Can Anything Top Penguins-Capitals?

It was the series everyone wanted...and it turned out to be more than everyone expected.

The seven game epic clash between Sidney Crosby's Pittsburgh Penguins and Alexander Ovechkin's Washington Capitals did not disappoint. Five one goal games. Three overtime games. Crosby and Ovechkin each scored eight goals.


In the end, the Capitals just ran out. Ovechkin averaged 23 minutes a game in the series (21 minutes for the 14 games Washington played in the playoffs). Simeon Varlamov, who was incredible during this run, didn't have anything left. The Penguins moved on because of their experience, talent, and the sheer will of Crosby.

But now the question becomes 'What can top this?' Is there a matchup for the Finals that can reach this high? The answer: A Detroit-Pittsburgh rematch.

Sure, the Chicago Blackhawks are an exciting young team, but it's that inexperience factor that makes them a longshot. An original six final between Detroit and Boston would be cool, but I don't think it would capture the viewers. Anaheim and Pittsburgh might be interesting, but again that might not be a ratings draw (the 2007 Final between Anaheim and Ottawa had dismal U.S. ratings).

But Detroit and Pittsburgh have history. The Penguins would want revenge on losing last year. Detroit would be out to prove that beyond a doubt, they're one of the best teams ever. Marc-Andre Fleury would love to have another go, considering the Cup winning goal last year.

Game six last year had a 4.4 share in the ratings, so you can be sure NBC and the NHL would both love this matchup as well.

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Pens-Caps Liveblog on TheScore

Ryan MacIntyre and myself will be liveblogging the game for your pleasure tonight and TheScore is waiting for us as they quote us as the "Blogging Heavyweights". Click Here to read the brief article.

It's Game 7 of the series everyone has been following, fans and followers alike. This is an exciting time for hockey fans. Crosby and Ovechkin go to Seventh Heaven. What is interesting is that every series Ovechkin has played in his career has gone the distance.

We'll be taking you to the distance tonight, On The Score. I'll be covering the play by play and Ryan MacIntyre will be keeping you entertained with the color commentary and game facts.

Hope to see you all there to celebrate the best game in the best series of these playoffs.

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The Beasts of the East

After what some consider an upset for the Penguins to take out the Flyers in six games, and an 80 second burst of pure skill and a hint of luck for the Hurricanes, the East is settled to 4 teams: Boston, Pittsburgh, Washington and Carolina. It's a dream come true for the people who live and breath the Crosby/Ovechkin rivalry, while the other series has certain people thinking hard about what could very well happen.

Boston Vs. Carolina

There's no denying the Hurricanes are essentially the dark horse of the East. Going into the post-season, not too many people were really talking about them and, in a way, that's underestimating them. The Devils were one of the favorites to get to the Conference Finals, but after seeing what damage the Hurricanes can do, regardless of the series going to 7 games, one must not count them out against the Bruins.

The Bruins are a team that have many young players with a ton of talent and grit to push them through; however, the Hurricanes are a team that completely works as a single unit. There is no major powerhouse player on the team, other than Eric Staal, and they feed off each other in pursuit of the win. The Bruins have tremendous goaltending, a firm defensive stance and explosive speed. It will depend on how well all of their lines perform in the series to see if they can get past the Hurricanes in less than 6 games, for there is no denying that Carolina is a far more superior team compared to the Montreal Canadiens.

This series will depend on the level of intensity from both sides and how they use their forechecking. Needless to say, a simple shot on net is not going to fool Tim Thomas - the Hurricanes will have to focus legitimate chances on goal to get a win, and it won't be easy. The Bruins, on the other hand, must keep Cam Ward deep in his net, refuse to allow him to challenge the shooters and maintain pressure on Eric Staal and Erik Cole. If they can shut down the top duo and keep the pressure on by constantly sending the puck into the offensive zone, they will be able to take this series in as many as 5 games, but don't be surprised if the Hurricanes steal one or two. This is a team that thrives on unity and a bit of luck.

Pittsburgh Vs. Washington

Despite Washington finishing 2nd in the Standings, a lot of people believe the Penguins are far and away the better team. The whole debate on who the better player is between Crosby and Ovechkin will be put on the line in this one, but people are overlooking one simple fact: it isn't about who is better, it's about who can elevate their game and lead their team to a berth in the Conference Finals.

There's no doubt both sides have a ton of firepower, but will they have the necessary defensive skills to hold each other off? Let's face it, these are "defense-first"-minded teams we're talking about here. In the regular season, the Penguins were a collective +23, and only a +5 on the road. The Capitals were a collective +18 and only a +2 on the road. To put that into perspective, the Bruins were a +60, while the Jackets were a +18. Needless to say, this will be an explosively offensive series that will likely be home-and-home wins.

This series will be dependent on superb goaltending. The defense have a knack for making unnecessary mistakes or showing signs of sheer laziness on the back-check. In order for either of these teams to get the big W they will need to be supported significantly between the pipes and that will surely mean more of Varlamov's outstanding performance thus far and absolutely no sign of Theodore on the ice. If the Caps for some reason decide to go with the veteran, it will be a costly mistake.

Unless one of Fleury and Varlamov completely shine and shut the door throughout, neither team will go away quietly. Expect a long one for this one and plenty of frustration.

Get ready for the Beasts of the East!

Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com

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