Tom Gulitti, NHL.com's Washington-based staff writer who is covering the series between the Capitals and Florida Panthers, joined co-hosts Dan Rosen and Shawn P. Roarke.
Gulitti discussed what he saw from the Capitals in their 4-2 win in Game 1 at FLA Live Arena on Tuesday and what the Panthers have to address before Game 2 on their home ice on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET; TBS, SN360, TVAS2, BSFL, NBCSWA).
He mentioned that Game 1 was a learning experience for the Panthers, who had a 2-1 lead going into the third period. But Rosen countered by saying the Panthers should have learned their playoff lessons last year, when they lost in six games to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round.
The conversation with Gulitti turned to the two Western Conference First Round series involving Alberta teams, the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings, and the Calgary Flames and Dallas Stars.
Gulitti, Rosen and Roarke talked about the Oilers' need for depth scoring and for goalie Mike Smith to play a simpler game to give his team a chance to win.
They all felt the Oilers have to take a page from their Battle of Alberta rivals because the Flames showed in a 1-0 win against the Stars in Game 1 on Tuesday that puck possession and low-event games turn teams into winners in the postseason.
Rosen and Roarke began the podcast with their thoughts on the Penguins' 4-3 win in the third overtime in Game 1 against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, praising Louis Domingue for his 17-save performance in relief of Casey DeSmith and Sidney Crosby for taking over the game in the second period.
Can Domingue do it again if he's the starter in Game 2 on Thursday at the Garden (7 p.m. ET; TNT, CBC, SN, TVAS, MSG, ATTSN-PT)?
The NHL @TheRink podcast is free and listeners can subscribe on all podcast platforms. It is also available on NHL.com/multimedia/podcasts and the NHL app.
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