Opinion

Caps Outsider Roundtable: Caps-Penguins Predictions

GO CAPS! (Caps Outsider)

Max Wolpoff:

You know that scene in “History of the World: Part I” where Mel Brooks and his cronies are caught by the Romans while trying not to panic? I am Mel Brooks right now.

Three Penguins — Evgeni Malkin (1.75), Sidney Crosby (1.6), and Phil Kessel (1.2) — sit ahead of the nearest Capital, Nicklas Backstrom (1.17), in playoff points per game. The offense averaged 4.6 goals against mostly Henrik Lundqvist, a career 2.27 goals against average goalie who had that balloon to 4.39 in this series.

Granted, Matt Murray has not seen the same amount of NHL action as Braden Holtby, but his 1.33 GAA over the four games he played in the five game series, and his AHL numbers in Wilkes/Barre-Scranton (2.10 GAA, .931 save percentage) are enough to worry me.

I cannot get over how easily the Penguins handled the Caps in the last regular season encounter, even though Washington had very little to play for by that point. The boys in red are outmatched in speed; they’ll need a big series from their top defenders to shut down Pittsburgh’s top scorers, much like what was done to Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds last series.

Capitals in 7

Jacob Weinberger:

In a series sporting two teams with high-powered offenses, the difference will be defense. Can the top pairings of Karl Alzner-Matt Niskanen and John Carlson-Nate Schmidt/Brooks Orpik keep Pittsburgh’s top two lines in check? I say yes.

Why? Because they did it against Philadelphia; because the Caps thrived when challenged physically by the Flyers; because the Penguins haven’t proven yet they can succeed in the grueling, hard-hitting battleground that is playoff hockey.

The deeper team with the better goaltender and defense will win this series. Right now, it’s the Caps.

Capitals in 7

Andy Wallace:

I liked the new line combinations that Barry Trotz put out flipping Marcus Johansson and Andre Burakovsky. The third line just wasn’t getting it done and I’m glad that Trotz could see past Mojo’s production on the power play and on to his lack of production at 5v5. Burakovsky is an incredible player and I can see him carrying an entire line on his shoulders given that he can handle the pressure. The top nine that the Caps will potentially deploy is deadly and can outmatch that of the Pens. If Orpik is healthy, that would help but I think Taylor Chorney would anchor the defensive corps just fine, as he brings more speed than other potential candidates. No concerns for Holtby, and I doubt Murray will continue this hot streak.

Capitals in 5

Brandon Alter:

Penguins/Capitals. Nothing more needs to be said to get you ready for not just any game, but a playoff series should take it to the next level. There is no team I like to see the Caps beat more than the Pens. This should be a lot of fun, and very close.

Everyone will hype up the Crosby/Ovechkin part of this rivalry. Too much I think. That was only big when the teams were not powerhouses like they are now. One matchup I will be watching closely is the Patric Hornqvist and TJ Oshie battle. Both players are severely underrated because of who they play with. Give the two of them time and space, and they will burn you. Look for them to be the x-factors on each team.

Capitals in 7

Ben Sumner:

I’m a nervous wreck right now. Assuming the Caps play at their very best, and Pittsburgh does that Penguins thing that they do when playing the Caps, this series can be determined by inches, a single offsides, an untimely penalty, a bad call, gravity, a witch, or any of those things that affect a coin-flip.

Holtby will give up more than six goals, the Penguins will find their way through the Caps’ D more often than twice a game, and Caps forwards will slump. Contrarily, the Penguins have far stiffer competition than their series against the Rangers by almost every measure.

I can’t pick against the Caps, but still see this series as a ball on the roulette wheel. I’m betting on Red.

Capitals in 7

Philip Van der Vossen:

Since Ben seems to have lost his confidence a bit, allow me to be the foolish one to pick the Capitals for the sweep. As Alex Ovechkin once famously declared, “Puck this Shitsburgh Team!”

Capitals in 4

Ben Sumner

Ben Sumner is the editor of Capitals Outsider. He also works for The Washington Post and contributes there when he gets a scoop.

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