NHL Stanley Cup Finals 2K18

Figured since the NHL Playoffs thread was getting overloaded, I'd go ahead & put this here. Caps & Goldie Knights. Exciting for a brand-spankin, shiny new franchise to reach the finals (& nab Game 1), as well as the Caps making it back to the finals (finally w/ Ovie) in over a decade. Good luck to all the players & fans involved.

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Comments

The Caps have never won a game in the Stanley Cup Finals...Wednesday that changes! Go Caps!

"Take care of the little things and the big things will come."

I hope the Caps don't win a game

I never understand these kind of posts... Do caps have their share of bandwagon fans? absolutely, but so does every fan base in every sport.

Most of Penguins fans are probably bandwagon fans as their team was 2 feet out the door to Kansas City since they couldn't even fill their stadium. Along comes Mario to save their ass, draft Malkin and Sidney, and now those are the only two names you see in PPG arena.

Side note.... I don't know if you are a fan of the Pens or some other team, just using them as an example since they are the reigning Stanley cup champs.

Bleeding burnt orange and chicago maroon

I'm a Pens fan, but

lol why thank you... I'll shoot you over a leg for the acceptance.

Bleeding burnt orange and chicago maroon

Tom Wilson avoids suspension

ESPN article

The Department of Player Safety told ESPN that there were a few factors that kept the Wilson hit from rising to the level of suspension. First, the hit was shoulder to shoulder rather than a hit to the head.

The hit also was within the flow of the game, rather than the kind of retaliatory hits that have warranted suspensions in the past -- such as the four-game ban earned by Bobby Farnham of the Devils for a hit on St. Louis Blues forward Dmitrij Jaskin in January 2016.

"What are you going to do, stab me? - Quote from Man Stabbed

may have been a tad late, but they got this one right.

"Take care of the little things and the big things will come."

Now this is a halftime show.

___

-What we do is, if we need that extra push, you know what we do? -Put it up to fully dipped? -Fully dipped. Exactly. It's dork magic.

Olaf Kolzig

Sorry, flashback to my youth.

___

-What we do is, if we need that extra push, you know what we do? -Put it up to fully dipped? -Fully dipped. Exactly. It's dork magic.

Hockey play-by-play guys are the most impressive in sports.

Amateur superstar and idiot extraordinaire.

Doc Emrick is a true wordsmith

You will see this game, this upset and this sign next on ESPN Sportscenter. Virginia Tech 31 Miami 7

His decision was made after a phone call with longtime Virginia Tech assistant coach Bud Foster. All Foster told him was, "We win. They don't."

It will be a sad day when he is no longer able to call a hockey game - he is truly iconic!

Funny, I was just recently telling my non-hockey-fan inlaws that Doc is to hockey what Keith Jackson was to CFB. It'll be a sad day indeed when he hangs up the mic.

As a soccer nut if I could just have a conversation with Doc and Ian Darke I think I'd just sit and listen in awe

Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

The refs absolutely suck. Kuzy gets shouldered in the head by Knights player who left his feet and Kuzy gets knocked out. No penalty. Knights player then hits himself in the face with his own glove and its a penalty on the Caps. The NHL should be embarrassed

You will see this game, this upset and this sign next on ESPN Sportscenter. Virginia Tech 31 Miami 7

His decision was made after a phone call with longtime Virginia Tech assistant coach Bud Foster. All Foster told him was, "We win. They don't."

I don't know if I can last the next 19 minutes

Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

That's what she said

I made it, cant say that very often

Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

Knights are gonna win this series, Vegas Baby Vegas!

"And guess what, you've wandered into our school of tuna and we now have a taste of lion." -Allen Gamble, The Other Guys
@Doooougie07

that's neat and all but THEY JUST LOST GAME 2 BITCHESSSS

I just sit on my couch and b*tch. - HokieChemE2016

I'll take that challenge.. I'll be there for game 5..considering i haven't been to a caps game since 2004 i like their chances. Notice tons of caps fans at the post game sheaux tonight....there are dozens of us...Dozens!

Bandwagon. I bet you didn't even start liking Vegas' hockey team till this season.

Marshall University graduate.
Virginia Tech fanatic.
Formerly known as JWillHokieAlum.

Hahaha for sure, I just love Las Vegas as a city and like underdogs so they have my vote!

"And guess what, you've wandered into our school of tuna and we now have a taste of lion." -Allen Gamble, The Other Guys
@Doooougie07

Vegas is favored...by Vegas.

If Vegas wasn't playing the Caps, I'd be rooting for them all the way. It would be a really cool story if they won a Stanley Cup in their inaugural season. Unprecedented actually. Between that and the DC sports curse, the Caps certainly have some bad omens to overcome.

Marshall University graduate.
Virginia Tech fanatic.
Formerly known as JWillHokieAlum.

Some may even say...

H I S T O R I C

Huge win last night without kuzy but Eller stepped up big time but if they can keep playing like that and holtby keep on his I like our chances the checking from the caps really irritated the knights game and we saw alot of frustrated hits from vegas like the one by reaves to wilsons head etc, IM FEELING GOOD ABOUT THIS ONE

Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

I feel like we're the first team Vegas has faced this post season that is making them feel the fact that they're one of the smallest teams in the NHL. We could really start to see that pay off as the series continues.

They may be the smallest but their forecheck is incredible. Holtby even admitted that it was confusing him. The Caps still can't seem to get the puck out of their zone well. If that continues, Vegas has a legit chance at winning.

You will see this game, this upset and this sign next on ESPN Sportscenter. Virginia Tech 31 Miami 7

His decision was made after a phone call with longtime Virginia Tech assistant coach Bud Foster. All Foster told him was, "We win. They don't."

Exactly my thoughts watching the first two games. Vegas' forecheck is relentless, and that's causing the Caps fits. On the flip side, when the Caps solve the forecheck, they get odd man rushes. They need to bury those.

Welcome to the Terrordome

Yeah, I'm gonna be sick if Vrana misses one more clean shot.

Marshall University graduate.
Virginia Tech fanatic.
Formerly known as JWillHokieAlum.

Completely agree. I made a similar comment after game 1 in the other thread. I do think if the series goes long enough, those big hits start to make themselves felt and the smaller team slows down a bit. Just as you said, if we can't improve exiting the defensive zone, these games are going to continue to be toss ups. Let's be honest, that save by Holtby was awesome, but lucky, and likely kept the game from going into OT.

Ellet had a golden shot to do the same last game but didnt the hockey gods have a way of balancing things out

Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

The save by Holtby wasn't lucky but pure skill. The crazy bounce the puck took off the boards to set up that amazing scoring chance was pure luck.

I like how Vegas is continually rewarded with no-call cross checking that results in goals. I mean, how did they not review the film from game 1 and still keep pulling this crap in game 2?!?

The refereeing is astoundingly inconsistent and extremely frustrating.

You will see this game, this upset and this sign next on ESPN Sportscenter. Virginia Tech 31 Miami 7

His decision was made after a phone call with longtime Virginia Tech assistant coach Bud Foster. All Foster told him was, "We win. They don't."

Holtby with the save of the post season last night.

Proud author of one plaid comment.

Eller played an excellent game. Holtby played great and his save with 2 minutes left was unreal. If Kuzy's injury is bad, that could be a series changer. Not sure Eller can fill a top two line void for the rest of the series, like versus Tampa.

Vegas's forecheck is just relentless and the Caps have got to get the puck out of the zone quicker and they have to limit penalties, although I'm not sure how that's done in this series. Vegas seems to be a team with no high end or low end talent on their lines. No superstars, but a bunch of seasoned guys who have high motors and it works really well.

I'm excited to not see all of the pomp and circumstance prior to the game and just get down to playing. Also excited to see a legit sheet of ice for both teams to play on in The Wallet.

You will see this game, this upset and this sign next on ESPN Sportscenter. Virginia Tech 31 Miami 7

His decision was made after a phone call with longtime Virginia Tech assistant coach Bud Foster. All Foster told him was, "We win. They don't."

Eller has proved he can step in for Kuzy but damn if he keeps going to the box every game we're ferked

I just sit on my couch and b*tch. - HokieChemE2016

Every time he is on the ice he is daring the officials to make a hooking call. Driving me crazy. That being said, he was basically our only player that could possess the puck in their zone it seemed.

"What are you going to do, stab me? - Quote from Man Stabbed

My theory especially after the tampa series if what I call Ellers' Law: Eller giveth and Eller Taketh away
Hopefully he doesnt have the flip games like he did in the tampa series that nearly sent the caps packing with stupid penalties.

Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

With how well Eller has played with that second line when given the opportunity, it'd be a cool experiment next season to see Backstrom in the 3rd line with Burakovsky and Connolly on either side of him. Backstrom is such a good creator, and Connolly and Burakovsky have shown the ability to get the puck in the back of the net when given the opportunity. His decision making with the second line seems to be better as well.

Marshall University graduate.
Virginia Tech fanatic.
Formerly known as JWillHokieAlum.

He has played very well but I'm concerned he runs out of steam and starts committing penalties on everyone like he did versus the Lightning. Hopefully Kuzy comes back soon.

You will see this game, this upset and this sign next on ESPN Sportscenter. Virginia Tech 31 Miami 7

His decision was made after a phone call with longtime Virginia Tech assistant coach Bud Foster. All Foster told him was, "We win. They don't."

Came out today that he is day-to-day. I guess that means his wrist isn't broken, which is what I feared it would be.

I just sit on my couch and b*tch. - HokieChemE2016

They also didn't disclose the actual injury so who knows what "day-to-day" really means.

Joffrey, Cersei, Ilyn Payne, the Hound, Jeff Jagodzinski, Paul Johnson, Pat Narduzzi.

Thanks, and reading "day to day" got an epic classic rock song stuck in my head, which I much appreciate.

Day After Day - Badfinger

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XonFZjuyc6E

You will see this game, this upset and this sign next on ESPN Sportscenter. Virginia Tech 31 Miami 7

His decision was made after a phone call with longtime Virginia Tech assistant coach Bud Foster. All Foster told him was, "We win. They don't."

Its also the Finals so it very well may be broken and he just said fuck it I'll play anyway

Here lies It's a Stroman Jersey I Swear, surpassed in life by no one because he intercepted it.

As a Flyers fan, I had been rooting for Vegas.

Until I saw that Imagine Dragons performed before the game last night. I LOATHE Imagine Dragons. Go Caps

21st century QBs Undefeated vs UVA:
MV7, MV5, LT3, Grant Wells, Braxton Burmeister, Ryan Willis, Josh Jackson, Jerod Evans, Michael Brewer, Tyrod Taylor, Sean Glennon, and Grant Noel. That's right, UVA. You couldn't beat Grant Noel.

Whatever It Takes to get your support is fine by me. Once the Caps exorcized their eastern conference Demons, they made me a Believer. I'm glad they were able to Tiptoe out of Vegas with a win and now It's Time to bring the Thunder in DC. I feel like they'll be the Underdog if Kuznetsov can't make it but I'll be On Top of The World if they win games 3 and 4. Though if they lose both now it's safe to say it's My Fault and I'll have Nothing Left To Say.

Joffrey, Cersei, Ilyn Payne, the Hound, Jeff Jagodzinski, Paul Johnson, Pat Narduzzi.

This post is so full of puns that it's Radioactive.

"We judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their behavior" Stephen M.R. Covey

“When life knocks you down plan to land on your back, because if you can look up, you can get up, if you fall flat on your face it can kill your spirit” David Wilson

I didn't know that you were making puns out of Imagine Dragons songs the first time I read this message, and I was genuinely concerned about you.

Marshall University graduate.
Virginia Tech fanatic.
Formerly known as JWillHokieAlum.

why are you the way that you are

21st century QBs Undefeated vs UVA:
MV7, MV5, LT3, Grant Wells, Braxton Burmeister, Ryan Willis, Josh Jackson, Jerod Evans, Michael Brewer, Tyrod Taylor, Sean Glennon, and Grant Noel. That's right, UVA. You couldn't beat Grant Noel.

Its amazing to me how injuries and the way they are reported varies so much between different sports. In hockey they never reveal the injury to avoid him being targeted in games when they come back where as in other sports say soccer that stuff is common knowledge with the way the media digs to get info. Nothing major just always wowed me how NHL teams can keep that stuff locked up. Hoping kuzy can get back in time to play before the series is over.

Edit: Following that up Kuzy was skating at practice today

Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

The extra day off should help Kuzy too. I think the Caps (especially Eller) can take care of business at home without him if necessary. I would like to see him back for game 5 though.

Marshall University graduate.
Virginia Tech fanatic.
Formerly known as JWillHokieAlum.

I am interested to see how the "Wheel of Fortune" player introduction looks like lol

Bleeding burnt orange and chicago maroon

Wheel of Fortune-themed player intros

"What are you going to do, stab me? - Quote from Man Stabbed

We'll see, I think it will be either a big hit since he's a huge caps fan or a big swing and a miss.

On a side note, I would lIke to see caps change their pre game show song to this since Imagine Dragons took a big ole' shit on us by playing "Whatever It Takes" before game 2....

Bleeding burnt orange and chicago maroon

I also saw that they will be showing the game on the screens outside he stadium.

Speaking of intros, I had our DJ do our wedding party intros like Will Ferrell did the Chicago Bulls/New Orleans Hornets 80's night entrance a few years back; each member of the wedding party had their own 'walk up music' too - it was pretty badass. Can post the youtube link if anyone is interested to watch 10 minutes of it haha.

Man the 4th line production has been CLUTCH all postseason. Let's go Caps!

VB born, class of '14

I love how Smith-Pelly's goal came right after they talked about VGK's fourth line production.

"Take care of the little things and the big things will come."

Glad I wasn't the only one that noticed that. Smith-Pelly buried it, but Beagle made that happen. Love love love those kinds of goals.

The thing this Caps team has that previous years lacked is grit. Vegas' whole game is grit. The Caps have matched it so far, but they have more skill. Skill + grit = "so you're saying there's a chance..."

Welcome to the Terrordome

Beagle has always been my dog. lol

Seriously though he is an important part to this team's success and that line has made some big plays.

"Take care of the little things and the big things will come."

Keep it going caps. More games to go, don't wanna jinx anything

"The Big Ten is always using excuses to cancel games with us. First Wisconsin. Then Wisconsin. After that, Wisconsin. The subsequent cancellation with Wisconsin comes to mind too. Now Penn State. What's next? Wisconsin?" -HorseOnATreadmill

There were signs at the game "it's ok to believe".

I'm in the same boat as you though, I'd hate to jinx anything at this point.

TKPhi Damn Proud
BSME 2009

Went up to DC last night for the game. Met up with some fraternity brothers and we went out in Chinatown. Wandered around awhile and ended up at Penn Social for the game and then outside of the Wallet afterwards. The atmosphere was absolutely electric. If the Caps can play like they did last night for the rest of the series, I firmly believe they will win. I'm hoping they get to game 6 up 3-2. I will drive back up again just to be around.

You will see this game, this upset and this sign next on ESPN Sportscenter. Virginia Tech 31 Miami 7

His decision was made after a phone call with longtime Virginia Tech assistant coach Bud Foster. All Foster told him was, "We win. They don't."

$825 on stub hub for game 5 tix...is it worth it? Been a caps fan since the mid 80s...im thinking yes but need another viewpoint...vegas is a short 6 hour drive for me...other caps fans views on this greatly appreciated, I feel it's totally worth it

Well, how much money do you make??

You will see this game, this upset and this sign next on ESPN Sportscenter. Virginia Tech 31 Miami 7

His decision was made after a phone call with longtime Virginia Tech assistant coach Bud Foster. All Foster told him was, "We win. They don't."

Guys it's my red Brady jersey, I've worn it since the tampa series down 3-2 and since I've worn it we've won and didn't have it on till the power play and I put it on they score

Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

You should maybe leave that on.

Marshall University graduate.
Virginia Tech fanatic.
Formerly known as JWillHokieAlum.

OH YA BEAUTY!!!!

Missed game 3 but caps are playing like straight fire tonight. Fastest I feel they've played so far in the playoffs. They just look plain fast out there.

If you don't want to recruit clowns, don't run a clown show.

"I want to punch people from UVA right in the neck." - Colin Cowherd

I'm never taking this jersey off WE WANT THE CUP

Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

We're in their heads baby!!! Let's close this thing out in 5. LETS GO CAPS!!!!!!!!

Edit: Obligatory #nojinx. But we can't blow a lead this big, we're not the Falcons

Funny Washington gets a wrap cause of Wilson but what I've seen from Vegas they're just as dirty got em right where we want em glad trotz kept the top line out in that penalty

Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

Reaves is worse than Wilson

You will see this game, this upset and this sign next on ESPN Sportscenter. Virginia Tech 31 Miami 7

His decision was made after a phone call with longtime Virginia Tech assistant coach Bud Foster. All Foster told him was, "We win. They don't."

Wilson is living in his head rent free

Had pizza before game 2, had pizza before game 3, had pizza before game 4...wonder what I should eat before game 5??? GO CAPS!

"Take care of the little things and the big things will come."

So, I don't ever watch hockey. I watched some of the game tonight. Why is it again that football takes all the heat for being dangerous? These hockey players are nuts.

"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K

Not nuts...TOUGH!!!

C A P S CAPS CAPS CAPS

"What are you going to do, stab me? - Quote from Man Stabbed

Caps are just buttering us DC fans up to drop three straight!

Kind of /s, but kind of not really /s.....

You will see this game, this upset and this sign next on ESPN Sportscenter. Virginia Tech 31 Miami 7

His decision was made after a phone call with longtime Virginia Tech assistant coach Bud Foster. All Foster told him was, "We win. They don't."

How I'm feeling right now....

Feeling good, too. But this is Washington sports...let's not celebrate before we get in the end zone. Hopefully, the real party starts Thursday night.

Saw this in a ESPN recap of last night's game and it made me happy:

The Golden Knights have a chance because ... it hasn't even been three months since 16th-seeded UMBC shocked Virginia; if you don't believe in sports miracles, you sure have a short memory.

I'm excited, but there's still work to do. The Caps have lost a series in which they have held a 3-1 lead five times. Can't let up now. Gotta close this thing out.

Let's Go Caps!!!

What a savings

"Everything has an end, except a sausage which has two." - German Proverb

Well I'll be the one to ask the question just to stir the pot would you as a caps fan rather have them win it at home or on the road? And do you think the players are thinking about this as well?

Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

I'd rather have them win it as quickly as possible in order to secure the cup.

I hope the players are on the same page

This is exactly it and I can't imagine they're thinking any other way. You don't throw a game that's this important for any reason.

Besides, everybody's going back to Vegas to celebrate either way.

Side question/tangent: call me nostalgic, old school, whatever...but does anyone besides myself miss/like/prefer the older Caps logo?


The color sequence plus the eagle & stars design is just more appealing to me.

With all due respect, hard no on this one

I get the nostalgia factor, I look back on these fondly in a sense, but design wise...

What a savings

"Everything has an end, except a sausage which has two." - German Proverb

Ok, ok. I hear ya. I guess I just wish there was a stronger presence of blue on the "newer" unis to balance out the red. Just my 10 cents.

Dear God no.

Welcome to the Terrordome

Yeah, hard no on that. But have I been wearing it the last three games? Yes (because I haven't bought a hockey jersey in 20 years) and will I wear it tomorrow night? HELL YES, let the good luck roll!

'07 Mechanical Engineering

"Touchdown, Tech! I have never enjoyed saying that more"
-Bill Roth

The amount of pressure by Vegas was absurd last night. Those goal posts were the sweetest melodies to the party last night. We need to bury the hatchet now. No resting on our laurels. Game 5. We want the cup!

TKPhi Damn Proud
BSME 2009

Anyone successful in trying to get Game 5 General Admission Viewing Party tickets? Out of a group of 5 friends only one was successful...

I struck out as well... guess ill be watching from the skreeets

"What are you going to do, stab me? - Quote from Man Stabbed

Might be doing that as well. Seems like all the Mystic tickets were taken by Caps fans who plan to stay the whole time leaving very little general admission tickets.

Nothing about the tickets makes sense.

If they're GA, but don't guarantee entrance, why 'sell' them at all?

Should have either charged (a nominal fee) for the seats or done first come first serve.

Hokies United l Ut Prosim

Is it Thursday yet?!?!

TKPhi Damn Proud
BSME 2009

Well, I'm a STH, so I was there for three and four. I don't use my tickets that much, since I live in Williamsburg - if not overseas sometimes - but I have held these [redacted]ers for nearly 20 years, just KNOWING (actually, just hoping) this moment would come.

The atmosphere was amazing. I was astounded by the crowds on the streets, and at how many people came down just to watch on the screens outside. It was SO loud during the Game 3 intros - booing the VGK, AND cheering the Caps - I never really heard Sajak.

I truly never thought I'd see such a thing, so I was, frankly, on the verge of tears most of the time. And the pre-game video DID get me, actually. I am not ashamed of that. Nor am I ashamed of yelling "I'm glad you're hurt, and hope you die!" at the VGK that got his nose broke taking a run at Oshie in Game 4. (Arena HokieUmp is not as good a sport as Regular HokieUmp sometimes.)

Having said that, I REALLY don't want to have to go up for a Game 6. Win tomorrow, boys!

ITS GAPPENING ITS HAPPENING

Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

Sports has made today one hell of a roller coaster my heart might not make it if this keeps up back and forth back and forth

Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

C-A-P-S! CAPS! CAPS! CAPS!

"Exit light..."

Congrats to all the Caps fans! Can we carry this mojo over to the Skins, please?!?!

Go Hokies

Hey,

Hold on a minute there, bud. Gotta crawl before you walk. Walk before run. Run before fly. Nature's rule.

I'd prefer the Nats win before the Skins. Snyder doesn't deserve anything but a big steaming pile of doo doo.

You will see this game, this upset and this sign next on ESPN Sportscenter. Virginia Tech 31 Miami 7

His decision was made after a phone call with longtime Virginia Tech assistant coach Bud Foster. All Foster told him was, "We win. They don't."

Holy Hell I cannot believe they won and cannot believe I've seen a major DC sports Championship in my lifetime.

The sheer joy on Ovi's face was amazing and I said in another thread at the start of the playoffs that he didn't have killer instinct. Well, I was wrong.

Well done Capitals!

You will see this game, this upset and this sign next on ESPN Sportscenter. Virginia Tech 31 Miami 7

His decision was made after a phone call with longtime Virginia Tech assistant coach Bud Foster. All Foster told him was, "We win. They don't."