The Washington Capitals enter tonight controlling their destiny. Win in Philadelphia and they have punched their ticket to the postseason and a Round 1 matchup with the New York Rangers. If the Capitals pull this off, you have to tip their hat to them.

Caps lose to Buffalo Thursday night, then take out Tampa Bay Saturday night with a convincing win and they just dominated the Boston Bruins Monday night, who were playing for the division title and who had made the Penguins look like an AHL team defensively on Saturday night. It was a flawless defensive performance where the Capitals were swarming the Bruins any time they touched the puck. Washington was in control of that game all night, and nothing stood out more in watching them than just the defensive clinic they put on.

Will the Capitals, though, close the deal tonight in Philadelphia? Washington has been so inconsistent this season and are 1-7 in their last eight games in the second night of a back-to-backs. Albeit longshot odds, Philadelphia with something still to play for, John Tortorella will have that team ready to go. Philadelphia winning tonight shouldn’t stun anybody.

Where Penguin fans are going to be sick to their stomach is if Washington loses and Detroit goes to the playoffs tonight with a win. Detroit for days has been living on the edge. Pittsburgh in devastating fashion handed that point to Detroit Thursday night that now has a great chance of ending Pittsburgh’s season tonight. Detroit was a regulation loss against Toronto Saturday night from being eliminated to minutes away from being eliminated last night against the Habs. They might be destined to get in with the luck they’re having and the unworldly keep-in from Shayne Gostisbehere on the game-tying goal was something else. Players, coaches don’t think this way, but Montreal with a loss will lock in 5th worst record in league. A win could jump them up to seventh. Every incentive to pack it in like they did in the third and overtime.

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LATEST PENS BUZZ

Surely Erik Karlsson lost his mind in the third period of the Red Wings debacle, hey a save from Alex Nedeljkovic would have been nice in that moment too, but if there’s one thing to take away from the last three weeks when looking towards next year is Karlsson and all parties involved looked to have has figured things out and for Pittsburgh you can only hope this is the player you get in 2024-2025. Karlsson finally looks comfortable, and yes he’s had some warts even during this run, but this is what Kyle Dubas & Co signed up for and Karlsson’s had many downright dominant moments over the last 10-15 games where team executives have put him right behind Sidney Crosby [hide] in how he’s dominating the ice. With organization concerned about Kris Letang’s, To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

Buzz: Boy did Pittsburgh’s Top-Line come to play in a must-win situation: The O’Connor – Crosby – Rust line was on the ice for 25 shot attempts and just 6 against. Scoring chances were a whopping 13-4 when Pittsburgh’s top line was roaming the ice…….. Crosby will enter game #82 Wednesday night with 42 goals – 50 assists – 92 points on the season, as he’s racked up back-to-back 90 point seasons in his age 35, 36 seasons. Prior to last season, Crosby had just one season (Age 27-34 Seasons) of 90+ points in his previous eight years. It feels like he’s had a 130 point season, that’s how impactful he has been……….

Goaltending Chatter: Will be fascinating how management evaluates the goaltending situation this off-season. How much stock do they put into the run Alex Nedeljkovic is on from wins-losses standpoint as it’s not like he’s putting together .920 save percentage hockey on a nightly basis here. They really like Joel Blomqvist, sources say GM To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

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