll drop back down the lineup just yet, even with Aliaksei Protas back in the mix. Ovechkin and Strome both have raved about what he brings to the mix. (Photo of Alex Ovechkin: Scott Taetsch / Getty Images)
New York Times
03-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
LeBrun: Avalanche vs. Stars isn't your average Game 7: ‘You play for your life'
DALLAS — No, Gary Bettman will not be in the building awarding the Stanley Cup on Saturday night. It just feels that way. Sometimes, the script holds. What a series. Colorado-Dallas had seven games written all over it the moment that matchup was locked in, and that's exactly what both bona fide Stanley Cup contenders have delivered us. Advertisement The best series of the NHL's opening round is going the distance. Well, duh, of course. 'It has been great hockey,' Sidney Crosby, watching from afar, told The Athletic via email. 'Fast, physical and both teams have had times of controlling momentum. Top players have contributed and goalies have had their moments of making big, key saves. It's playoff hockey and only fitting it would go seven games between two solid teams like this.'' Everyone involved in the series can appreciate what they've been part of heading into Game 7. 'For sure, two very tough, hard-fought teams that want it,'' said Avs superstar defenseman Cale Makar. 'You look at the standings, obviously tight standings coming into the playoffs. That's just the way the format is. You're going to have to beat really good teams every single round. Dallas is obviously incredibly stacked. We knew that coming in. It wasn't going to be an easy series regardless of being up or down. 'So, I don't think there was a world where this wasn't going seven,'' he added. Saturday night at American Airlines Arena, one of these teams will be gone way too early based on their own expectations. So much on the line. The Stars win and head coach Peter DeBoer improves to 9-0 all-time in Game 7s. I guess that makes him the Justin Williams of coaching. 'I'd rather win in six,'' DeBoer said in deflecting from his Game 7 record. 'My record, honestly … Jared Bednar and I are not going to have a big impact on this game,'' added the Stars coach. 'The players are going to decide that. Both teams know each other. It's who goes out and executes and gets big games from the right guys.'' The Avalanche prevail Saturday and they will have won their first seven-game series since the spring of 2002, when Makar was 3 years old. The Stars have been knocking at the door for five years, Stanley Cup finalists in 2020, conference finalists in 2023 and 2024. Is it finally their time? Advertisement The Avs looked destined for multiple Cup titles after winning it all in 2022, but have won only one playoff series since. This is the kind of quality series win that could propel them back where they belong. Both these teams can win the Cup. One goes home Saturday night. There have been amazing individual storylines. Avs captain Gabriel Landeskog has four points (one goal, three assists) in four playoff games playing a top-six role after his three-year hiatus, a stunning level of play by any possible measure. It's been breathtaking to witness. Former Avs star Mikko Rantanen has come alive with back-to-back monster games. He's got seven points (two goals, five assists) in the last two games for Dallas after feeling the heat for just one assist in the opening four games. I mean, it's the Mikko Rantanen bowl — we needed the central figure to show up and boy has he ever. With his team's season on the line, Miro Heiskanen won't get to wear a Superman cape for Game 7. The Stars' No. 1 defenseman was ruled out by DeBoer on Friday evening in his media update with reporters at the airport after the team's travel got delayed by weather. Heiskanen skated in every single team session since the start of the series, and the coach kept saying he was getting closer. What I wondered all along is whether the Stars would break glass in case of emergency and bring No. 4 back, and Game 7 is an emergency. But obviously he's not there yet. So Dallas will try to win the series as they've played the entire series so far: without their most important defender, who was such a difference-maker in the six-game series win over the Avs a year ago. As such, the Stars' best chance is not to get into another track meet like Thursday night's ridiculous game, won 7-4 by the Avalanche. That Formula One race fed right into Colorado's preferred style. It's not what Dallas wants again in Game 7. 'Of course not, but we're down 2-0 five minutes in (to Game 6),'' DeBoer said. 'You don't have a choice but to open it up.'' In the meantime, the veteran coach has tried to stay on a certain narrative all series long and went there again postgame Thursday night, saying that his team is the underdog. Advertisement 'No one gave us a chance to win this series,'' said DeBoer. 'Here we are with one game at home to advance. That's a great situation to be in.'' Before the series, I quoted anonymous coaches and team executives from the league for their prediction on this series; 10 of 12 picked the Avalanche. DeBoer was clearly aware of it based on an interaction we had earlier in the series. It was surprisingly a one-sided poll given the quality of both teams, although the Heiskanen factor was an obvious part of it (along with the loss of Jason Robertson). I circled back to those same 12 coaches/team execs Friday ahead of Game 7 to see if any of them wanted to change their mind or stick with their original pick. All 10 who picked Colorado stayed loyal to their pick, but some of them with less conviction, noting that Dallas was at home for Game 7. But there wasn't enough overwhelming evidence for them to swap the pick. 'I will stick with it (picking the Avs), but I have been very impressed with the Dallas effort without Heiskanen,'' said one coach via text. 'I've still got Colorado — my only hesitation is DeBoer's record in Game 7s, but I think this is the year he loses his first,'' said a team executive via text. 'Colorado played well at home and I think that momentum carries over to Game 7 in Dallas. MacKinnon and Makar will be on top of their game and with Nichushkin starting to heat up, I think they will take it.'' Added another team executive who picked Colorado two weeks ago, via text message: 'No change here. Despite DeBoer's flawless G7 record.'' Both people who picked Dallas also stayed loyal to their picks despite being offered a chance to change them ahead of Game 7. 'Sticking with (the Stars). Been a fabulous series. Dallas 3-2 in OT,'' texted one team executive. 'Game 7s are always a toss-up because the margins for error diminish significantly for both teams,'' texted the other team executive who had picked Dallas two weeks ago. 'Nonetheless, I feel that Dallas will draw from the energy of the crowd at American Airlines Center and will ride a strong performance from (Jake) Oettinger to victory.'' Advertisement So, still 10-2 in favor of the Avs even after witnessing what's transpired through six games. To me, it's a coin flip. Really interesting how these smart hockey people still overwhelmingly picked the Avalanche. DeBoer has been around the block, which is why he grabbed hold of that sentiment before the series, and I suspect he has brought it up in team meetings with players. And he's brought it up a few times with the media during the series, doing it again postgame Thursday night ahead of Game 7. 'Didn't they finish third overall in the league?'' asked Bednar with a smile when told of DeBoer's comments. Actually, Dallas was fifth overall. But yeah. 'You build a narrative for your team to grab onto,'' added Bednar of DeBoer and the Stars. 'Listen, they're playing without Heiskanen and they're playing without Robertson. They've had other guys step up and elevate their game. They're deep. This is a deep team. They finished where they finished for a reason. … 'They're well-coached. But we have our own narrative too, right?,'' added the Avalanche coach. 'We feel like we're a team that can win. But you got to go prove it. It just so happens in the new NHL, especially in the Central Division, no disrespect to the other divisions, but I look at the teams that we got to play on a regular basis and the teams you go through to just get to a conference final …'' No question about it. There should be a title belt handed out for the winners Saturday night. All of which is why, when the matchup said Dallas-Colorado, everyone involved understood what was coming. 'I think it's what we were expecting all along … '' Bednar said. 'We've played them enough to know that they're a really good team and we feel like we are too. We knew it was going to be a really tough series. There's no use crying about it. It's not one versus 16, or one versus eight. You're playing top teams in the whole league right out the gate in every round if you want to get where you want to go, so you got to play your best for two-week stretches and it's almost like survival and nothing else. You play for your life every night.'' This is not your run-of-the-mill Game 7 Saturday night. It feels so much bigger than that. (Photo of Charlie Coyle and Mikko Rantanen: Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Playoff Futility No Stranger for the Los Angeles Kings
With the regularity of Lucy offering to tee-up a Charlie Brown field goal attempt, the LA Kings are once again flat on their backs, looking skyward, forced to contemplate how it all went wrong. Again. Followers and fans of the franchise, however, are all well too versed in the shared experience of an ignominious playoff exit. Much like high pollen counts bring hay fever every spring, April and May bring defeat to the Los Angeles Kings. In fact, since their inception in 1967-68, the Kings have played in 53 playoff series, winning just 21 of them. This represents a franchise all-time playoff winning percentage of .396. If that were a regular season win percentage, you would find yourself watching lottery balls bounce around, hoping that you hit a Number One Overall. Advertisement While it will come as little solace to the legion of faithful Kings fans, it is true the modern-day Stanley Cup playoffs are as hospitable as the gladiator pits in ancient Rome. There are no easy rounds anymore and good, maybe even great teams can be ferociously dispatched over the course of a 1st Round series. Just take a look at the Colorado-Dallas series. One of those loaded stud farms is going to be golfing just a couple of days after the Kings. What have they done to anger the Hockey Gods so? Running afoul of hockey deities, however, cannot explain away what happened to the Kings this time. This time it feels different. LA came into this series with Edmonton as the league's best team on home ice (31-6-4). The Kings tied a franchise high of 105 points in the regular season, good for sixth overall in the entire league. They had five 20+ goal scorers on the roster, including 35 tallies each from Adrian Kempe and Kevin Fiala. The Kings were armed with a Veniza Trophy finalist Darcy Kuemper between the pipes this time, who turned in the best regular season for LA goalies since the days of prime Jonathan Quick. Worse yet, the Kings actually led this series 2-0 at one point, although that seems a lifetime ago already. Even the hapless Kings had previously been 7-1 in the playoffs when leading a team 2-0. These are just some of the reasons that this latest failure seems self-inflicted. Although the two-headed monster of McDavid and Draisaitl was a factor in defeat, one can argue that the Kings did a better job defending them than in any of the previous series. It feels like Los Angeles allowed themselves to be beaten by the likes of Connor Brown, Mattias Janmark, and Corey Perry, and that is clearly unacceptable. In addition to the woefully misguided coach's challenge in Game 3 by Jim Hiller, you cannot talk about this series without mentioning the baffling deployment of Brandt Clarke, Jordan Spence, and Samuel Helenius. Rather than leaning on the youth and offensive upside of Clarke and Spence, the coaching staff inexplicably chose to grind Anderson, Doughty, Edmundson, and Gavrikov into dust by never taking them off the ice. What happened in Game 6 when ice time was more even distributed amongst the defense corps? Clarke and Spence both scored goals. As for Samuel Helenius, he seemed to embody everything that LA was lacking in previous encounters with the Oilers: size, grit and the willingness to hit anybody in the opposing jersey. Despite such seemingly useful traits, Helenius also didn't see meaningful ice time until Game 6. Helenius was immediately noticeable on the ice on the forecheck and looked like a player that could have created matchup problems for Edmonton's depleted defense corps had he been given more of a chance to do so. Advertisement All, however, cannot be placed at the feet of head coach Jim Hiller. The players on the ice have to be the difference makers and once again, they came up short. As each game in the series became more important, the Kings shrunk. Any regular season swagger they may have had, just vanished. Quite frankly, the Kings played scared, and you have to wonder if the Oilers could see and feel that too. Where was the killer instinct to finally vanquish your nemesis from the past three seasons? How do you choke away the chance to go up 3-1 in the series with 28 seconds to go in Game 4? When given the chance to retake control of the series at home in Game 5, how do you respond with one of your most lethargic efforts of the entire year? Where was the response when Gavrikov was cross-checked in the throat by the pint-sized pest known as Viktor Arvidsson in the elimination game? These questions, as well as many others, will haunt management, players, and fans throughout the off-season. It would behoove the ownership group to seriously address these concerns because the fans in LA truly deserve so much better.
