Postseason play starts Thursday vs. Montreal
The wait really began May 14, 2009 — the day after the Capitals were eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs in a deflating Game 7 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Eleven months later the Caps are back in the postseason, opening the first round at Verizon Center on Thursday night against the Montreal Canadiens at 7 p.m.
“Last year after that game against Pittsburgh ended in Game 7, you just wait and wait for an opportunity like this again,” Washington defenseman Mike Green said. “It couldn’t come quick enough.”
The Caps at times played like a team in limbo during the final six weeks of the regular season. With the Southeast Division title and the Eastern Conference No. 1 seed well in hand by early March, there was little to do except acclimate their three key trade deadline acquisitions — defenseman Joe Corvo and forwards Eric Belanger and Scott Walker — tinker with the lineup and heal any injuries. By the end of the month Washington had earned the franchise’s first Presidents’ Trophy, too, for the NHL’s best overall record and home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.
“As far as pressure goes, we’re the No. 1 seed. But to me it’s like starting the season fresh,” Caps coach Bruce Boudreau said. “We all start at zero wins and zero losses. … When we played the Rangers last year, it took seven games because teams have ways to lift their game. Sports has this way of having surprises and upsets. And obviously we don’t want to be one of the surprises or upsets. But it can happen.”
Montreal actually went 2-1-1 against the Caps this season, taking five of eight possible points. Washington posted the same record thanks to shootout and overtime games. The Caps also have yet to see No. 1 goalie Jaroslav Halak, who won the job in March with 13 starts in 15 games. Washington only faced backup goalie Carey Price in the four regular-season meetings. Halak is tied with the fourth-best save percentage in the NHL (.924).
Questions remain about Washington’s centers in the starting lineup Thursday. Brendan Morrison skated on the top line with Nicklas Backstrom, Alex Ovechkin and Mike Knuble. Boudreau simply said, “I don’t know yet,” when asked whether Morrison was going to be a healthy scratch for Thursday’s game. That left Tomas Fleischmann in the middle on the second line. Belanger, whose faceoff acumen and defensive presence were acquired specifically for this time of the year, centered the third line.
“It’s nice when you see the best team in the league go after you and bring you here down the stretch to maybe get over the edge for the playoffs,” Belanger. “It’s good for me. It’s a real chance to win the Cup, and I’m excited and thankful for it.”
Every player on the roster was on the ice for Wednesday’s final practice. Defenseman Milan Jurcina skated early as he recovers from double hernia surgery. He hopes to be available for the second round if the Caps beat Montreal.
