re: Stanley Cup Champions the WASHINGTON CAPITALS Ovechkin wins Smythe

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Hell of a game all around for the Preds

I was very confident the Preds would come out hungry and win this game, but now they have to play well at home. The problem in Game 5 was that the Preds went back to run-and-gun, and they got bit on bad turnovers. They need to keep playing this same defensively responsible style at home that they have in Games 4 and 6.

Ha, I was just thinking the same thing.

These guys should not get too cocky after slaying the Pens dragon, though. I know it seems like there isn't much to dislike with Tampa, but just wait until they are coming at you in waves and Cooper is chomping his gum and smirking the entire game.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

The Caps were the better team. Not dramatically so, but they held the edge in attempts, shots, and chances, but even more importantly, they seemed like the faster team. They simply got to every loose puck a step before Pittsburgh. It took awhile, but they finally broke the dam and got a goal with the run of play.

Let's be honest, this Caps team is nowhere near as good as previous editions. The Caps played FIVE rookies last night and half of their top 6 was inactive for the game, which caused all sorts of lineup construction issues. Even with that, the difference was that the back of Pittsburgh's roster is designed to kill time to give their top lines a blow, while the Caps fourth line of Walker-Beagle-Chiasson kept getting chance after chance. They didn't bury many of them because... well, look at who is on that line. But their constant pressure set a tone for when the top lines came back out. There was no relief for the Penguins.

But that's been the frustrating thing for Caps' fans. The Caps have been the better team. They were better last year and the year before, but they lost anyway. They got bad bounces, a depth player did some amazingly stupid, or they flat got outcoached (give credit to Sullivan). This time, it was the Pens getting unlucky bounces, Letang was horrible and there's probably not a Penguin fan who doesn't want him shot into the sun, and Trotz actually countered Sullivan's moves.

But nothing summed up the series more than Ovi backchecking and stealing the puck from Crosby to set up a game winner from Kuzy. Crosby got victimized to set up the goal, which in the context of the series, was grossly unfair. He was easily the best player on the ice for either team, and he almost willed his team to victory, only to be let down by a lack of support from his teammates. Metaphorically, he became Ovi. This is the best Crosby has ever played against the Caps in the playoffs, and it resulted in a loss. Hockey is a cruel game.

In the Ovi era, the Caps are 12-14 versus the Penguins in the playoffs (9-10 in the last three years). Yet one team has three Cups and the Caps have zero. Hockey is cruel, unfair game. It's nice to have the breaks go your way for once.

Now, we get to lose to the Lightning. But at least we are not going to be the suck this year.

getting tampa bay is quite the reward for beating PITT

should be an epic series.

The Lightning are the best team in hockey but we are taking that series in 6. And then we’re winning the Cup. And I’ll argue that Holtby was the best player on the ice. He was the ultimate difference. I’m really stoked for him and Ovechkin.

Yeah I’d rather face Winnipeg out of all teams left if we make it that far. I’ve disrespected Vegas the most this playoffs and they now scare me the most of the teams remaining. Nashville-Washington would be must see TV though.

No games for the next 2 nights. What event is at Bridgestone Arena Wednesday night?