They’re well aware of their penchant for letting opportunity after opportunity slip away, frequently at the hands of Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Four previous times during the Ovechkin Era — including in 2009 and 2017 against Pittsburgh — the Capitals have won three games in the second round of the playoffs. All Washington has to do to produce a cathartic breakthrough is hand the Penguins their first series loss in 37 months. “They know what it takes to win,” Sullivan said. Pushing that number to 18-5 would send the series back to Washington and force the Capitals try to explain — again — how this time will be different.

Source: thestar May 07, 2018 00:11 UTC