The Washington Capitals have a chance to close out the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday in Pittsburgh. Here’s what you can expect from Game 6.
The Washington Capitals seem to be in a position like this every year: Washington Capitals against the Pittsburgh Penguins. It’s like deja vu all over again for the Capitals faithful. Only this time, it seems like this Capitals team is different, and this might actually be their year.
Even with the suspension to the Caps enforcer Tom Wilson, they’ve still been able to keep that same edge. It’s that same edge that propelled them to a Game 5 win at home. They’re going to have to keep that same edge and then some as Wilson is serving the final game of his suspension.
The Penguins on the other hand have been the victim of some poor decisions at the wrong time. We all know they’re one of the best teams in hockey when it comes to putting pucks on net, but Game’s 4 and 5 have ended with some not so smart decision making on the Penguins end.
Olli Matta turned the puck over in the offensive zone which led to Alex Ovechkin’s game-winning goal with just over a minute left. In Game 5 Jakub Vrana’s game-winning goal came after a great save by Braden Holtby, and the Caps turned it into Ovechkin skating right past a forward, and setting Vrana up in front of the net.
With all of that in mind, here’s what you can expect in Game 6.
It’s the Great Eight’s time
We all know the history of the Washington Capitals, and their inability to make it out of the second round. Mostly at the hands of these Penguins. At the center of all of that is the Great Eight, Alex Ovechkin.
Ovechkin, just like pretty much everyone else on the roster, has been in this position before. They were here as recently as last year in Game 7 with a chance to advance on their home ice, but came up short in a 2-0 defeat.
In this series, Ovechkin has tallied six points including the game-winning goal in Game 4.
He’s done his damage pretty efficiently as well. His four shots in Game 2 is the most he’s taken all series long, and we all know how much Ovi likes to rack up his shot total.
This is Ovechkin’s to put to rest everything that’s ever been said about his failures in the playoffs. As an added bonus he can finally get through the guy that’s haunted his playoff nightmares for years in Sidney Crosby.
Expect Ovechkin to come out firing on all cylinders from the get-go.
It’s also Sidney Crosby’s time
As much as it’s Alex Ovechkin’s time, this is also one of those moments where Sidney Crosby shines. There’s a reason why Ovechkin hasn’t made it out of the second round, and Crosby is pretty much the sole reason why.
It seems that whenever his back is against the wall Crosby performs is best. It may seem like he’s been pretty silent this series, but that’s not the case. Crosby has racked up seven points in this series including a two goal performance in the Penguins Game 4 victory.
The Penguins have the added benefit of having Game 6 at home even though they’re only 2-3 this postseason at home.
The Pens aren’t going to go down without a fight, and at the center of everything will be the one and only Sidney Crosby.
The Ovechkin, Kuznestov, Vrana top line will return
The one thing that’s given the Capitals a boost on offense has been head coach Barry Trotz adjusting the top line a little bit. Trotz spent some time trotting out Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznestov and Devante Smith-Pelly on the first line which hasn’t been that great.
So in order to shake things up, why not throw in probably the fastest guy on the team in Jakub Vrana? The combination of those three on the top line has given the team a boost when they need it, and it’s also the line that produced the game winning goal in Game 5.
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Even with the offensive firepower that line has they struggle defensively which is the main reason why the Capitals don’t use it all too often. Since Game 6 is in Pittsburgh, that means the Pens have the last change which could keep the Capitals from using that combination late in the game.
Don’t be surprised, though, if that line produces a goal or two in Game 6, and they’ll probably have to if they don’t want to go back home for a possible Game 7 in the nation’s capital.
Prediction: Capitals win 3-2 in an instant classic.
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