The Washington Capitals are heading into Game Three tonight with a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals and it feels really wonderful. Finally, the good boys are back where they belong as the series continues at Capital One Arena.
More people should like sports. They’re a bunch of fun when you’re winning. Two more wins to go and the Capitals move on to the championship. We also move on to the championship with them because at this point we’re all a family operating as one unit, or a package deal.
Anyway, puck drop will be a lil’ after 8PM. The great Peter Hassett will have your recap and you will have to turn your channel to NBC. Sorry, I don’t make the rules.
The final regular season stats:
| Record | 54-23-5 | 49-26-7 |
| Shot Attempt % | 52.3% | 48.3% |
| PDO | 102.1 | 101.4 |
| Power Play | 23.9% | 22.5% |
| Penalty Kill | 76.1% | 80.3% |
Projected Lines
Morning skate lines should look very familiar….because they are the same. Still no Backstrom, he will be a game-time decision. As always, thanks to WaPo’s Isabelle Khurshudyan:
Ovechkin – Kuznetsov – Wilson
Vrana – Eller – Oshie
Burakovsky – Stephenson – Connolly
DSP – Beagle – Chiasson
Kempny – Carlson
Orlov – Niskanen
Orpik – Djoos
Holtby
Lost and Found
We’re glad you found your stability with the Caps too, Lars 🙂
Lars Eller yesterday, not exactly blowing a kiss to Therien and Bergevin:
“I definitely found my identity as a player that I maybe, when I was in Montreal, had kind of lost… I was just bounced around a lot — and I mean a lot — whereas I had a lot more stability here.”
— Arash Madani (@ArashMadani) May 14, 2018
Storylines
- Michael Kempny got fined for cross-checking Cedric Paquette and if the Department of Players Safety really had a heart, they would toss me a couple bucks too.
- The Capitals crushed Tampa Bay the first two games. Tampa Bay (and their headlines) knows this.
- It’s not a big deal, but the Capitals are the biggest and most real deal.
- Lightning coach Jon Cooper thinks that Alex Ovechkin is taking 14 years of frustration out on this playoffs. Same tbh.
- Alex Ovechkin is the only reason that I had to get Italian food for lunch yesterday. Check out what he eats before every home game.
- The Capitals have a new celebrity on the wagon and it’s Jon Bon Jovi. I guess you could say he wants to Rock the RED of roses??? Or, we’re halfway to winning the Eastern Conference Finals and we’re living on a praaayer! This was bad, give me time.
- Here’s a cool picture also associated with a good Pete Blackburn tweet:
Congrats to Tampa Bay for finally showing up https://t.co/FYKBrHboVW
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) May 15, 2018
- Nick Backstrom took some time to sign some autographs for fans after morning skate. He kept his glove on while signing.
- When I die, I’d like for the morning after numbers post from Game Two to be read as a eulogy.
- Evgeny Kuznetsov isn’t watching television anymore because of the hockey commentary. I’ve never related to him more.
- Are you heading to the game tonight? Metro is extending their hours a little later so you can get home and not have to leave early!
- Oh, also if you’re heading to the game tonight…just know Evgeny Kuznetsov is counting on a crazy crowd. Make me proud, Capital One Arena (especially section 402 miss u love u).
“I expect a crazy crowd from the fans.” — Evgeny Kuznetsov, asked what he anticipates Tuesday in Washington. Last night, he had a goal and two assists to help the #Caps open a 2-0 series lead over the #Bolts. #StanleyCup #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/OlHe2WwuNG
— Tarik El-Bashir⌨🎙🏒 (@TarikNBCS) May 14, 2018
When the Stats are on your side
Throughout this series, I have felt remarkably light and calm. Maybe it was just beating Pittsburgh, or maybe it’s because I genuinely don’t mind Tampa Bay, but I was listening to the recent episode of the Steve Dangle Podcast and they read a stat that made me feel even more calm than I did before. The podcast guys read that teams in the conference final with a 2-0 lead, since the NHL developed the conference final format in 1975, are 39-2. Teams on the road that take a 2-0 lead in the conference finals are 12-0. I’m cool as a gosh dang cucumber.
Also, of course, Micah’s graphs continue to make me furiously knock on wood.
🎆💀🦀 Day 33: Two road wins put the caps over 50% to win the cup. pic.twitter.com/yqOkvbYG9G
— Micah Blake McCurdy (@IneffectiveMath) May 14, 2018
Headline photo: worldnewsinsider.org
