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Round 2: Capitals (M1) vs. Penguins (M2)

CarltonTheBear

CarltonTheBear

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Ovi vs. Sid! Rematch from 2009. Nice preview here: http://www.pensburgh.com/2016/4/25/11502094/pittsburgh-penguins-vs-washington-capitals-playoff-preview

This one should probably have been the Eastern Conference Finals, but alas here we are.

Thu 4/28, 8pm: PIT @ WSH | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports
Sat 4/30, 8pm: PIT @ WSH | NBC, CBC, TVA Sports
Mon 5/2, 8pm: WSH @ PIT | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports
Wed 5/4, 8pm: WSH @ PIT | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports
*Sat 5/7, TBD:  PIT @ WSH | TBD
*Tue 5/10, TBD:  WSH @ PIT | TBD
*Thu 5/12, TBD:  PIT @ WSH | TBD
 
On paper I think I like the Caps more but I'm having a hard time seeing Pittsburgh not win this.
 
I really think the Caps have this one. I don't think the Rangers had the depth to really press the Penguins on their weaknesses.
 
If the Caps win this series, what range does that put the Leafs/Pens first-rounder in?

I really like the Caps in this series, regardless of the pick.
 
I didn't watch the last series, but did the pieces Rutherford added contribute significantly to the result?
 
The Pens have been playing with their big-3 split up (Sheary-Crosby-Hornqvist, Hagelin-Bonino-Kessel, Kunitz-Malkin-Fehr). And Crosby/Malkin/Kessel all scored PPG+ against the Rangers. That's a tough forward group to go up against, and the closest the Pens have come to replicating their last Stanley Cup winning line-up when they had the Crosby-Malkin-Staal trio.
 
Tigger said:
L K said:
On paper I think I like the Caps more but I'm having a hard time seeing Pittsburgh not win this.
Click to expand...

I dunno, Holtby?
Click to expand...

That's a big advantage for Washington, for sure. Offensively, they're pretty even. Pittsburgh may have a slight edge in depth, but, it's still pretty close. Defence and goaltending are in the Caps' favour, and that's likely to be the deciding factor.
 
LuncheonMeat said:
If the Caps win this series, what range does that put the Leafs/Pens first-rounder in?

I really like the Caps in this series, regardless of the pick.
Click to expand...

It looks like the pick would be 23rd if the Pens are bounced in the 2nd round. Doesn't seem like the other series' would effect that because of where Pittsburgh finished in relation to the remaining teams. So it'll be 23rd if they're eliminated in this round, 27-28 if they're eliminated in the semi-finals, and 29-30 if they make it to the finals.
 
bustaheims said:
Tigger said:
L K said:
On paper I think I like the Caps more but I'm having a hard time seeing Pittsburgh not win this.
Click to expand...

I dunno, Holtby?
Click to expand...

That's a big advantage for Washington, for sure. Offensively, they're pretty even. Pittsburgh may have a slight edge in depth, but, it's still pretty close. Defence and goaltending are in the Caps' favour, and that's likely to be the deciding factor.
Click to expand...

Just looking at waronice, I really don't know how much of a defensive advantage Washington has.  5v5 GA/60 was 2.0 for Pitt, 1.9 for WSH.  Pitt was the better 5v5 CF team and Pitt's goaltending looks real good too.
 
They also had the 2nd best(Washington) and 5th best penalty kills in the league so if defence were to show up there, it didn't to a huge extent.
 
It's cliche as hell to say, but I think this one will be decided by specialty teams. Whoevers powerplay is better will take it.
 
We're in OT right now. Oshie thinks he scored a goal, ref calls it a good goal. Puck definitely doesn't look like it went in. Checking now.

edit: Well there's an angle showing it's good. We'll see.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
We're in OT right now. Oshie thinks he scored a goal, ref calls it a good goal. Puck definitely doesn't look like it went in. Checking now.

edit: Well there's an angle showing it's good. We'll see.
Click to expand...

How does that ref call it a goal on the ice?  There's no way he can see it in from where he was.
 
Potvin29 said:
How does that ref call it a goal on the ice?  There's no way he can see it in from where he was.
Click to expand...

I didn't get that either. Called a good goal by NHL, game over. But yeah, how the ref saw that was 100% in from his perspective is beyond me.
 
Washington 4  Pittsburgh 3  OT  Capitals lead series 4 games to 3.

Welcome to the Ovechkin & Crosby show.  Something many had been anticipating in these playoffs.  Well, certainly to no one's disappointment, everyone put on a show here, as in both teams, showcasing a smorgasbord of skill, speed, physicality, tempo, plenty of oohs & ahhs, goalie saves, etc.  In all, it was once again, hockey at it's best.

Oh, what about Crosby & Ovechkin?  Well, what about?  They were their usual selves, but the true heroes were names such as Malkin (2 goals) for the Penguins, and Oshie (hat-trick) for the Capitals -- who happened to also score the OT goal that gave Washington it's victory.

So, there you have it folks, the making of an exciting series.  With more to come.

Game 2 is Saturday in Washington.


Source:  CBCSports, TSN
 
Pittsburgh  2  Washington  1.  Series tied at 1 game apiece.

Ex-Washington Capital Eric Fehr, scored with a little over four minutes in regulation time to give Pittsburgh the victory.

The resilient Penguins were without defenceman Oli Maata, who was levelled by Capitals defenceman and ex-Penguin Brooks Orpik.  Maata did not return to the game, leaving Pittsburgh short on defence.

Kris Letang, the Pens stalwart, merely played more minutes on the backend, and the rest of his teammates played as the group that's been winning for most of the year, oftentimes with injuries to key players.

This time, it was not a game Pittsburgh wanted to lose again.

Game 3 is Monday in Pittsburgh.


Source:  Sportsnet
 
Pittsburgh's Kris Letang to attend NHL hearing for head shot against Washington's  Marcus Johannson. 

Letang's hit occurred during the Pens 2-1 win over the Capitals in Game 3 last night in Pittsburgh.


[youtube]eySkOx4I46Q[/youtube]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/kris-letang-suspension-hearing-marcus-johansson-hit-pittsburgh-penguins-washington-capitals-playoffs-orpik/

Earlier in this series, in Game 1 in Washington, the Capitals & ex-Penguin Brooks Orpik leveled Pittsburgh's Olii Maata with a similar hit and was suspended for two games.

 
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