No. 2 WASHINGTON CAPITALS at No. 4 PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
SPOTLIGHT ON:
Capitals G Simeon Varlamov
The revelation of the Stanley Cup playoffs is 6-2 since taking over for Jose Theodore after Game 1 of the conference quarterfinals. The rookie continues to show he’s unflappable no matter the circumstances; he has fallen behind 1-0 in three consecutive games yet has maintained his composure. For the playoffs, he has stopped 205 of 217 shots.
SPOTLIGHT ON:
Penguins C Evgeni Malkin
Malkin’s 11 points rank second on Pittsburgh this postseason, but he has been a nonfactor in this series (two assists, minus-3 rating). That’s not production befitting a regular-season scoring champ. Malkin knows he and linemates Ruslan Fedotenko and Petr Sykora have to get going because Sidney Crosby isn’t going to get a hat trick every night. The difference in this series so far has been the goals not scored by Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. The Caps hold that edge, and Malkin needs to change that.
STORY LINES
1. OVECHKIN VS. CROSBY ROUND 3
In an epic game Monday, both players posted their first career playoff hat tricks, but Ovechkin’s Caps won 4-3. Each player has four goals in the series, thrilling the NHL office. With the series shifting to Pittsburgh, what do the superstars have left for a third act? The pressure is on Crosby because the Penguins are down 2-0.
2. EFFICIENT ROAD PLAY
The Capitals won twice on the Rangers’ home ice - by a combined score of 9-3. And they won twice during the regular season in Pittsburgh so the atmosphere - even though it will be ratcheted up - shouldn’t bother the Caps. But this will be their first test at showing a killer instinct and putting a team away when they have a chance.
3. GAMESMANSHIP
Will rookie Penguins coach Dan Bylsma have the guts to challenge the legality of Ovechkin’s stick? Will he move Malkin to a wing on Crosby’s line? Will he complain to the referees about the perceived pick plays being run by the Caps? Most of all, can he ensure the Penguins don’t fall behind 3-0?
- Ryan O’Halloran
Capitals lines
FORWARDS
First line
Alex Ovechkin
Sergei Fedorov
Viktor Kozlov
Second line
Tomas Fleischmann
Nicklas Backstrom
Alexander Semin
Third line
Brooks Laich
David Steckel
Matt Bradley
Fourth line
Chris Clark
Boyd Gordon
Michael Nylander
DEFENSEMEN
First pair
Shaone Morrisonn
Mike Green
Second pair
Tom Poti
Milan Jurcina
Third pair
Brian Pothier
Tyler Sloan
GOALIES
Simeon Varlamov
Jose Theodore
Extras: Eric Fehr, Donald Brashear (suspended), Jeff Schultz, John Erskine, Karl Alzner
Penguins lines
FORWARDS
First line
Chris Kunitz
Sidney Crosby
Bill Guerin
Second line
Ruslan Fedotenko
Evgeni Malkin
Petr Sykora
Third line
Matt Cooke
Jordan Staal
Tyler Kennedy
Fourth line
Pascal Dupuis
Craig Adams
Max Talbot
DEFENSEMEN
First pair
Brooks Orpik
Sergei Gonchar
Second pair
Hal Gill
Rob Scuderi
Third pair
Mark Eaton
Philippe Boucher
GOALIES
Marc-Andre Fleury
Mathieu Garon
Extras: Miroslav Satan, Eric Godard, Kris Letang
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