For the third consecutive season, one of the biggest rivalries, if not the biggest rivalry in the NHL, will take place in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Alex Ovechkin’s Capitals will take on Sidney Crosby’s Penguins.
The Capitals are fresh off of beating the Columbus Blue Jackets in six games, while the Penguins are fresh off of being their in-state rival, the Philadelphia Flyers, in six games. According to statistics, the Caps and Pens have met 10 times, including the past two seasons, both won by the Penguins, who are the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champions. Other statistics include the Capitals losing 9 of the last 10 matchups with Pittsburgh, including the past seven matchups.
I happen to be friends with quite a few Penguins fans and all of them have told me how extremely confident they are. All of them have said something like, “Oh, the Pens will dominate like they always have.” Well, we will see. This is honestly my favorite rivalry in the NHL because us Caps fans always love to trash talk our fellow fans from Pittsburgh. We hate Crosby and they hate Ovechkin, so we are even! Two of my friends, Jill and Brad, both told me “GO PENS!!”
I have a feeling this is once again going to be another six or seven game series. Of course, I am not going to, nor will I ever pick against my Capitals, so we will see how it turns out. If they can finally proceed past the second round, life in DC will be great. Perhaps, it will lead to a conference final matchup with my second favorite team in the NHL, the Tampa Bay Lightning. Now THAT will be even more fun.
ROCK THE RED!!! LET’S GO CAPS!!
Photo from USA Today Sports