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Tough to figure out Caps, Pens
Which Washington Capitals team will we see in the playoffs? The one that was riding a 12-game unbeaten streak into the March 13 trade deadline or the one with five losses in its the last six games? Even more worrisome, the three players for whom they traded -- forwards Trevor Linden and Dainius Zubrus and defenseman Jason Marshall -- have yet to produce a point. Zubrus has looked particularly lost in coach Ron Wilson's scheme, which puts a premium on defensive responsibility. The Capitals have seven games left before the playoffs to reconfigure team chemistry. Linden is the key. If Washington is to successfully match up against some of the big Eastern Conference centers in the playoffs -- New Jersey's Jason Arnott and Toronto's Mats Sundin among them -- Linden must be a force as a checker.
Pens are just as schizoThe kaleidoscope continues to whirl in Pittsburgh. Mario Lemieux suggested that he and Jaromir Jagr play on separate lines, an experiment that lasted a little more than two periods against Carolina last week and now has been put on hold by Alexei Kovalev's three-game suspension.Then two days after facing the Hurricanes, the offensive-minded Penguins actually deigned to try coach Ivan Hlinka's left-wing lock in a win at New Jersey, a system he intended to employ early in the season until Jagr balked. The Penguins have to get settled before the playoffs, especially in goal where newly acquired 27-year-old rookie Johan Hedberg has looked promising enough to nudge aside Jean-Sebastien Aubin. Hedberg, likely will be part of a postseason goalie tandem with Garth Snow, expected to return this week after injuring his groin Feb. 7.
Sens will get through Bonk's injuryRadek Bonk's broken finger will keep him out of Ottawa's early playoff games, but the loss might not be as devastating as it first seemed. Although Bonk centers the dynamic second line with Marian Hossa and Magnus Arvedson, coach Jacques Martin has several options, including moving up Mike Sillinger, which he did in Ottawa's 3-3 tie against Philadelphia on Monday, or shifting gifted rookie winger Martin Havlat to the middle. The Senators also have another quality center in Mike Fisher, who can absorb some minutes. Despite 59 points and a plus-27 rating this season, Bonk's most telling statistic are these: In 22 playoff games, he has no goals and just one assist.Sports Illustrated senior writer Michael Farber covers the NHL beat for the magazine and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com.
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