Posted on 04/27/2017 4:15:22 AM PDT by COBOL2Java
It served as a constant reminder that the Capitals were building something under head coach Barry Trotz and that the occasional loss or prolonged slump shouldn’t be the catalyst for wholesale changes. Stick to the script, the team was reminded.
One year later, the Capitals have returned to the same juncture where the once promising 2015-16 season ended last spring — with a second-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The mission this year? To rewrite the script.
Twelve months after Pittsburgh eliminated Washington in six games, the Capitals get a chance at redemption when their second-round rematch opens with Game 1 Thursday at Verizon Center (7:30 p.m., WFED 1500 AM).
“We were disappointed last year, and the first thing you thought about was coming back and playing them again,” said center Nicklas Backstrom. “And here we are. Maybe not a surprise, but it’s a good matchup. They’re a good team. They’re the Stanley Cup champs.”
Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin are competing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the ninth time in the last 10 years. Twice during that span, in 2009 and 2016, the Penguins ended Washington’s season.
(Excerpt) Read more at wtop.com ...
... and the Penguins will end their season again in 2017 ;-)
Go Caps. But not you feckless pols of D.C.
1. The Penguins are playing without their best defenseman. That is bound to hurt against a team like Washington.
2. I think the Caps have too much depth up front and are much more playoff-hardened than they've been in the past. Justin Williams might be the best big-game player in the NHL over the last ten years.
I’m a Pens fan and I agree with your assessment. Letang (top defense man) is a huge loss especially to line one. Pens don’t have offensive depth this year because line two is stacked. If nothing changes, Caps should take this.
Kunitz needs to stay out of the box. If he does, the Pen’s speed and return of Murray in goal should give them the edge.
I still like ‘em to take the round in 6 or 7 games.
Kunitz is on line four so I expect limited minutes for him. Murray isn’t even skating yet, is he? I think his return is a long shot.
I saw some good news, Hagelins back. HBK baby!
Murray is allegedly ready to go tonight for game 7.
Fleury was a sieve the other night.
Fleury’s the starter but I think he’ll be on a short leash. The Pens defense blows so I’m not too down on him.
Never under estimated the Caps ability to just not show up in the playoffs. 2 hard games in a row might be their limit. Or not. This series has gotten very random.
Great move by Trotz before game 6 having Burakovsky up on the 1st line with Backstrom & Oshie, and really like the banging from Wilson/Ovi/Eller. 2nd line with Williams/Kuze/Johannson is no slouch, so plenty of speed across the top 3 lines there.
Letang out, and also Daley out on the backend. Hostile crowd, backup goalie who looked real shaky the last 4 periods. Not adding up to likely success for the Pens.
Oh me of little faith, LOL!!!1 Pens win!!!
Oh me of little faith, LOL!!!1 Pens win!!!
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