Series Discussion Thread - Washington Capitals vs Pittsburgh Penguins

[YoungGuns1988]

*Gets popcorn
I love Crosby and watched the hit a bunch. Im not super opinionated on it, but I dont have a huge issue with the play. It happened so fast that I would be more impressed if anything that Niskanen could react that fast. It looked like Niskanen was sort of aiming to make contact, but Sid got low super fast which is how I think it happened.

[Maggot]

*Gets popcorn
It looked like Niskanen was sort of aiming to make contact, but Sid got low super fast which is how I think it happened.

Bingo! There isn't a defenseman in the league that wouldn't give you a quick two-hander after a shot in close to the goaltender... unfortunately for Crosby he was going down and that two-hander happened to be at head level.

[TRDouble]

Bingo! There isn't a defenseman in the league that wouldn't give you a quick two-hander after a shot in close to the goaltender... unfortunately for Crosby he was going down and that two-hander happened to be at head level.

Agreed.

I really need to look at the Ovechkin part of the whole play more closely though.

I hope Crosby makes it back next game, for his personal health and the quality he brings to the sport... but this is the same player that sticked Ryan O'Reilly and didn't even get a penalty, so I don't have any sympathy for the lack of discipline by the NHL on the Caps.

[creasecollector]

*Gets popcorn
I love Crosby and watched the hit a bunch. Im not super opinionated on it, but I dont have a huge issue with the play. It happened so fast that I would be more impressed if anything that Niskanen could react that fast. It looked like Niskanen was sort of aiming to make contact, but Sid got low super fast which is how I think it happened.

I agree with this as well. It happened so fast and I'm not sure there was much Niskanen could do in that scenario when Crosby went down that fast.

I don't think the Caps did it on purpose, that's just silly IMO. They played him hard, which they need to. Because:

1) It's Crosby (If you played him soft he'd score on you)
2) It's the NHL Playoffs.

I hate to see Crosby get injured. I'm a huge fan of his, and I wish him a fully & speedy recovery. But to think everyone is targeting him (in a dirty way) is not fair to the other team in my opinion.

[kdnist]

Hopefully the Pens just come out and win 5-1 in game 4. Let the play speak for itself.

[TRDouble]

Hopefully the Pens just come out and win 5-1 in game 4. Let the play speak for itself.

They still have Malkin and the Caps are the Caps, so it's very possible!

[theboxbreaker96]

Heres how I feel as a Pens fan. Niskanen wasn't even looking. Theres no way I blame him but I didn't like the crosschecking motion that he did use. 2 Min CC penalty and that's all.

I thought Crosby should have been suspended for the slash on Methot and the cup check on O'Rielly both are dirty plays and suspendable plays but Superstars get different treatment I agree. Ovechkin swats at him baseball style and then clips him on the helmet. Ovechkin has a history of doing this. If you remember he destroyed Letang by brutally slashing at his legs last year or maybe 2 years ago and Letang went flying into the boards cause of it. If you don't suspend Sid for his slash you cant suspend Ovy.

If you're Pens fan and you think Sid slashing Methots finger off or "Cup Checking" someone is okay and then you cry and complain when something happens the other way around then you're biased.

[geschrocks33]

Heres how I feel as a Pens fan. Niskanen wasn't even looking. Theres no way I blame him but I didn't like the crosschecking motion that he did use. 2 Min CC penalty and that's all.

I thought Crosby should have been suspended for the slash on Methot and the cup check on O'Rielly both are dirty plays and suspendable plays but Superstars get different treatment I agree. Ovechkin swats at him baseball style and then clips him on the helmet. Ovechkin has a history of doing this. If you remember he destroyed Letang by brutally slashing at his legs last year or maybe 2 years ago and Letang went flying into the boards cause of it. If you don't suspend Sid for his slash you cant suspend Ovy.

If you're Pens fan and you think Sid slashing Methots finger off or "Cup Checking" someone is okay and then you cry and complain when something happens the other way around then you're biased.

Well said.

[LecavalierFan]

They still have Malkin and the Caps are the Caps, so it's very possible!

If that's the case, it's just as possible the Caps come in and win 7-1. Guess we'll see, and the suspense is what makes all of us watch, right?

Heres how I feel as a Pens fan. Niskanen wasn't even looking. Theres no way I blame him but I didn't like the crosschecking motion that he did use. 2 Min CC penalty and that's all.

I thought Crosby should have been suspended for the slash on Methot and the cup check on O'Rielly both are dirty plays and suspendable plays but Superstars get different treatment I agree. Ovechkin swats at him baseball style and then clips him on the helmet. Ovechkin has a history of doing this. If you remember he destroyed Letang by brutally slashing at his legs last year or maybe 2 years ago and Letang went flying into the boards cause of it. If you don't suspend Sid for his slash you cant suspend Ovy.

If you're Pens fan and you think Sid slashing Methots finger off or "Cup Checking" someone is okay and then you cry and complain when something happens the other way around then you're biased.

Well said.

[RGM81]

@jameslacarte & @10-4 collector -- can it. And can it now.