11/18 GDT : Washington Capitals at Red Wings, 8:00 EST

[Echolalia 2,961]

I don't understand the people bitching about 3 on 3. I think it's great. It's still part of being a team not like the shoot out does. I love it!

I've enjoyed it too, and I think it's especially fascinating from the perspective of the coaches, because it allows for versatile strategy implementation in a way that has likely never been considered before. Historically there was not much value to thinking out 3 on 3 strategies because they just never happened, but now it's suddenly become a very relevant aspect of the game that warrants thought. And because there is so much time and space to execute plays, and a hell of a lot of combinations of 3 you can make, there's a lot of different directions that I think coaches can take it. Honestly one of the biggest reasons I'm excited about 3 on 3 OT is seeing what systems various coaches come up with, and how they decide to utilize their players.

[LeftWinger 5,130]

I hate to say it....nah, I don't, but if Kindl didn't go off at that moment, that passing lane would have never been open. Just by watching the video, it's easy to see. K, changed at the wrong time and hndcuffed everyone...especially Kronner coming onto the ice, he never really made it into the play until after the goal was scored. This was K's fault.

[Echolalia 2,961]

I hate to say it....nah, I don't, but if Kindl didn't go off at that moment, that passing lane would have never been open. Just by watching the video, it's easy to see. K, changed at the wrong time and hndcuffed everyone...especially Kronner coming onto the ice, he never really made it into the play until after the goal was scored. This was K's fault.

You're falling into the herd mentality to try to blame [insert whipping boy here] instead of [insert star player here]. Kindl had cycled into the play as the attacking forward. His guy was to puck-carrier, and when the play shifted to the boards, that was as good a time as he could ever expect to change. Besides, defensively the Wings were in excellent shape. Kronwall would be hopping on from the opposite end of the bench, automatically gaining 15 feet on where Kindl was to collapse on the Caps' forward, and Zetterberg and Datsyuk were both in sound position, covering their guys, and nobody had a clean path to the net OH WAIT HE JUST BLEW BY Z AND SCORED.

Realistically there are two places you can point your finger (but really just one). One, and far away the most deserving, is at Zetterberg for having an awful gap on his man, and the eventual goal scorer. Honerable mention to Datsyuk who supported absolutely nobody on his coast back to the net.

Two, you can blame the system Blash was running that cycled Kindl up top and pulled Z back onto the defensive blueline where he's susceptible to getting burned, as Z isn't the best skater in the world. But this is really stretching it. Just not as much as pinning the goal on Kindl, who played the situation exactly how he should have played it. BUT if you'd rather they run a system where the defenseman changes only when the Wings are on the attack, that's fine, but then you have to accept that you're leaving a gassed Kindl out there on the back end who likely would get burned the same way Zetterberg did simply because hes at the end of a shift.

Edited November 19, 2015 by Echolalia

[Bill Berzeench 310]

You're falling into the herd mentality to try to blame [insert whipping boy here] instead of [insert star player here]. Kindl had cycled into the play as the attacking forward. His guy was to puck-carrier, and when the play shifted to the boards, that was as good a time as he could ever expect to change. Besides, defensively the Wings were in excellent shape. Kronwall would be hopping on from the opposite end of the bench, automatically gaining 15 feet on where Kindl was to collapse on the Caps' forward, and Zetterberg and Datsyuk were both in sound position, covering their guys, and nobody had a clean path to the net OH WAIT HE JUST BLEW BY Z AND SCORED.

Realistically there are two places you can point your finger (but really just one). One, and far away the most deserving, is at Zetterberg for having an awful gap on his man, and the eventual goal scorer. Honerable mention to Datsyuk who supported absolutely nobody on his coast back to the net.

Two, you can blame the system Blash was running that cycled Kindl up top and pulled Z back onto the defensive blueline where he's susceptible to getting burned, as Z isn't the best skater in the world. But this is really stretching it. Just not as much as pinning the goal on Kindl, who played the situation exactly how he should have played it.

None of this changes the fact that you change on a dump in or while you have posession. Not while the other team is transitioning to attack and your other teammates are gassed. That's simple hockey 101. Kindl should have crossed over to the left and hustled back into the play. Kronwall had zero chance of getting into the play, and only Larkin or Athanasiou might have been able to accelerate that fast off the bench. It was an error by Kindl.

[joesuffP 1,746]

Might have to put someone on ignore for the very first time

[derblaueClaus 1,668]

Ha ha ha ha. The whole WORLD thinks Kindl made a bad decision to change when he did. You are hilarious with your bias.

He is right actually. I didn't see it myself yesterday too, but it is clear if you watch the play.

This is the moment the puck gets passed to Kuznetsov.

Kindls man at this moment is the passer (Ovie I think) while Dats man is Kuznetsov. The screenshot is a bit misleading here.Seconds before Dats and Kuznetsov are both close at center ice. Problem is at this moment of the screenshot the eventual goalscorer is already miles away from a floating Dats and ready to receive the pass. Sure, Kindl maybe could have taken that pass away and also has to take some blame for that (as does Z for the weak defensive play after he take over). But at this moment it's Datsyuk, not Kindl who blows his coverage.

[Bill Berzeench 310]

He is right actually. I didn't see it myself yesterday too, but it is clear if you watch the play.

This is the moment the puck gets passed to Kuznetsov.

Kindls man at this moment is the passer (Ovie I think) while Dats man is Kuznetsov. The screenshot is a bit misleading here.Seconds before Dats and Kuznetsov are both close at center ice. Problem is at this moment of the screenshot the eventual goalscorer is already miles away from a floating Dats and ready to receive the pass. Sure, Kindl maybe could have taken that pass away and also has to take some blame for that (as does Z for the weak defensive play after he take over). But at this moment it's Datsyuk, not Kindl who blows his coverage.

Look, Kindl isnt the reason we lost. We were outplayed by a good team. But that was a bad change. There really isnt a way to say that Kindl's timing for coming off was good, right?

[joesuffP 1,746]

Get a grip these things happen all the time on 3 on 3. You're either a very impressive troll or extremely immature. Everyone knows your motive to insinuate we need smith in the lineup all your posts are ridiculous

[Bill Berzeench 310]

Get a grip these things happen all the time on 3 on 3. You're either a very impressive troll or extremely immature. Everyone knows your motive to insinuate we need smith in the lineup all your posts are ridiculous

Are you saying that it was a good play for Kindl to change at that moment?

[Echolalia 2,961]

None of this changes the fact that you change on a dump in or while you have posession. Not while the other team is transitioning to attack and your other teammates are gassed. That's simple hockey 101. Kindl should have crossed over to the left and hustled back into the play. Kronwall had zero chance of getting into the play, and only Larkin or Athanasiou might have been able to accelerate that fast off the bench. It was an error by Kindl.

It wasn't Kindl or Kronwall's man who scored. And if you're blaming Kindl for changing then instead of on the dump in, then you're misplacing your blame and should look to the coaching scheme. The only reason Kindl was up on the play and Dats and Z were both back was to provide him with the opportunity to change. Otherwise Kindl would have been back at the blueline (at the end of a shift and likely unable to keep up with a speeding forward) and Zetterberg or Dats would have been up on the forecheck. But we saw both forwards back in defensive positions. That's telling that it was designed to get Kindl off the ice, which is exactly what he did.

[LeftWinger 5,130]

BUT, in the video, the lane doesn't open up until Kindl skates towards the bench. Just a poorly timed changed. It opened the passing lane up.

[joesuffP 1,746]

Are you saying that it was a good play for Kindl to change at that moment?

A line change on 3 on 3 is always dangerous. It's Z's man that burns him and then the pucks squeaks through Mrazek from a bad angle. Just an all around bad shift from everybody. 3 on 3 makes the defending team look silly more often then not

We lost because we couldn't bury our chances and we took too many penalties/reffing was terrible. Washington is a much better team than us and we took 3 of a possible 4 points from them. We outplayed them until the third but we could have easily been up by a couple at that point

[blackhockeyfan 0]

I do not think you can solely blame Jakub. It seems Zetterberg was beat on the play. 1-on-1. He is our captain and needed to make a play there.

[Bill Berzeench 310]

A line change on 3 on 3 is always dangerous. It's Z's man that burns him and then the pucks squeaks through Mrazek from a bad angle. Just an all around bad shift from everybody. 3 on 3 makes the defending team look silly more often then not

We lost because we couldn't bury our chances and we took too many penalties/reffing was terrible. Washington is a much better team than us and we took 3 of a possible 4 points from them. We outplayed them until the third but we could have easily been up by a couple at that point

Well said. But I still like our chances!!!

[joesuffP 1,746]

That Niskanen is sure good though. The back end would look a lot different if we were able to snag him

[Bill Berzeench 310]

That Niskanen is sure good though. The back end would look a lot different if we were able to snag him

Yah, he's a stud. And young.

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

Changing lines is always going to be tricky when it's 3 on 3. There's almost always a threat of a breakaway or an odd man rush. Teams are going to have to adapt to that.

[joesuffP 1,746]

I'm not usually one to complain about commentating but Doc Emmerick was brutal last night. When Dekeseyer played the puck out of bounds for the penalty late in the game he announced a goal for some reason. Talked about Beagle's dad owning a mechanic shop for about 15 straight minutes and he's always way off on players, kept calling Larkin Tatar

[Jacksoni 418]

Genuinely thought that we would get this one once we reached the overtime since it fits our skilled players and more importantly our fast players - Larkin, Athanisiou, Helm are speedsters.

-We messed up. Should have gotten 2 points. I was expecting a couple of slow shifts to start up the overtime, instead we got burnt, plain and simple.

Edited November 19, 2015 by Jacksoni

[NerveDamage 4,176]

I'm not usually one to complain about commentating but Doc Emmerick was brutal last night. When Dekeseyer played the puck out of bounds for the penalty late in the game he announced a goal for some reason. Talked about Beagle's dad owning a mechanic shop for about 15 straight minutes and he's always way off on players, kept calling Larkin Tatar

He's blind too I get the confusion between 21 and 71 but they have different body type to actually be mistaken with one another

[amato 3,210]

Eddy tried to help doc look better by saying "kindl remains in the Detroit net" after mrazek got hit in the mask with that puck

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

Line changes are for wimps anyway. A real man stays out on the ice the entire game.

[roboturner 562]

Eddy tried to help doc look better by saying "kindl remains in the Detroit net" after mrazek got hit in the mask with that puck

I thought that was Pierre that said that. Sounded like it to me anyway.

[kipwinger 8,755]

I'm probably the only one, but I agree with Zetterberg. We won the 5 on 5 battle last night. But its hard to score when all your offensive guys are off the ice. I liked our game minus the penalties. This team is going to be fine.