Edited Oct. 19, 2023 at 10:35 a.m.
Really tough game last night. Like others have said, just miserable to watch. I keep telling myself "its only game 3", but wow, we look horrible.
A few thoughts:
1) The top 6 needs to show up. Fourth line needs to get back to grinding / winning the board battles. The only forward who looked good last night was Milano imo. Kuzy looked decent too I thought. Joe B and Locker kept saying out great Oshie looked last night, but I didn't see it.
2) Ovi will turn it on. If you go through a 3 game goal drought in the middle of the season - no one blinks. But since its at the start, everyone panics. I don't believe Ovi is an athlete who shuts down when on a bad team - I think he will score (first) on Saturday and have 4+ shots.
3) Sandin has looked horrible. Soft on the puck, out of place defensively, and just invisible honestly. Caps fans will always use Carlson as the scapegoat, but to me, Sandin has looked terrible.
4) LuJo should not be playing
5) Protas - you are 6'6, use your body and be physical
6) Carberry's system - what is it? Seriously, I don't know what it is. There is no identity, no speed, no set plays, no consistent breakouts - it reminds me of just free-for-all hockey, aka just run out there and play. People talk about "his system not working". I don't even see a glimpse of a "system"...
Edit: The main question on my end is how are we going to convince either Backy or Oshie to retire at the end of this year. Need one of them (or both) to hang it up so we can get younger / fresh bodies in there