Game Thread: Rivalry Night: Caps @ Pens

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Washington Capitals
Overall record: 22-16-8, 52 points (56.5%)
Road record: 8-8-4
Last 10: 3-3-4
Streak: -2
GFA: 2.80
GAA: 2.85
PP%: 25%
PK%: 80.5%
Projected lineup
L1: Eric Fehr - Mikhail Grabovski - Alexander Ovechkin
L2: Brooks Laich - Nicklas Backstrom - Troy Brouwer
L3: Jason Chimera - Marcus Johansson - Joel Ward
L4: Aaron Volpatti - Jay Beagle - Tom Wilson
D1: Karl Alzner - John Carlson
D2: Dmitri Orlov - Mike Green
D3: John Erskine - Connor Carrick
G: Braden Holtby

Pittsburgh Penguins
Overall record: 33-12-2, 68 points (72.3%)
Home record: 19-3-0
Last 10: 7-2-1
Streak: +1
GFA: 3.15
GAA: 2.38
PP%: 25.2%
PK%: 87.5%
Projected lineup:
L1: Chris Kunitz - Sidney Crosby - Taylor Pyatt
L2: Jussi Jokinen - Evgeni Malkin - James Neal
L3: Tanner Glass - Brandon Sutter - Nicholas Drazenovic
L4: Craig Adams - Zach Sill - Deryk Engelland
D1: Rob Scuderi - Kris Letang
D2: Robert Bortuzzo - Brooks Orpik
D3: Olli Maatta - Matt Niskanen
G: Marc-Andre Fleury

Series notes
All-time: Pens lead series 97-83-5
Season series: Pens lead series 1-0
Last meeting: 11/20/2013 @ Verizon Center, Pens won 4-0

Doob's take: Caps come into this game on a 2 game slide and are hoping to hold off the likes of the Flyers & Rangers for that 2nd place position in the Metropolitan Division, so I expect a tough game. Both teams have very efficient power plays, so it's very important for these teams to avoid penalties and going short handed. At the end of the day I think the Pens are playing better and have been real tough at home, so Doob picks the Pens to win 3-2.

 

[Cobiemonster]

Should be a good game - will definitely watch

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Should be a good game - will definitely watch

Yeah, glad they're showing a game that's actually a rivalry.

 

[Cobiemonster]

Yeah, glad they're showing a game that's actually a rivalry.

It's more Ovechkin vs. Crosby more so than Caps vs. Penguins but at least it'll be exciting

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

It's more Ovechkin vs. Crosby more so than Caps vs. Penguins but at least it'll be exciting

Yeah, that will probably get most of the attention, but the Caps & Pens have a pretty good rivalry. Caps are probably the Pens 2nd biggest rival next to the Flyers.

 

[fredmccallyRTR]

Will watch.....exceedingly intoxicated.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Will watch.....exceedingly intoxicated.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-MGQUjkDLY]DAP l Capitals/Penguins: You vs. Them - YouTube[/ame]

 

[hokiehi21]

5-1 Penguins

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

5-1 Penguins

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4ud805y9bQ]24/7 Penguins Capitals: The Rivalry (HBO) - YouTube[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIriJVl2prY]Wednesday night RIVALRY on NBCSN Penguins@Capitals 11/20/2013 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rg1_o2ZCXmI]Sidney Crosby vs Alexander Ovechkin: The NHL's Best Rivalry - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Yet another ''rivalry'' they have made up, nonetheless, still should be a good game.

 

[awaz]

even though its technically bad for the flyers...

GO CAPS!

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Yet another ''rivalry'' they have made up, nonetheless, still should be a good game.

I think this is a legit rivalry. Caps & Pens have met a lot in the playoffs and many of those have gone a full 7 games.

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

I think this is a legit rivalry. Caps & Pens have met a lot in the playoffs and many of those have gone a full 7 games.

Idk, like somebody said earlier, think it's more Ovie/Crosby than an actual ''team rivalry''

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Idk, like somebody said earlier, think it's more Ovie/Crosby than an actual ''team rivalry''

Lot's of playoff meeting during the 1990s & early 2000s which fueled the rivalry before the arrival of OV & Sid.

 

[apachef4]

Idk, like somebody said earlier, think it's more Ovie/Crosby than an actual ''team rivalry''

In the 11 seasons between 1991 and 2001, the two teams met in the playoffs 7 times, with the Pens winning 6 of the series. OV and Sid have only met once in the playoffs, in 2009, which the Pens also won. Believe me, it is definitely a rivalry for the Caps...I can't speak for Pens fans, but with the way they have dominated us (in the playoffs, at least), I would understand if they didn't look at the Caps as true rivals. The hammer really doesn't have a rivalry with the nail.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

In the 11 seasons between 1991 and 2001, the two teams met in the playoffs 7 times, with the Pens winning 6 of the series. OV and Sid have only met once in the playoffs, in 2009, which the Pens also won. Believe me, it is definitely a rivalry for the Caps...I can't speak for Pens fans, but with the way they have dominated us (in the playoffs, at least), I would understand if they didn't look at the Caps as true rivals. The hammer really doesn't have a rivalry with the nail.

Penguin fans see it as a rivalry as well. Next to the Flyers I think the Caps are our biggest rivals.

 

[forty_three]

I went to a LOT of playoff games between the Caps and Pens between the late 80's and early 00's. I assure you, it's a rivalry. The only time I've ever been more frightened that someone was going to die at a sporting event was a Flyers/Bruins game in the old Spectrum in the early 80s.

I loved those games though. Every time Larry Murphy touched the puck, you scream "WHOOOOOOP WHOOOOP". It was awesome when you could see it affect him.

Chanting "BAAARASSSSSHOOOOLE"

And I didn't even care who won. I had no dog in the fight. But the Cap Centre was an electric building.



Fun fact: SO many Pens fans would get into the Cap Center that Mike Ridley of the Caps once got caught on a live mic trying to pump his team up at the start. "Hey! LET'S GO KICK THEIR ASSES IN THEIR OWN BUILDING! SHUT THE CROWD UP!"

He got traded that summer.




Actually this Sid vs OV stuff is lame compared to the way it was.