SPORTS INSIDER WEEKLY – Capitals trail Penguins 2-1 in Conference Semifinals; Redskins draft seven new players

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Ceci Ferrara
May 3, 2016
Sports Writer
Sports Insider

After eliminating the Flyers in Round 1, the Washington Capitals had their eyes set on another Pennsylvania rival: the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The two teams have a storied rivalry, as inter-division foes from 1994 to 2003, and intra-divisional in other seasons. They have met a total of eight times in the playoffs, with the Penguins winning 7 of the 8 meetings. The Capitals’ lone victory was the 1994 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Though the rivalry is between the two teams, some Caps fans view it as our best player — Alex Ovechkin — versus theirs — Sidney Crosby.

The two hockey stars vocally dislike each other, which can lead to tense match-ups between the two teams. But so far, the Caps and their fans haven’t had much to taunt the Penguins with. They won the opening game 4-3 in overtime, but since that time have struggled to keep up with Pittsburgh.

They dropped a crucial game 2 at home, which allowed Pittsburgh to tie things up as they headed on the road. The Caps had a chance to bounce back and take the lead on Monday night, but instead had their worst game of the series thus far. They were outscored 3-0 in the first two periods, with Pittsburgh’s rookie goalie Matt Murray having the best game of his career with 47 saves.

“I thought Murray was really good in the first. I thought he was good all game; there was no question,” Washington coach Barry Trotz said. “He’s the reason they had success, but our game reminded me a lot of our game 3 [against the New York Islanders]last year. It took us a couple games to find our game, but once we found our game, I thought we were good.”

Washington appeared to be heading for a shutout when 8:02 into the final period Ovechkin scored the Caps’ first goal of the night. Justin Williams added another in the last minute of the game, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the earlier deficit. The 3-2 loss gives the Penguins a 2-1 series lead heading into the next game Wednesday night.

With just one win in eight playoff meetings with Pittsburgh, the Capitals have history against them as they head into game 4. While it’s not win or go home for Washington, a victory would give them renewed momentum before they return home, while another loss would have them on the brink of elimination.

Here’s hoping that Trotz is right, and the Caps find their game–and soon.

Redskins

The Washington Redskins added seven new players through the 2016 NFL Draft last week – four defensive and three offensive. Though none of them have huge name recognition, they selected strong players who should help round out the team’s existing talent.

The defending NFC East Champs selected wide receiver Josh Doctson in the first round. While some found it a surprising choice given that stars Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson already fill that role, Docston is a dynamic player who will give quarterback Kirk Cousins another reliable target, which will open up their play options.

Washington also added Su’a Cravens, a linebacker who will add toughness on the field and is being likened to the great late Sean Taylor, along with Kendall Fuller, a cornerback that has the potential to do great things. The Washington brass seem to believe in Fuller so much that they parted ways with veteran Chris Culliver – a corner that had signed a four-year contract last season but only played a few games before he was sidelined with an injury in 2015. The move was shocking, but showed that the Redskins truly believe in their draft pick.

Steven Daniels, another linebacker, was a surprising choice, considering they already have six on the roster. However, if Daniels can prove himself in camp, he may earn a starting position over those who have been around longer, but have been prone to injuries, such as Adam Hayward. Hayward has had ACL injuries the past two seasons.

Surprisingly, they didn’t focus that much on the defensive line, which has been one of the team’s biggest weaknesses in recent years. They did pick up Matt Ioannidis, who, if he can prove himself as an asset with their defensive formation, could make the top six.

Runningback Keith Marshall is a player that could potentially fill the void left by Alfred Morris. Morris, the Redskins’ most solid RB, signed with the Cowboys during the off-season. Marshall is a speedy player who could earn his place in the rotation alongside Matt Jones and Chris Thompson–both of whom are coming off injuries.

The Redskins’ final selection was one unlikely to be seen on the field anytime soon. Quarterback Nate Sudfield will be developed and used as a third-string behind Cousins and Colt McCoy. McCoy is under contract for three more years and Cousins is poised to sign a long-term contract if he performs well this season. So while Sudfield will not be an immediate starter, he could be a viable option down the road.

While it’s exciting to have new players and talent, being drafted doesn’t guarantee a spot on the final 53-man roster. NFL organized team activities begin later this month, while mini camp’s begin in June. There is plenty of time for the rookies–and existing players–to prove that they deserve to make the final cut by the end of the summer.

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