Fansided

5 burning questions for the Pittsburgh Penguins

By Joshua Axelrod

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 05: Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) warms up on May 5, 2018, at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. in the Second Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Washington Capitals defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins, 6-3. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 05: Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) warms up on May 5, 2018, at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. in the Second Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Washington Capitals defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins, 6-3. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Sidney Crosby, left, skates away as the Washington Capitals celebrate after wining Game 6 of the Second Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Monday, May 7, 2018. The Washington Capitals won 2-1 to advance the next round. (Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Sidney Crosby, left, skates away as the Washington Capitals celebrate after wining Game 6 of the Second Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Monday, May 7, 2018. The Washington Capitals won 2-1 to advance the next round. (Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images) /

1. Are the Penguins shook?

This question pertains specifically to the Penguins’ ability to defeat the now-defending Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals. That phrase is a nightmare for Penguins fans, and especially for Penguins fans unfortunate enough to live in Washington, D.C.

It may sound blasphemous to even bring this up given the Penguins still historically own the Capitals. The Penguins lead the all-time regular season series with the Capitals 148-125-16, the playoff series 40-28 and have beaten the Capitals nine out of the last 11 times the two teams have met in the playoffs.

But it’s quite possible we now have to throw all those statistics and intangible advantages the Penguins have had over the Capitals in the Crosby-Ovechkin era out the proverbial window. The Capitals finally have the Penguins monkey off their back, which means a new age may be dawning for both franchises.

Fear can’t be quantified in professional sports, but it can’t be discounted either. The Toronto Raptors’ fear of LeBron James resulted in a Cavaliers sweep during the 2018 postseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ fear of Tom Brady and the New England Patriots has been palpable over the years and, until recently, the Capitals’ fear of the Penguins in the playoffs has kept them in check.

With the fear of the Penguins conquered, both the Metropolitan Division and the Eastern Conference playoffs may now be the Capitals’ to lose for years to come. That certainly depends on more than just whether the Penguins are shook or not, but that will be a major factor for next season and beyond.

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