It's not often the Caps have a chance to take a season series from the Penguins, but with a win or at least an overtime/shootout loss Sunday, it would be the first time Washington has topped Pittsburgh in a series since going 3-1-0 against the Pens in the 2002-03 season (and only the second time since 1993-94, when they won both the regular season series as well as a first-round playoff series).
However, after suffering through a 1-7-1 stretch against the Penguins before Bruce Boudreau took over as the Capitals' coach in November of 2007, the tide has turned. Washington is now 3-1-1 against Pittsburgh since the change, including a pair of wins earlier this year. The Caps won both games played at Mellon Arena, using a rally from three goals down in a 4-3 win back on October 16, and then fought back from down a goal twice in a 6-3 win last month.
But after changing coaches themselves on Sunday and installing Dan Bylsma behind the bench, the Penguins have been playing a bit better hockey (2-0-1 following a win in Philly this afternoon), and could potentially pull themselves into a tie for the final playoff spot in the East with a victory over the Caps after seemingly being dead in the water after an embarrassing 6-2 loss to Toronto last Saturday.
While the Penguins were able to grab a commanding 3-1 lead over the Flyers after 40 minutes Saturday, they allowed Philadelphia to come back and even the game twice before Sidney Crosby scored on a fluky goal with 2:45 left to play in regulation to give Pittsburgh a 5-4 win. The Pens also have Sergei Gonchar back in the lineup for the first time this season, as he adds another dimension with his scoring power from the blue line.
Despite the Caps' recent penchant for not always showing up against struggling teams, this figures not to be the case with the recent rivalry between the two teams, and with the game on national television, that likely won't happen.
The last time the two teams met in Washington was last March 9th, when Nicklas Backstrom's own goal in the last minute seemed to cripple the Capitals' chances of making the postseason. But following that devastating loss, the Caps just went 11-1-0 down the stretch to win the Southeast Division, including a 6-0-0 mark at home.
A lot besides that has changed since that last meeting eleven months ago, with the teams' roles reversed around this season. Last year, the Pens were in the running for a divisional title and a shot at the Eastern Conference's top seed, while the Caps were fighting from the outside looking to snag a playoff berth. Now, the roles are reversed, with Washington almost assured of their second straight playoff berth, while the Penguins will need a strong finish to try and just qualify for the postseason to defend its Eastern Conference crown.
But after their poor performance Friday, the Caps were put through a grueling practice Saturday at Kettler, and certainly don't figure to put on another weak performance with the Pens in town.
While Bruce Boudreau bristled at the notion that the Caps play down to their opponents before Friday's contest, it sure was what some of the Caps were saying after practice today.
"It's not that we underestimate our opponent," Green added. "But it seems like when we face an opponent we're not familiar with, they kind of take it to us. I don't know what it is. Maybe because they don't see us either so they're not intimidated."
Safe to say, Sunday isn't an opponent that they aren't familiar with, and neither team will be intimidated. And, with all the subplots that go with the two biggest names in the NHL right now, along with their excellent supporting casts, it should be a game worth watching.
And, thanks to a quirk in scheduling, it won't take long before the Pens return to Chinatown, as the two teams will conclude their season series on March 8th. If all goes well for Washington this Sunday, it'll get a chance to earn their first series sweep of the Pens.
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