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A jubilant Mario Lemieux hugs Alexei Kovalev after scoring.
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Straka OT winner ices Caps
Sitting on the Penguins' bench in overtime, Martin Straka decided to take a page from the Babe Ruth playbook.
FULL STORY
THE
SERIES SO FAR:
GAME 1: Kolzig, Capitals blank Penguins
GAME 2: Penguins turn tables on Capitals
GAME 3: Hedberg, Penguins shut out Capitals
GAME 4: Capitals even series in OT
GAME 5: Penguins survive Capital attack
GAME 6:
Straka's OT winner ices Caps
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Jeff Halpern - Halpern came through with a gritty effort against the Penguins, inspiring his team to rally from a deficit with a goal and an assist.
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 Martin Straka - He scored his first goal of the series at the most important time. Straka, held scoreless for six games, eliminated the Caps for good when he stripped Sergei Gonchar and beat Olaf Kolzig. |
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Playoff record:
Home:
1-2
Road: 1-2
Power play: 33.3% (7 for 21)
Penalty killing: 76.2% (16 of 21)
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Playoff record:
Home:
2-1
Road: 2-1
Power play: 23.8% (5 for 21)
Penalty killing: 66.7%
(14 of 21)
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| Ranked
3rd in the East
Record: 42-27-10-4
96 points
233 GF 211 GA |
The Washington Capitals are the best team nobody knows about.
This year wasn't any different for the Caps, who suffer from
a lack of exposure in the U.S. capital, as they stealthy registered
a 96-point season.
If not for a late-season slump, the Caps would have finished
with over 100 points this year.
Granted, their division title is somewhat tainted. In contrast
to more competitive divisions such as the Atlantic and the
Northeast, Washington's only real competition this season
was from the Carolina Hurricanes, who finished eight points
back.
Using coach Ron Wilson's defensive approach and some fine
goaltending from Olaf Kolzig, the Caps managed to jump out
front of the division pack by mid-season and stay there.
Offence, or lack thereof, was a big concern in October, and
with the exception of Adam Oates and Peter Bondra, the team
did little aside from adding Dainius Zubrus and Trevor Linden
to the lineup before the trading deadline.
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| Ranked
6th in the East
Record: 42-28-9-3
96 points
240 GF 207 GA |
It seemed like it would be yet another normal NHL season for
the Pittsburgh Penguins until the team's owner decided it was
time to come out of retirement.
Yes, the arrival of Mario Lemieux made this season an especially
memorable one not only for the team, but the entire league.
The team's owner replaced his suit and tie with a hockey uniform
and showed that he still had his touch, scoring one goal and
adding two assists in his first game back on Dec. 27, 2000
against the Leafs.
And that was the only beginning. The return of Lemieux ignited
the competitive fire of Jaromir Jagr - who started the season
slowly -- and the two went on an offensive tear that lasted
almost the rest of the season.
Jagr finished the season with 52 goals and 121 points for
his fourth Art Ross Trophy.
With the exception of a sore back, Lemieux showed no signs
of his three-year layoff, scoring 35 goals and 41 assists
for 76 points in just 43 games. He surely would have won the
Art Ross and Hart Trophy if he announced his comeback in October.
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the meeting between the Edmonton Oilers and the Dallas Stars,
a Pittsburgh Penguins-Washington Capitals playoff match-up is
almost becoming an annual tradition.
Thursday's game in Washington will kick off the seventh meeting
between the two teams.
It's a series that has historically spelled disaster for the
Capitals. In the last six meetings, Pittsburgh has won five.
This match-up shouldn't be any easier for the Caps. Although
Washington finished the season on a somewhat high note after
an extended slump and claimed the Southeast Division, it is
facing a dangerous foe in Mario Lemieux and the Pittsburgh
Penguins.
Although the two teams tied the season series at 2-2 -- the
Caps defence will be hard pressed to shut down a potent Pens
offence that features Art Ross winner Jaromir Jagr, Lemieux,
Alexei Kovalev and Robert Lang.
Season series
tied at 2-2
Jan.
3, 2001: Washington 2 @ Pittsburgh 3
Jan. 8, 2001: Pittsburgh 3 @ Washington 5
March 3, 2001: Pittsburgh 3 @ Washington 4
March 7, 2001: Pittsburgh 3 @ Washington 4
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Harry Neale
The Penguins are
"the most dangerous team in the league" because they can score a
ton of goals in 10 minutes - sparked by Jagr and Lemieux, play poorly
for the remaining 50, and win. "You have to be afraid of a team
you can outplay but who can outscore you." Washington will make
it tough for the Pens' top lines to score, and Olaf Kolzig is one
of the best in the net. But Pittsburgh always plays well against
the Caps and should prevail.
Pittsburgh in 6
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