There is only one game on the docket for tonight: Capitals-Penguins, Game 3. It has been a chippy back-and-forth series, so let’s take a look at the picks, plays and predictions.
| Capitals vs Penguins ML +127 / -140 O/U 5 |
Here are the starting goaltenders for tonight, courtesy of LeftWingLock.
The Capitals took Game 1 in overtime by a matter of inches, or even fractions of an inch. T.J. Oshie put the finishing touches on a hat trick by slipping a wraparound just past the outstretched leg pad of Matt Murray.
Pittsburgh responded with a 2-1 victory in Game 2, taking home ice advantage away from the Capitals. Carl Hagelin got the scoring started, as his connection with Nick Bonino produced yet again. Bonino wrapped around the net and drew the attention of John Carlson. Sensing that Brooks Orpik and the Washington Forwards were lagging behind the play, Hagelin made a quick step to get open in the slot and buried the one-timer from in close. It was a thing of beauty from a line that has been so sneakily good since its creation.
The Capitals believed they had the game tied late in the second period. A netmouth scramble in front of the net finally resulted in the puck landing on the stick of Bryan Rust. Rather than clear, Rust attempted to skate the puck out of danger. Bad decision. Rust had his pocket picked by Nate Schmidt. Evgeny Kuznetsov, in his haste to grab the loose puck and/or make a move, barreled over Matt Murray. Schmidt shot and scored, though the play was immediately blown dead.
Washington evened things up for real early in the third, when Marcus Johansson banged home a loose puck on the man advantage.
The Pens’ new-look lines that have been arranged since the return of Evgeni Malkin provided support once again. Malkin threaded the needle with a pass to the stick of Eric Fehr, who deflected home the game-winner.
Pittsburgh out-shot Washington 35-24.
The Caps’ lone goal came on the man advantage after being held to 0-for-4 in Game 1. The Pens are 0-for-7 in the series.
Marc-Andre Fleury is reportedly making “significant progress” though Murray will be the starter tonight. Fleury was able to take shots in practice today. The question that I posed in my series preview once more comes to fruition: if and when Fleury becomes healthy enough to play in a game, is replacing Matt Murray the wise decision? Murray has allowed one or two goals that he would like back, but on the whole has been all the Penguins could have hoped for, and more.
Brooks Orpik will miss the next three games after an indefensible high hit brought a suspension upon him. I find it very funny that Orpik is being praised for not appealing the suspension. He is being lauded, specifically by Pierre LeBrun of ESPN, for his character and leadership. Of course, a true “character guy” would never have laid the dirty hit to an opposing player’s head to begin with, but I digress.
Taylor Chorney will replace Orpik in the lineup. He will skate on the third pairing with Dmitri Orlov.
The Penguins won two of three games on home ice against the New York Rangers in the first round. They finished with a 28-12-1 record at home.
If Pittsburgh is to take their first lead in the series, they will want to build upon their performance in Game 2. They will need to continue their success in the shot battle, as well as maintaining discipline. They gave the Caps only two powerplay opportunities in all of Game 2. Limiting their chances on the man advantage, which is when they are at their most lethal, is paramount.
The Capitals, meanwhile, must get more chances to the net. The Pens have been doing a fantastic job of going shot for shot with the Caps’ big guns to the point where Washington’s second line is not nearly as dominant in possession as they once were.
Prediction: Take the Pens to win. Play the under.
