Penguins, Capitals meeting in Round 2 of Stanley Cup Playoff

PITTSBURGH — The Penguins will be facing a familiar opponent in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoff.

For the 10th time overall, and for the third straight year, the Pens will play the Washington Capitals. Game 1 is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday.

The Penguins have won nine of the 10 playoff series against Washington, and have eliminated the Caps in each of their five Stanley Cup championship seasons.

“Their core is still intact,” said head coach Mike Sullivan said after a Tuesday morning practice. “They’re a good hockey team. Very much like our team.”

The Penguins, however, are dealing with injuries to two players. Sullivan says forwards Evgeni Malkin (lower-body injury) and Carl Hagelin (upper-body injury) are day-to-day.

“Losing a guy (like Malkin) that's almost scored like 100 points and 40 goals, you can't really replace that,” said center Derick Brassard.

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Brassard added that the rest of the Penguins will have to “step up and play some big minutes.”

Goalie Matt Murray knows that one of the keys of the series, which will begin in Washington, will be neutralizing the Capitals’ power play.

"That's a huge part of the playoffs," he said. "It'll probably be a big part of the series going forward."
Sullivan says discipline will be key to preventing the Capitals from getting those power play opportunities.

“We know we're gonna have our hands full,” he said. “It's a big challenge.”

Cox Media Group