Series Thread: Second Round: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Washington Capitals

[elocomotive]

On second thought, a game 1 loss might be better for the Pens. The sooner the Caps chase MAF out of net and gets Murray back in, the better. That's assuming Murray will be recovered by then.

Not to mention why would you NOT want the Caps to have a series lead?

 

[dare2be]

One "o." Better than most.

Truer words...

 

[elocomotive]

Truer words...

It's hilarious (and a little sad) that many of you instantly got that. Hahaha.


Also, Ojb - I know I'm a loser. You gotta do better than that, man.

 

[elocomotive]

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

On second thought, a game 1 loss might be better for the Pens. The sooner the Caps chase MAF out of net and gets Murray back in, the better. That's assuming Murray will be recovered by then.

I'll take care of MAF. One year's supply of Primanti Bros. sandwiches.

 

[dare2be]

I'll take care of MAF. One year's supply of Primanti Bros. sandwiches.

I'm yearning for a pastrami myself.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

I'm yearning for a pastrami myself.

My friend grabbed some sandwiches from a local deli a few hours before game time and brought em out during the game.

The rye gets extra soft after you cry into it for half an hour.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

The top two teams are playing in the second round. WTF is wrong with the NHL??????

 

[mattola]

Round 2 caps/Pens schedule from DGB

 

[elocomotive]

Thursday is too far away.

Tickets still surprisingly reasonable at $90-120 given the rivalry and close proximity of these two teams.

 

[pixburgher66]

I'm in the "make peace with losing" stage right now. I sincerely think the Caps win this year. This is the weakest the Pens have been to face them with MAF in (who was good in the CBus series, but he's still MAF), Letang out, Hagelin still out, etc. Their offense will need to basically win this for them. PP needs to be superb. Overall though, the Caps are the better team. I know they definitely had their moments in their first round series, but they have the edge in everything but probably forwards, and that's only a slight PIT favorite. Regardless, whomever wins this series wins the Cup. I really believe that. NYR-OTT will be relatively easy in comparison, and the West seems more open than usual.

Let it be known...I said I was fine with the Caps winning the Cup this year. I really did. OV needs one so people can STFU about legacy.

 

[pixburgher66]

All that said, I'll likely change my tune after Tom Wilson pulls some shit.

 

[thedddd]

Looking forward to yet another good series.

 

[elocomotive]

All that said, I'll likely change my tune after Tom Wilson pulls some shit.

This big softie?

 

[scoutyjones2]

If the Pens falter...I want Nashville. Anybody but the Craps!

 

[ritari330]

All that said, I'll likely change my tune after Tom Wilson pulls some shit.

Wait until you find out he's actually become good at hockey as well as face punching

 

[KennyBanyeah]

The Caps need to play like they have nothing to lose. They didn't against the Leafs. I watched large chunks of that series and the Caps were easily the better team, IMO. That being said they didn't look very good (for their regular season standards).

I couldn't put my finger on it until game 6 when the perfect example came. Brian Boyle came into the Caps zone in the third period with the puck. All four other Leaf players went off for a change. All 5 Caps were back. He went in and stop on the half boards. No Cap did anything except restrict his access to the net. They all hesitated. So much so that Boyle had enough time to wait for a player to leave the bench and skate with speed to the weak post where he almost connected.

In the regular season (I watched about 10-12 Caps games this year) the Caps would have pounced on a 3rd liner like Boyle and been looking to quickly turn the puck back the other way to take advantage of the change.

They were afraid to lose and were basically paralyzed with thought. It wasn't the only time I saw that during the first round but it encapsulated a nice portion of the Caps play for a lot of the series.


All that being said I think the pressure lifts after winning that first round. I think the Caps will be looser after beating the Leafs. There is no shame (for the Caps) in losing to the Pens. There would have been (perceived at least) against the Leafs. Backstrom's "underdog" comments speak to this. I think we see the Caps come out and just play.

Caps in 6.

 

[dash]

I've of the belief that the first round is usually the toughest round to win especially if expectation are high. I think now that the Caps have survived round 1, they can relax somewhat and just play their style of game. Also, Holtby didn't look like his usual self in round 1 (he was much better in the last two games against the Leafs), if he finds his game and continues his strong goaltending play, the Caps will be a tough out.

 

[dare2be]

I think the Caps will be looser after beating the Leafs.

Given Eloco's earlier post, did you put the extra 'o' in there on purpose?

 

[KennyBanyeah]

Given Eloco's earlier post, did you put the extra 'o' in there on purpose?

Someone sent the Caps this note to intimidate them. Was it you dare?