But, as has been the case for most of the past quarter century the Penguins did more of the little things.
The Capitals added center Lars Eller and defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk as a direct response to losing their second-round series last season, hoping the depth will help against the defending Stanley Cup champions. They threw the kitchen sink at goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and he kicked it aside. "I just think that they're better at identifying the issues within the team slowly over time", General Manager Brian MacLellan said before the postseason. "It's not often with the salary cap and everything that you bring a similar team back". "I don't know if that's good or bad, but I don't think you should ever get used to that". But this is a resilient group that's determined to find ways to win.
"Especially when teams try to play a real aggressive game against us, I think our counterattack can be very risky and effective", the coach said on a teleconference on Sunday.
The Penguins, who are 7-3 in their last 10 games against the Metropolitan Division rival Capitals according to the OddsShark NHL Database, could have LW Carl Hagelin (lower body) in the lineup for the first time in seven weeks. Defensemen Dmitry Orlov and Nate Schmidt are also much improved after being scratched during the 2016 playoffs.
Why didn't Sullivan just hold up an old-fashioned gold watch on a chain, swing it back and forth and say, "You are feeling exhausted".
Senators coach Guy Boucher was nearly at a loss for words to describe a player who he believes is deserving of Hart Trophy consideration as league MVP this season. "We just have to pressure them, and we don't have to give them any chances to get success".
Said Cullen: "They are always kind of linked, like Mario (Lemieux) and (Wayne) Gretzky".
"They're special athletes, both those guys, and they look for those big moments and they capitalize on those big moments", Capitals coach Barry Trotz said. Watch and find out.
Swansea beats Everton 1-0, out of EPL relegation zone
Just look at what happened with Hull , everyone thought it would a home win for them and it did not happen. Swansea traveled to Old Trafford to face Manchester United last weekend.
"I think we've just got to take a deep breath here and realize what we did right in the first period", defenseman Brooks Orpik said. It was Ovechkin's 11th goal in 14 career playoff games against Pittsburgh.
A chorus of boos greeted the announcement of Sidney Crosby's first goal in Game 1 at the Washington Capitals. Facing Pittsburgh's top competition seems to get Oshie clicking. The dire situation, a season full of expectation suddenly on the brink, prompted a players-only meeting after the game. "Whenever you get a guy like that back it's big for your team". "Last few years, the puck found the net for me and hopefully it will be the same".
Guentzel added an empty-net goal to seal it for the Penguins, his playoff-best seventh. Pittsburgh again has four scoring lines with Malkin, Kessel and Bryan Rust together and Cullen centering Chris Kunitz and Tom Kuhnhackl. "We were able to get a quick chance and put it in", Crosby said. The Capitals....haven't seen past the second round.
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) celebrates his goal with the bench during the second period of Game 1 of the team's NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Washington Capitals, Thursday, April.
Enter Eller, who is a good penalty killer and should be an offensive upgrade over Mike Richards.
"I'm really enjoying this time right now", a smiling Fleury said.
What was said? Matt Niskanen called it "none of your business", Alex Ovechkin insisted "it stays between us", and Justin Williams said, "We'll keep that between us".
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