STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
Lightning 1, Caps 0
What – Game #2
Where – Verizon Center
When – 7 p.m.
TV – CSN HD
Radio – WFED-1500 AM
Two years ago the Caps came back from a 2-0 deficit against the New York Rangers after losing the first two at Verizon Center. They don’t want any part of that scenario again when they face the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Washington had its moments on Friday night, leading by a goal late in the second period. But the Caps got away from their game plan and the Lightning took advantage in an eventual 4-2 victory. Attacking Tampa’s 1-3-1 system isn’t that complicated. You can’t carry the puck into the offensive zone and you better beat the Lightning players to it when you dump it in. Otherwise, it’ll be a long, boring night.
“Well, of course no one wants to be down after the first two games so it’s going to be a big game for everybody,” forward Alex Ovechkin said. “It’s going to be interesting game…If we play our game it’s going to be good. But last game we lost so just forget about it. It’s a new day.”
Now, coaches are under a lot of pressure at this time of year and lineups are a closely guarded secret much of the time. Bruce Boudreau didn’t directly say injured forward Mike Knuble (suspected right hand injury, though no official word from the team save a generic “day-to-day” listing) was out tonight when speaking to the media at the morning skate. Instead, he said “I doubt it” when asked if Knuble would play and repeated his mantra that we’d see the veteran winger some time later in the series.
Meanwhile, forward Matt Hendricks was out on the ice at least 20 minutes longer than normal at the morning skate. Knuble came off early with the rest of his teammates and at his 5 p.m. pregame chat with the media Boudreau said Knuble would take warm-ups “as an inspiration” to his teammates. Considering Knuble could have done that the last couple of games, too, that seems a stretch.
Whatever – he and defenseman John Carlson will both take warm-ups. Boudreau is “hopeful” Carlson can go. The rookie took a good hit in the second period on Friday and skated just two shifts in the third. Looked okay during the morning skate and Carlson was optimistic when we spoke with him the morning skate. But we’ll see.
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