"I think we changed a lot probably with 20 games left in the season and that's helped us a lot to kind of prepare for the playoffs, and I think we've done a good job throughout the playoffs," said John Carlson, who ranks third in playoff scoring among defensemen with 11 points (3g, 8a) and is now one point shy of tying the Capitals' franchise mark for points by a defenseman in the playoffs (Kevin Hatcher, 1988: 5g, 7a; Scott Stevens, 1988: 1g, 11; Carlson, 2016: 5g, 7a).
After holding the Columbus Blue Jackets to just nine goals in four-straight wins in the first round, the Capitals' defense has once again proven their might against one of the league's highest-scoring offenses in the Pittsburgh Penguins. Pittsburgh ranked third in goals for per game in the regular season (3.29) and scored 28 goals in six games against the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round.