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(NHL) Pittsburgh vs. Washington,
Money Line: -141.00 Washington (Home)
Result: Loss
Money Line: -141.00 Washington (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The Washington Capitals, perennial playoff underachievers, will host the Pittsburgh Penguins (defending champs) in tonight's Game 2 at the Verizon Center. After a scorelsss first period in Game 1, Sidney Crosby scored twice in a 52-second span in the first 1:04 of the second period, giving him a franchise high-tying 51st career multi-point postseason performance. The Capitals had an 83-41 advantage in attempted shots (led in shots on goal, 35-21) in the series opener but while Alex Ovechkin's second-period goal and a second straight Caps goal eventually tied the score, the Pens went on to win, 3-2.
Pittsburgh: Crosby is riding a five-game point streak (four goals, five assists) and has collected 17 points (10 goals, seven assists) in 14 playoff contests against the Capitals. Nick Bonino continues to be a thorn in the side of Washington, ending last year's second-round series with the overtime winner in Game 6, by converting on a breakaway with 7:24 remaining in the third period on Thursday. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury made 15 of his 33 saves in the third period on Thursday, improving to 5-1 in the playoffs with an impressive .934 save percentage.
Washington: Ovechkin has recorded 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists), five more than Crosby, in the same stretch versus the Penguins. However, the Penguins have won both of the previous two series and the Caps are well aware! Washington rallied to tie the score in the third period of Game 1 and appeared to have the momentum but then Pittsburgh's Nick Bonino netted what proved to be the game winner on that breakaway. Same old, same old for Washington against Pittsburgh. "What I like about our group is it was 2-0 and there was no panic," Capitals head coach Barry Trotz said. "There was absolutely no panic and you saw us building momentum and keep coming and coming. I thought we generated enough chances to not only tie it up, but maybe go ahead." We'll see.
The pick: However, in Game 2 of a playoff series, the Capitals' superstars have traditionally come to play! Ovechkin has 10 goalsa nd six assists), while Nicklas Backstrom has seven goals and eight assists. As for goalie Braden Holtby, he owns a 1.63 goals-against average and a .950 save percentage in his career in Game 2s. It's now or never for the Caps. Make Washington a 10* play
Pittsburgh: Crosby is riding a five-game point streak (four goals, five assists) and has collected 17 points (10 goals, seven assists) in 14 playoff contests against the Capitals. Nick Bonino continues to be a thorn in the side of Washington, ending last year's second-round series with the overtime winner in Game 6, by converting on a breakaway with 7:24 remaining in the third period on Thursday. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury made 15 of his 33 saves in the third period on Thursday, improving to 5-1 in the playoffs with an impressive .934 save percentage.
Washington: Ovechkin has recorded 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists), five more than Crosby, in the same stretch versus the Penguins. However, the Penguins have won both of the previous two series and the Caps are well aware! Washington rallied to tie the score in the third period of Game 1 and appeared to have the momentum but then Pittsburgh's Nick Bonino netted what proved to be the game winner on that breakaway. Same old, same old for Washington against Pittsburgh. "What I like about our group is it was 2-0 and there was no panic," Capitals head coach Barry Trotz said. "There was absolutely no panic and you saw us building momentum and keep coming and coming. I thought we generated enough chances to not only tie it up, but maybe go ahead." We'll see.
The pick: However, in Game 2 of a playoff series, the Capitals' superstars have traditionally come to play! Ovechkin has 10 goalsa nd six assists), while Nicklas Backstrom has seven goals and eight assists. As for goalie Braden Holtby, he owns a 1.63 goals-against average and a .950 save percentage in his career in Game 2s. It's now or never for the Caps. Make Washington a 10* play
