The Caps have been hanging around in the playoff race for most of the last few weeks, and against all odds. They know, as we all know, that their only way to even have hope is to win out, and that needed to start with today in Pittsburgh. They took care of business in this one, in a game that had a little bit of everything (good and bad), but most importantly, two points for the good guys.
Plus: Ilya Protas has arrived, folks. Just casually putting up a three-point game in his second NHL game, including his first NHL goal – a power-play goal, something even big brother Aliaksei has not done yet. Hard not to be excited about all of the kids after a game like this one.
Minus: Really tough to see major injuries to not just one but two key players, with both Pierre-Luc Dubois and Rasmus Sandin leaving early. Ugh.
Back at it again tomorrow against these same (?) Pittsburgh dudes back in DC for the regular-season home finale.