Playoffs Round Two - Washington v. Tampa Bay - Series Discussion Thread

[RGM81]

The Capitals are well-rested and don't have to worry about the Habs this year. Instead, the hot goalie they'll be facing is...Dwayne Roloson, who was incredible in round one against Pittsburgh.

Should be a very exciting series with two of the game's biggest stars in Alex Ovechkin and Steven Stamkos.

[centrehice]

If Stamkos remains in a quasi-coma, this one could be over quickly.

Stamkos is the key, if he gets on his horse, it could be an interesting series.

Caps in 6.

[Lamplitersniper]

The Lightning went 2-1 since Roloson and Brewer came to town against the Caps.

Playoff experience on each squad is negated, if anything tilted towards TB now with the cup winners.

Offense is a wash IMO as both teams have stars that can light it up and depth players that can cycle a shift and pot a dirty goal here and there.

Defense is slightly tilted to Washington but nowhere near what people want to believe. Washington has the true puck mover in Green which is more than the Lightning have, but the Lightning do have a blossoming Hedman and a rejuvenated Ohlund and Kubina, not to mention Brewer is probably going to be the best defensive defensemen on the ice for either team.

Special teams is to TB. Their PP/PK index during the regular season was 103.8 and Washingtons was 103.1 so not much difference there, but in the playoffs its TB 126.7 to Wash 113.8 and TBs has been over a larger sample size and the PP percentage was against the leagues best PK unit.

Goaltending I give the nod to Roloson for experience and being hot right now. Hes looked great and I dont see it changing. The Caps goaltenders are very good, but can still be rattled and one bad game and it becomes a carousel. This is close too.

Overall I think its a great matchup. The teams are very very close. I do think the Caps are still somewhat of a bugaboo for the Lightning so they will need to shake the mental part of it for them to make it a series.

My homer pick says Bolts in 7. My betting with a gun to my head pick would be Caps in 6.

Lets go Bolts!

[patrickadams26]

Go Tampa

[iockerman]

Go Tampa

Agreed, although I think the Caps in 6 games for this series :(

[stop__dreaming]

Go Tampa.

My pick could have gone either way. Goalies, defense and offense are pretty equal. This one will go the full 7 games in my opinion.

I've gone for the Lightning.

[mugatu471]

Caps in 5. Not impressed at all with Tampa.

[roybrookfield]

washington in 5!! go ovy, lol i just want my rookie cards to sky rocket lol
but i do think that if stamkos/stloius and the captain get it going washington is in trouble

[Wickabee]

Caps in 5. Not impressed at all with Tampa.

This

[TysonX504]

Gagne just went down in the Tampa vs Washington game, looks like he may be taken off on a stretcher. Hope for a quick recovery