Inside Scoop: Pens-Caps
By
Christa Eaton / Pittsburgh Penguins
Storylines
There is plenty of history between the Penguins in Capitals which helps inflame the rivalry. The teams have met in the playoffs 3-straight years dating back to 2016. The Penguins have won 2 out of the 3 playoff series (2016, 2017) with the Caps triumphing in 2018. The winner of all 3 series has gone on to win the Stanley Cup.
"The stakes are so high right now," Patric Hornqvist said. "Both teams are playing for playoff spots and all that. Our rivalry through my 4 years here is crazy. It's just a great opportunity for us to play a good team and show how good we are."
The Pens will face former teammate Carl Hagelin after his move to Washington from the L.A. Kings in late February. Hagelin played 195 games for the Penguins recording 27 goals and 56 assists for 83 points as well as winning 2 Stanley Cups.
"Playing with him and being a part of those games against Washington," Sidney Crosby said. "It'll be weird seeing him playing for them, but that's part of it and it's a big game for both teams."
Another storyline is facing Capitals forward Tom Wilson, who is known throughout the league to be a very physical player who is willing to drop the gloves. To deal with that, the Penguins acquired Erik Gudbranson who is up to the task if needed.
"I'm OK with it, I've always been OK with it," Gudbranson said. "I don't particularly like talking about it. I'm certainly not going to say I'm looking for it, I never have. If the situation arises, I've never been one to back down. That's kinda how I put it."
Power play changes
The Penguins are going with a new look for the power play as they split the top unit into two. The new power play units feature 2 defensemen and 3 forwards.
Unit 1: Justin Schultz, Sidney Crosby, Marcus Pettersson, Patric Hornqvist and Jake Guentzel.
Unit 2: Zach Trotman, Brian Dumoulin, Phil Kessel, Evgeni Malkin and Nick Bjugstad.
"Our defensemen are really skilled," said Guentzel. "Whoever we're going to have back there are really good with the puck, really smart with the puck. I don't think anything changes for me, just try to get to the net and get as many pucks back to those guys."
Line changes
With Zach Aston-Reese out of the lineup with a lower-body injury, Teddy Blueger has been pushed up to the 2nd line with Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel.
The Penguins recalled forward Joseph Blandisi from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League on Monday. The forward has recorded 15 points in 17 games in his time at WBS so far (7G-8A).
"It's been good," Blandisi said." "We've been working hard down there. We have a young group, so it gave me a lot of opportunity to play on all sorts of situations. I think it was good for my development."
This will be Blandisi's second game with the Pittsburgh Penguins. After he was traded to Pittsburgh from the Anaheim Ducks he played against Arizona in the Pens' 3-2 overtime win.
"It's exciting," BIandisi said. "It's a tough time of year right now. Every game is huge. The importance of these games is getting bigger and bigger as we go down the stretch. I'm getting excited to get thrown in the fire and it's gonna be good to have the first one on rivalry night."
The Pens used the following workflow…
McCann-Crosby-Guentzel
Blueger-Malkin-Kessel
Simon-Bjugstad-Hornqvist
Blandisi-Cullen-Wilson
Dumoulin-Trotman
Johnson-Schultz
Pettersson-Gudbranson
Letang skates
Defenseman Kris Letang skated with the team at today's morning skate in a gray non-contact jersey. He suffered an upper-body injury during the NHL Stadium Series against Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field on Feb. 23. He has missed the past 7 games.
