Eric Mellin: Caps Look to Continue Dominance... and Hopefully Get a Little Puck Luck Capitals and Penguins Game 4 Tonight

Pens went up 3-0 and sat back. Pens played pretty damn good in the first period. I expect a much more fired up for 60 Pens squad tonight. Wont be easy missing the top pairing but they'll be ready to battle the whole way.

This is a similar narrative written by Jan for the Rangers series.

Sullivan has perfected Torts system... give them the outside shot and make it tough to get to the scoring areas.

Hagelin got to the blue paint and beat Schmidt to the spot.... simple as that.... Hornqvist is willing to take abuse to set up screens.

The caps are playing a similar game to what the pens played the last 2 years and it didn't end well for Pittsburgh.

You're high if you think Hagelin should've been assessed a penalty for the goal he scored. The puck went in between schmidts legs and Hagelin tapped it home. Should've been the caps game, hopefully our boys come ready to play tonight. Curious to see who picks up letang a role of 30+ minutes lol hard to compensate for

"Even Carl Hagelin's goal, which incidentally I think should have been a tripping penalty as he knocked Schmidt's feet out from under him, had a bit of luck as the puck slipped passed Holtby to an over-covered Hagelin."

There was no luck involved on Hagelin's goal. It was a great play by Bonino. He waited out Holtby and put it right on Hagelin's stick. I get trying to make yourself feel better, but discounting what Bonino did is garbage.

A tripping penalty on a guy going to the puck and shooting it into the net?

Eric...how much hockey do you watch?

My goodness

Yeah if we're gonna call Letang lucky for getting away with only one then how lucky is Wilson for getting away with a 2K fine after delivering a knee to knee on a defenseless player who was out of the play? Comparing the Orpik hit to Letang's is a farce. Letang's hit was late and was high, although the primary point of contact was shoulder to chest. Orpik's hit was leagues later and was an elbow to the face. They're not in the same neighborhood.

Get over it. Both Orpik and Letang got their just desserts.

Tripping penalty?! Too funny.

Still relatively early in the series, but this might be the most homer of homer blogs written this year.

If you think Hagelin should have received a tripping minor, you are delusional.

Perhaps he should have also received a diving minor for falling to the ice after the post-goal Carlson cross check.

Caps were outplayed in the first two games and all of a sudden they play a decent game and they are dominent Who won the game? That is what you call being stoned by a goalie It happens Get over it Lets see what happens tonite buttercup

I think we took the bait...no Caps fans here...

A tripping penalty on a guy going to the puck and shooting it into the net?

Eric...how much hockey do you watch?

My goodness
- icedog97

As the 3 Stooges once said Thou art quincehead This blogger is just that

You guys all bit!!! He has no Cap readers so went after Pens readers... Dolp I bit too now.

The Caps are in the process of dominating themselves right out of the playoffs.

"Passed the second round".... good grief

Washington outplayed the Penguins in every aspect of the game.

Except for on the scoreboard, where it matters most. Fact is once the Pens went up 3-0 they sat back and allowed the Caps to control the game. Look at the first two games of the series where the Caps got owned. If the Pens had played their game instead of turtling, it would have been a completely different game. Its called score effects, you should look into it.

Also, DOPS said it wasnt a headshot so get over it. You can call it blatant all day but primary point of contact was to Jo's chest.

Your coach did do a great job of buying that suspension though, so credit where its due. Letang also had it coming for that slash in the first round that they missed, so all things being equal he got what was coming to him.

Yeah if we're gonna call Letang lucky for getting away with only one then how lucky is Wilson for getting away with a 2K fine after delivering a knee to knee on a defenseless player who was out of the play? Comparing the Orpik hit to Letang's is a farce. Letang's hit was late and was high, although the primary point of contact was shoulder to chest. Orpik's hit was leagues later and was an elbow to the face. They're not in the same neighborhood.

Get over it. Both Orpik and Letang got their just desserts.
- Victoro311

Dont forget Ovie's constant charges. 3 strides...8 strides...whats the difference. When youre OV you wont get penalized.

"Passed the second round".... good grief
- heyoooooo

Im still trying to figure out what a she-grin is from his last blog.

And people mock RW's writing for stupidity and bias

I think we took the bait...no Caps fans here...
- icedog97

Haha man you can say that again

Don't (frank) this up

As the 3 Stooges once said Thou art quincehead This blogger is just that
- holeinone

Weren't you on that show ? You'd better get your nap in before the game starts.

Hopefully the Caps' level of play is like it was on Monday. If so, the series stands a good chance of coming back to DC tied.

Hopefully the Caps' level of play is like it was on Monday. If so, the series stands a good chance of coming back to DC tied.
- yossarian

It's obvious, but it's a must-win tonight. They have to take advantage of the opportunity of Letang not being in the lineup.

Washington outplayed the Penguins in every aspect of the game. They didn't play poorly at all, they just didn't have the puck luck that the Penguins had.

I'm going to have to go along with the Pittsburgh group here... what were you watching? Pittsburgh was up 3-0 and went into a shell. It isn't like the series is out the window but it would be real nice to see Alex Ovechkin take that next step in his career. That also goes for Barry Trotz who plays it very safe.

With Pittsburgh not having Letang in the lineup... that is major. Letang is playing like a Conn Smythe candidate so now is the time to step up the play. To attribute the losses to puck luck maybe you missed much of game 1 too. The objective isn't to 'not' not play poorly - it is to play really good - and the CAPS haven't and are lucky they aren't down 3 games to none right now.

A couple of these Pittsburgh posters are full of crap but many are correct where they've challenged your conclusion.