All Eyes on Crosby Versus Capitals

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington capitals are the two best teams in the Eastern Conference. By all practical purposes, they should be meeting in the Eastern Conference Finals. Not now. But the NHL playoffs are the NHL playoffs and there’s nothing anybody can do about that. If anything, the winner of the Rangers vs. Ottawa Senators will have a slight advantage in the opening game when the expected letdown takes place.

With the entire hockey world waiting for another early end to Washington’s season, the Caps came alive Saturday. Three goals in the biggest period of the season for the team was a way to answer the doubters. But they’ll have to do it again on Monday to face a Game 7. And this time it will be on the road in front of a hostile Pittsburgh fanbase.

Can the Capitals win? Naturally, but it’s not going to be easy to steal a game the Penguins know they need. Going to Washington in a Game 7 is a tall task in the other direction. Especially since the Caps will have all the momentum on their side. So it will be up to Sidney Crosby and Pittsburgh to end it in six games.

Connor McDavid is the future of the NHL, but Crosby wants to show that he’s still the present. While McDavid led the league in scoring, Crosby was right up there and if he can lead his team back to the Stanley Cup Finals, can probably hold on to the tag of the best player in the world for another season. But it’s going to be short-lived regardless.

The hockey world will be looking to Crosby to get the job done Monday and it should be a great game between a pair of teams fighting for their lives. The Penguins are -120 to come away with the win.

Alexander Ovechkin.