Just a quick post today boys and girls, in advance of tonight's game 6, and I'll start with maybe the most interesting statistic of them all in a long list of post-season history between the Penguins and Capitals.
The Penguins have had 6 chances to eliminate Washington in their playoff history.
They are 6-0 in those games.
Now, history alone -- of course -- won't do the job for the Penguins tonight. Pittsburgh has to compete even harder for every square inch of the ice than they have at any point in this series. Washington will be as desperate as any team would be facing elimination.
The Capitals' also are 5-1 in elimination games in the last 2 seasons under coach Bruce Boudreau, so not only are they somewhat familiar with this situation, they have performed well in the past when faced with it.
However, the Capitals are not only facing a lot of mental baggage from the historical post-season matchups of these two franchises, they are heading into game 6 tonight at Mellon Arena knowing that, while admittedly playing their best game of the series in game 5, they still lost.
In overtime.
On a fluke goal.
There's so much at stake in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. A loss in a game 5 hurts no matter what. But to do it in overtime the way it happened drives the stake even deeper. The emotional value of the defeat just weighs so much heavier.
Tonight, we'll find out just how much.
Sergei Gonchar has not been ruled out for tonight's game, but I believe he's truly doubtful to play. The bigger question, really, is not whether he will be in the lineup, but more what Bylsma is likely to do without him --- play 7 "D" like he did in game 5, or go back to six and dress a full complement of forwards.
Byslma also has the home ice and last change tonight, so that's something to think about. The Penguins were very effective in games 3 and 4 at home, getting their matchups and limiting Alexander Ovechkin because of it. They need to do that again tonight.
Recap tomorrow. Here's wishing that it's a look ahead to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Let's Go Pens.
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