GDT: ECSF #1|Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Washington Capitals|Hello old friend! It's us again!

[ColePens]

MATCH: Penguins vs. Capitals
SERIES: Second Round, 0-0
TIME: 7 p.m. EST
PLACE: Capital One Arena​

TV: NBCSN​

RADIO: 105.9 FM, the X

​

Washington Capitals:
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Stephenson-Backstrom-Boyd (Oshie)
Connolly-Eller-DSP
Vrana-Beagle-Chiasson

Kempny-Carlson
Orlov-Niskanen
Orpik-Djoos

Holtby


Pittsburgh Penguins:
Guentzel--Crosby--Hornqvist
Simon--Sheahan--Kessel
Sheary--Brassard--Rust
Aston-Reese--Rowney--Kuhnhackl

Dumoulin--Letang
Maatta--Schultz
Oleksiak--Ruhwedel

Murray​

X-factors

Penguins: Derick Brassard centers an effective third line with Bryan Rust and Conor Sheary. Penguins coach Mike Sullivan chose to keep that line intact in Game 6 against the Flyers even though Evgeni Malkin, normally the second-line center, didn't play because of a lower-body injury. Sullivan moved Riley Sheahan up from the fourth line to replace Malkin because he wanted to keep Brassard's line together. Brassard had three points (one goal, two assists) against the Flyers.


Capitals: Lars Eller, the third-line center, will be a huge factor. They feel strongly that their top two centers, Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov, can go toe-to-toe against Crosby and Malkin, if he's healthy. Eller has to make his line, with Brett Connolly and Devante Smith-Pelly on his wings, better than Brassard's line to give them a chance to have an advantage down the middle. Eller had two goals and averaged 17:08 of ice time in six games against Columbus. He plays on both special teams

Capitals vs. Penguins playoff preview

The History

- Caps are 8-2 in game 1 against the Pens. Pens are 9-1 in all time series. ​

- Caps have had three 2-0 series leads on the Pens, lost 'em all.
- 13 playoff OT games. Pens have won 9.
- Out of 10 series, 8 have gone at least 6 games.​

And because the injuries...

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Click to read more...

 

[ColePens]

For the record - i do think the history of losing Game 1 continues. Losing Geno may be do-able. Losing just Hags is do-able. Losing both is tough. That takes one of our premier offensive threats and our premier defensive specialist out of the game. I think that will be tough to handle.

Stay out of the box and we have a chance. One of Sheary/Rust/and a random player like Oleksiak/ZAR/Maatta will have to step up in a big way tonight to have a chance. And WATCH OUT for Stephenson. Dude can fly.

 

[Speaking Moistly]

For the record - i do think the history of losing Game 1 continues. Losing Geno may be do-able. Losing just Hags is do-able. Losing both is tough. That takes one of our premier offensive threats and our premier defensive specialist out of the game. I think that will be tough to handle.

Stay out of the box and we have a chance. One of Sheary/Rust/and a random player like Oleksiak/ZAR/Maatta will have to step up in a big way tonight to have a chance. And WATCH OUT for Stephenson. Dude can fly.

Eh, I think the Pens take game 1, tbh. There will be many strong reactions.

Sheary needs to start finishing some of those chances, Rust needs to be more like himself, Murray needs to be good Murray, Sheahan needs to keep it up and Schultz can be more dangerous than he has been most of the time. Oleksiak can be better than he was but idk if that can be expected with Ruhwedel. Maatta keeping his game 6 form would be huge but I wouldn’t call him a random player, he’s a top 4 D coming off a fairly productive season. He’s supposed to be able to have an impact.

It would be great if ZAR could pull himself together enough to get to L3. Or just be decent.

 

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

I see us dropping this game but then winning game 2.

I dunno.

 

[Peat]

Eh, I think the Pens take game 1, tbh. There will be many strong reactions.

Sheary needs to start finishing some of those chances, Rust needs to be more like himself, Murray needs to be good Murray, Sheahan needs to keep it up and Schultz can be more dangerous than he has been most of the time. Oleksiak can be better than he was but idk if that can be expected with Ruhwedel. Maatta keeping his game 6 form would be huge but I wouldn’t call him a random player, he’s a top 4 D coming off a fairly productive season. He’s supposed to be able to have an impact.

It would be great if ZAR could pull himself together enough to get to L3. Or just be decent.

If Murray can be good Murray, I can see us winning this game by rope-a-dope and strong counter-attacking.

But... eh, screw it. I'm gonna be irrationally optimistic and just assume Sid will continue destroying all in his path.

 

[UnrealMachine]

Simon has the skill and grit to be an effective player this series. He may not have much of an opportunity after these first couple of games, so hopefully he can make the most out of it.

 

[DanielPlainview]

I've been dreading this for months. I don't have a good feeling about this series at all. Caps are beyond due.

 

[Sideline]

Good Murray and good Letang need to show up for the Penguins to win tonight.

 

[William I NEGLE]

Haha, UrinatingTree's "Legacy of Failure" NEVER gets old.

"You lose again in the second round to ... whaddaya know ... the ****ing Penguins".

 

[Ryder71]

Good Murray and good Letang need to show up for the Penguins to win tonight.

No question, both have to play sound fundamentally.

 

[Buddlee]

Time for the annual Capitals 2nd round collapse.

Pens in 5
http://:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:/buluhidung/67/pic.png
http://:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:/buluhidung/46/pic.png

 

[3074326]

I've been dreading this for months. I don't have a good feeling about this series at all. Caps are beyond due.

This is pretty much how I feel.

But, I thought the same thing last season.

I think they take game 1 either way. No Malkin/Hagelin is big. It all boils down to Holtby though. We'll have plenty of chances if the CBJ showed us anything.

 

[MrBurghundy]

Do yourself a favor, and relive the past 2 series against the Caps...

2015-16 Penguins vs. Capitals - Stanley Cup Playoffs - YouTube

2016-17 Penguins vs. Capitals - Stanley Cup Playoffs - YouTube

 

[NeedleInTheHay]

I see Kuznetsov with 2+1 and a Caps 4-1 win tonight.

 

[Sty1877]

I've been dreading this for months. I don't have a good feeling about this series at all. Caps are beyond due.

What does that even mean?

If you flip a coin, and it lands on heads the first two times, it isn't any less likely to land on heads the third time. If anything, maybe the coin has a ridge that causes it to be bias toward heads.

The first two series have no impact on the Capitals winning other than maybe they are tired of losing to us. Also, maybe, they'll be clutching their sticks too tight because they haven't won yet.

 

[Ogrezilla]

There's no such thing as being due in sports. Let's go pens.

 

[Hockeyholic]

Good Murray and good Letang need to show up for the Penguins to win tonight.

After watching Jake Gardiner last night, I appreciate Letang more. I don't even think tanger has ever been that bad in a playoff game.

 

[Gurglesons]

After watching Jake Gardiner last night, I appreciate Letang more. I don't even think tanger has ever been that bad in a playoff game.

Man, Gardiner was bad last night.

Not really sure how this series goes. I could see the Pens sweeping them, I could see the Pens winning in 7. Tonight please win.

 

[Kristopher Letang]

With Injuries I expect everyone to step up their games and get us a W. Big game by Kessel and Brassard.

 

[Clare2904]

It is a 7pm or 7.30pm start ?

 

[Andy99]

Can’t watch tonight....this series has been over-analyzed to death...only thing I can say is they better be winning, and not intending on losing again!!
Let’s go Pens!

 

[SUBdrewgANS]

Ugh. That 4th line does nothing for me.

 

[Clare2904]

Ugh. That 4th line does nothing for me.

Well actually it does, it makes you want to scream

 

[The Old Master]

when fluke (thats what they call jake on the main board) gets hot, the goals just keep coming......and he's hot.

 

[xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

I hope the Pens crush 'em tonight. Just absolutely dismantle them with a 60-minute effort.

As a Bills fan, I'm gonna need something good to happen tonight, because I'm almost positive we're about to decimate our franchise for 5 years in order to pick the next Johnny Manziel or Jamarcus Russell.