2016 Playoffs

Evgeni Malkin: Beating the Capitals Made the Penguins Confident They Could Win the Stanley Cup

Photo: NHL

It’s been a couple weeks since Nick Bonino of the Pittsburgh Penguins scored in overtime to eliminate the Washington Capitals from the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The second round series was an epic battle between the hottest team in the league, the Penguins, and the team with the best record in the NHL, the Capitals.

Over the six-game series, the Penguins netted just one more goal than the Caps, outscoring them 16-15. Three of the games went to overtime. If a few more bounces went the Capitals’ way, they could be getting ready to host Game One of the Stanley Cup Final right now.

(more…)

By Chris Gordon 7 years ago

0 Comment

Nicklas Backstrom Says Capitals Have ‘the Best Fans in the World,’ Promises Them a Stanley Cup

Photo: Patrick Smith

Every year, Nicklas Backstrom’s facial hair gets a little less terrible and Alex Ovechkin’s hair gets a little more gray. Both players are still at the top of their game — for now. But by the time next season rolls around, Ovechkin will be 31. Backstrom will turn 29 soon after. Each player is getting near the latter half of their career.

“It absolutely crosses your mind,” Backstrom said when asked about him and Ovechkin running out of time to win a Stanley Cup. “We need to get over the hump we can’t get over.”

(more…)

By Chris Gordon 7 years ago

0 Comment

Everything is Awful, Except the Washington Capitals, Mostly

Photo: Justin K. Aller

The Capitals just had their best regular season in franchise history. We thought things might be different in this year’s playoffs, yet here we are again, feeling like we just got run over by a 16 wheeler (that then put itself in reverse, backed over our still twitching bodies, put itself back in drive, and ran us over again).

Let me just spew out a few painful facts that are real, actual things. Alex Ovechkin, this generation’s greatest goal scorer, has never made it past the second round of the postseason. Barry Trotz, this season’s slam dunk Jack Adams Trophy winner, has never gotten past the second round of the postseason. The whole dang Caps franchise has not made it past the second round since 1998. On top of that, this series loss to the Penguins marks the eighth time the organization has lost to the Penguins out of nine tries, which is the worst winning percentage in the NHL among any teams that have faced off 8 times or more. These stats can straight up go to hell.

@dcsportsbog Better chart pic.twitter.com/syrtLh2R0U

— Ismail (@imadni) May 11, 2016

So can this chart.

I have no grand conclusions on why this season ended early for the Caps — other than they were really unlucky and not failures in any way. What I do have is a lot of random thoughts and questions, some of which are fun and some of which are miserable. Let’s review.

(more…)

By Ian Oland 7 years ago

0 Comment

A Rainy Day Open Thread for the Eliminated Caps

Photo: Justin Aller

The rock rolled down the hill. With Nick Bonino’s overtime goal, the Washington Capitals season ended in a blink. Now we look ahead at a rainy summer and the prospect of starting over to try again next fall.

This is a free space for you to talk about whatever you want.

(more…)

By Peter Hassett 7 years ago

0 Comment

Capitals Eliminated in Overtime by Penguins :(

An early deficit, sent spiraling by a terrible penalty, then a stirring, unlikely comeback, sudden defeat. Game Six was the height of Caps playoff chaos. If you emotionally checked out early, I can’t blame you. If, late in the game, you didn’t high-five until your hands got all red and stingy, I can’t understand you. If you’re reeling right now, you are my people.

Penguins beat Capitals 4-3 in overtime. Penguins win the series 4-2.

(more…)

By Peter Hassett 7 years ago

0 Comment

Penguins Score Twice After Brooks Orpik’s Double Minor For High Sticking

Two years ago, Brian MacLellan signed Brooks Orpik to a five-year deal because of the veteran defenseman’s “leadership and experience.” Tuesday night in Game Six, the 35-year-old Orpik took a four-minute double minor penalty for high-sticking.

The Penguins scored twice on the resulting power play.

(more…)

By Ian Oland 7 years ago

0 Comment

Karl Alzner Leaves Game After Getting Slashed by Sidney Crosby

Karl Alzner, one of the Capitals’ most reliable defensemen, just left Game Six with an injury. Some time before the 9:20 mark of the first period, Sidney Crosby slashed Alzner. The play looked harmless, but when Alzner returned to the bench, he cursed and left for the locker room.

(more…)

By Ian Oland 7 years ago

0 Comment

Photo: Justin K. Aller

First off, apologies for the lack of liveblog last game, I was in attendance for the Game Five victory. We’re back!

The Caps need to win in Pittsburgh tonight to force a Game Seven back home at the Verizon Center.That feat is something they have actually done recently in the postseason, as the 2009 team won Game Six in Pittsburgh on the back of a David Steckel overtime goal.

Brooks Orpik is back in the lineup and I am not excited about it. Pat wrote about Evgeny Kuznetsov’s play this playoffs, so let’s hope he has a break out game points-wise tonight and makes him look real smart.

Liveblog below.

(more…)

By Chris Cerullo 7 years ago

0 Comment

Caps at Penguins Pregame: Flip Two Coins

The spirit of ’09 (Photo: Bruce Bennett)

The Washington Capitals enjoyed their last elimination game, a 3-1 win on home ice, but there’s no time for congratulations. To keep their season alive, the Caps must now win on enemy territory against a very good opponent. It won’t be easy, but this is the freaking Capitals in May. It has never been easy.

Puck drops at 8 PM in Pittsburgh. Game’s on NBC Sports. I’m told the Chris From the Comments Liveblog will be back as well.

Team	Record	Possession	PDO	Power Play	Penalty Kill
Washington Capitals	56-18-8	52.0%	101.1	21.9% (5th)	85.2% (2nd)
Pittsburgh Penguins	48-26-8	53.0%	100.6	18.4% (16th)	84.4 % (5th)

(more…)

By Peter Hassett 7 years ago

0 Comment

Keys for Game Six to Force a Game Seven

Photo: Drew Hallowell

A Caps win in Game Five brought the series back to Pittsburgh. Tonight, the Washington Capitals will look to force a Game Seven back in Washington. The Caps must continue with what worked in Game Five, and even sharpen up a few areas, because an elimination game on home ice is one thing, but one in the enemy’s barn is a whole other animal.

Here are my five keys to a Game Six win.

(more…)

By Spenser Smallwood 7 years ago

0 Comment

12 3 4 5 Next ›Last »

Page 1 of 12