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History comes alive Capitals, Penguins meet again in postseason
Posted: Monday April 10, 2000 07:52 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Calle Johansson remembers the all-night marathon. He didn't play in it because he was hurt, which was probably for the best. "I remember this," said Johansson, putting his fingernails between his teeth. "Sitting like that in the stands. We missed a penalty shot and a couple of breakaways, so we had some bad luck. Then they scored on a fluky goal from the wing." The game, of course, was the four-overtime playoff match between the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins on April 24, 1996. Pittsburgh won 3-2 on Petr Nedved's goal with 44.6 seconds to play in the fourth extra period, ending the longest NHL game since the 1930s. The time was 2:15 a.m. The game is part of the familiar playoff rivalry between the Caps and Pens over the 1990s. The teams met in the postseason in 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995 and 1996, and the pattern was almost always the same: Washington would get an early lead in the series, then Pittsburgh would come back to win. The series is renewed this year, starting with Thursday's Game 1 in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. Washington is seeded No. 2, while Pittsburgh is No. 7. "It's been a couple of years since the last time," Johansson said. "It's a totally different team, both us and them. There's not too many guys left. It's a new year, new personnel, new atmosphere." Only Johansson and Peter Bondra on the Capitals roster have been around for all five series, and Bondra might not play this time because of a shoulder injury. Just six other Caps players have been a part of any Washington-Pittsburgh playoff series. Coach Ron Wilson, general manager George McPhee and owner Ted Leonsis are new to the whole thing, too. "There's definitely a history there," said rookie center Jeff Halpern, who grew up in nearby Potomac, Md. "But it's my first crack at it." When Wilson took the Capitals to the Stanley Cup finals two years ago, he felt he exorcised the franchise's postseason demons. Washington had always been a team that would excel in the regular season, then fall apart in the playoffs. But the history against Pittsburgh is particularly ugly:
The only time the Capitals prevailed was in 1994, a series they won in six games. In addition, the Penguins won three of four games against the Capitals this season, including 4-3 in overtime victory at Washington two weeks ago. The teams have contrasting styles: The Capitals grind out victories and are defense-orientated, while the Penguins play the European-style finesse game. "You've got to be able to skate to win this series," Johansson said.
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