[Ed. note: As part of the build-up to the second round playoff series between the Capitals and Penguins, Japers’ Rink will be looking at some of the important but lesser-known players on the Penguins and how they might impact the series.]
Pascal Dupuis
#9 / Left Wing / Pittsburgh Penguins
6-1
205
Apr 07, 1979
Laval, Quebec
None
Trade w/ Atlanta, February, 26th, 2008
| Strengths | Plays the game with tremendous energy and combativeness. Is versatile enough to play any forward position or any role required. |
| Weaknesses | Needs to bury more of his chances around the goal area in order to take his game to another level. Is too inconsistent on offense. |
| Potential | Third line winger. |
Why you should know who he is – Dupuis isn’t the most skilled player in the world, and he’s not going to be one of the guys the Capitals are going to spend time try to figure out how to shut down. However, Dupuis still has the speed, awareness, and skill to make teams pay when they make mistakes. Much like having a strong seven-eight-nine trio makes life difficult for a pitcher by not giving him a break, having guys like Dupuis as depth players makes it difficult on opponents by ensuring they can’t afford to take a shift off.
How the Caps can stop him – Much of Dupuis’ game is built around forcing opponents into mistakes and taking advantage of them, if not by scoring than by the keeping the puck in the opponent’s end and wearing out the opposition’s defense. If the Capitals can use their superior skill keep Dupuis from getting those opportunities, they should be able to limit the impact he has on the series.