Game #80
Caps (52-15-12, 116 points) at Pittsburgh Penguins (45-26-7, 97 points)
Final meeting of the regular season between the Caps and Penguins at Mellon Arena. Is it the last one between them in that old barn, which closes at the end of this season? If ever there was a house of horrors for one pro sports team this is it. Let’s see – the Caps have had their season ended in Mellon Arena in 1991 (Game 5, second round), 1995 (Game 7, first round) and 2001 (Game 6, first round). Pittsburgh was clearly a superior team in the 1991 series and went on to win its first Stanley Cup. But the 1995 game was a 3-0 loss – an early Penguins goal came after two Caps defenseman collided and fell to the ice – and concluded another blown 3-1 series lead for Washington. You might remember the 2001 game when Caps defenseman Sergei Gonchar (who now plays for Pittsburgh) tried to exit his own zone with the puck and lost it to Pittsburgh forward Martin Straka, who skated in alone and beat Olie Kolzig for the overtime winner. Somehow I missed that 2001 contest on the NHL collector’s edition release last week of the Caps’ 10 Greatest Games.
Washington is 8-16 at Mellon Arena in playoff games with four overtime losses to go with the three season-enders. I’d say the high point here has to be David Steckel’s overtime winner in Game 6 last year at Mellon Arena to keep the Caps alive. Of course, that series didn’t end well, either. There are a lot of former Caps who would love to push the button when that place goes down. Pittsburgh is moving just down the street next fall to Consol Energy Center. But maybe the Igloo has one last Caps-Pens playoff series left and tonight won’t be the finale after all.
Semyon Varlamov starts for the Caps tonight in goal in the second of a back-to-back. Defenseman Mike Green is a scratch again. Maybe not so healthy? Forward Jay Beagle and defenseman Karl Alzner were recalled from AHL Hershey and could play tonight, if needed. Washington has won all three games against Pittsburgh this season – though, to be fair, two came in overtime/shootout. The Penguins were 0-6 against the New Jersey Devils, too, so this game has some meaning for them.
With just three games left a loss hurts Pittsburgh’s chances to win the Atlantic Division and – maybe – avoid the Caps until the Eastern Conference finals. Add in the NHL scoring race between Alex Ovechkin (46 goals, 104 points) and Sidney Crosby (47 goals, 97 points) and we have an interesting little tilt here. Feels like this one is getting lost in the shuffle thanks to the Caps’ clinching the Presidents’ Trophy already, the Donovan McNabb trade, the NCAA title game, Tiger Woods at the Masters, Opening Day for the Nats … okay, it’s been a busy week. But this one should have some juice.
