Those two teams needing to meet in the first round is one reason NBC Sports analyst Ed Olczyk said he thinks it’s the Capitals’ year.
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The teams, a few hours’ drive apart, have developed a rivalry the past handful of seasons and, as fellow members of the Metropolitan Division, have faced each other plenty. The Pens now lead the best-of-seven series 1-0. Columbus fell to 2-9 all-time in the playoffs and 1-5 on the road.
“They probably had a bit of a playoff feel to every single one of them”, Crosby said. They went 2-1-1 with a goal differential of +3 and a shot differential of +12 in all situations.
The Blue Jackets allowed only 39 power play goals this season, killing 82.51% of opponent power plays this season.
In the regular season, the Blue Jackets had the fourth-most standings points in the league.
Finally, no team can be successful without a solid goaltender. What better way of taking care of this than landing a stiff punch in game one. Last season, Pittsburgh finished fifth in penalty kill percentage at 84.4 percent. Now you can debate the Conn Smythe trophy victor, but it’s hard not to admit that without Kessel’s playoff performance, the Penguins arguably would not have won this Cup. The first game I’ll try to do my best.
While learning about the team as a whole and certain line combinations, the Blue Jackets’ bench boss got critical insight into what one of his youngest players, 20-year old Gabriel Carlsson, is made of. It was 2-1-1 vs. Pittsburgh.
Crosby has often been the targeted recipient of that physical play, especially from Blue Jackets center Brandon Dubinsky, who once was suspended by the National Hockey League for a cross-check to the back of Crosby’s neck. Goals-against average: Bobrovsky (2.06).
“Bob” is seemingly in line to win his second Vezina Trophy this season, and is the ultimate X-factor for Columbus.
Pittsburgh (50-21-11) is looking to become the first team to repeat as Stanley Cup champion since the Detroit Red Wings in 1998.
Fifteen seasons, six teams and 907 games later, Hainsey holds a record of the most regular-season games played of all National Hockey League players that has not set foot on the ice for a playoff run.
“The fact we have a lot of guys coming back, that helps as far as trust and belief but everybody starts from scratch here”. Since Mike Sullivan became head coach on December 14, 2015, Pittsburgh has averaged 3.38 goals per game, and they scored 3.04 goals per contest last postseason. He’s the team’s most irreplaceable player, and without him, there’s so much the Penguins lose from their offense and defense. Fellow defencemen Trevor Daley and Olli Maatta also missed extended time, as did forwards Evgeni Malkin, Carl Hagelin, Conor Sheary, Bryan Rust, Patric Hornqvist and Matt Cullen. He has six goals and seven assists. Left wingers Carl Hagelin (lower body) and Chris Kunitz (lower body) are dealing with injuries as well and questionable for Game 1. The Penguins won 4-3 in overtime February 3 and 4-1 on April 4. Crosby had a goal and two assists in the three games. From the beginning of the season to that 5-0 loss to the Capitals, Columbus sported a power play conversion rate of 28.3 percent – almost five percent better than the No. 2 squad during that time span.
Why could the Pittsburgh Penguins win this series?
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Pittsburgh has the clear advantage in postseason experience and on offence. Werenski is the Jackets’ most skilled defenseman, and his health might give Columbus the edge at that position in the series.
