James Tanner: Capitals beat Maple Leafs, Rewarded with Penguins The Penguin is coming!!

The Pens will be ready.

I agree with the seeding. Its friggin stupid.

Skill wise the Caps and the Pens are on par with each other. I think the way the Caps will be the Pens is by being physical. You have to beat them down to the point where they don't want to make plays or go in the corners.

Skill wise the Caps and the Pens are on par with each other. I think the way the Caps will be the Pens is by being physical. You have to beat them down to the point where they don't want to make plays or go in the corners.
- Maverick1818

They aren't on par with all the Pittsburgh injuries.

Yes. The seeding is just garbage.

I still think this goes 6 or 7. Hoping the Caps win. Go Caps!

They aren't on par with all the Pittsburgh injuries.
- James_Tanner

I think it's pretty close. The Penguins have the advantage in the forward department, but the Caps have the advantage in the defensemen department. Should be a good series.

lol they didn't face their demons last round, they face their demons this round no?

Skill wise the Caps and the Pens are on par with each other. I think the way the Caps will be the Pens is by being physical. You have to beat them down to the point where they don't want to make plays or go in the corners.
- Maverick1818

cause it worked for CBJ

I think the way the Caps will be the Pens is by being physical. You have to beat them down to the point where they don't want to make plays or go in the corners.
- Maverick1818

By the end of last series even Hartnell admitted that strategy doesn't work against the Pens anymore. Caps need to just focus on playing hockey.

Caps need to play their game of course, but the CBJ's did not play as physical as they could have. Philly seems to be the best at playing physical against the Pens in a way the is painful and pisses them off, but still legal.

Caps need to play their game of course, but the CBJ's did not play as physical as they could have. Philly seems to be the best at playing physical against the Pens in a way the is painful and pisses them off, but still legal.
- Maverick1818

That was 2012 there buddy. Completely different team. Might want to enlighten yourself a bit.

Physicality is not going to be an issue this series. Washington plays a Hockey-first game; they just happen to have a couple of guys who can be physical.

The Pens are in trouble this series because of only one factor: Kris Letang. Now, I'm not saying the Pens would be a lock to beat the caps if Letang was in the line-up, but it would be a much closer series than it's going to be.

I would argue the one factor being Murray's injury

I would argue the one factor being Murray's injury
- WVPensFan22

And that would be a good argument, so maybe I could say two factors, but I think the Letang issue is bigger.

Too many of their defenseman are playing outside their roles and TOI. Having Letang in the lineup allows the Pens to balance their d-pairings.

Fleury is a wreck on the road, but if they had the proper defense in place they could protect him better.

Physicality is not going to be an issue this series. Washington plays a Hockey-first game; they just happen to have a couple of guys who can be physical.

The Pens are in trouble this series because of only one factor: Kris Letang. Now, I'm not saying the Pens would be a lock to beat the caps if Letang was in the line-up, but it would be a much closer series than it's going to be.
- Rinosaur

It'll still be close.

Skill wise the Caps and the Pens are on par with each other. I think the way the Caps will be the Pens is by being physical. You have to beat them down to the point where they don't want to make plays or go in the corners.
- Maverick1818

Wsh dmen took a lot of hits in the 1st Rd against the leafs. They weren't as physical as I was expecting.

Wsh dmen took a lot of hits in the 1st Rd against the leafs. They weren't as physical as I was expecting.
- bryant

Ovi, Wilson, Orpik, maybe Winnik. Who else hits often? They have a couple of guys who bang bodies.. but all teams have that.

How are the leafs a great team and the habs and sens borderline playoff teams when they were both better than the leafs

Ovi, Wilson, Orpik, maybe Winnik. Who else hits often? They have a couple of guys who bang bodies.. but all teams have that.
- j.boyd919

Orlov threw a couple hits. He isn't overly big I don't think. Leafs weren't normally a hard hitting team, but they seemed to be the harder hitting team in the series. Boyle, Martin, kadri, komarov, polak before he was injured. Even kapanen threw some decent hits.

It'll still be close.
- j.boyd919

I'd love to be wrong... very wrong.

I think the loss of Letang is what makes this series one that could go either way. With Letang I would expect the Pens to win but without him I am not so sure.

Also, physicality is not how to beat the Penguins. It didn't work for Columbus and definitely won't work for the Capitals. The way to beat them is to slow down the game with a perfectly executed trap, never get out of position, and never force the offense. The Blues (when Hitchcock was still their coach) did this most effectively against the Pens. It was frustrating to watch. The Capitals simply cannot play this way.

I think whoever wins this series wins the Cup.

No way this series is over in 5. And if so, it sure won't be the Caps. I don't think there is a team out there who can beat them 4 outta 5 chances.

This will go there full 7 with Caps eaking by because I trust Holtby more than Flower.

During the regular season the caps allowed the least goals by an impressive margin. While we didn't see it too much in the series against the Leafs (except maybe the last two games), Washington is a good defensive team. Being third in goals for doesn't hurt either. Pittsburgh was first for goals scored, so it all depends on whether Washington can stifle Pittsburgh's offense or not.

They need to play a structured, defensive game against Pittsburgh imo. With Letang out, I think this is Washington's series to lose.

Was really impressed with the Caps D in the last series. They are just an all rounded team. Oshie, Williams and Wilson gave them the deciding edge in the series. With Letang out and Washington entering the zone like gang busters this is going to give the Pens fits. Pretty sure Trotz will have a shadow for Crosby and Geno. Should be a terrific series. Really pulling for the Caps to get it done. Have a tremendous respect for Barry Trotz who is a classy coach. And even more respect after his presser last nite when he opened by congratulating the Leaf management team.