| 11 June 2009
Admist steroid allegations, KHL negotiations and minor league championship domination, a little thing called the Stanley Cup Finals has been going on. Just thought I'd remind you, because in a few hours hated rival Sidney Crosby might be putting his grubby penguin flippers on the holy hockey chalise.
You can stop shuddering now.
But as the saying goes, when life gives you lemons, grab some liqour and make a damn fine drink to go with it. I'm not sure who said it, maybe Brooks Laich or David Steckel, but it doesn't matter. The point is there could be some upside to Sidney Crosby and his flightless friends lifting the Stanley Cup.
Sure, saying that is like putting lipstick on a pig, but then again both Stanley Cup pigs are pretty ugly. Pittsburgh because of its rivalry with the Caps, and Detroit for being like a horror movie villian who just won't go away. So how could Pittsburgh possibly be the lesser of two evils?
Well, they aren't, but there's a few stats and situations to consider.
Only one team before Detroit took the Penguins to Game Seven in the past two years in the playoffs. So "technically" that would make the Capitals one of the top teams in the playoffs and arguably the "second best" Eastern Conference team.
After just two playoff rounds, Alex Ovechkin is still in the top five for playoff scoring. He's also still in the top five for playoff goals, and the leader, Sidney Crosby, only has four goals on him. Coincidentally, Simeon Varlamov's save percentage still holds in the top five, but then again the law of diminishing returns applies to goalies so who knows what he'd be like after another round.
That's a boatload of optimism given the dire situation unfolding in Detroit.
But perhaps what can't be measured and will most certainly be present should Sidney Crosby have his named etched on the Cup is the fury that Alex Ovechkin will unleash the season after.
Alex Ovechkin loves to play the "one-up" game, and if his "greatest rivals" make it onto the Cup you can bet the Russian Machine will return to the NHL with the power of a hundred Soviet-era nukes. Think about it. Alex Ovechkin wins the Calder, and then Crosby wins the Art Ross, Pearson and Hart. The next season, Ovie wins not only the Hart Pearson and Ross, but also the Rocket Richard.
If I know Ovechkin, winning the MVP this season just won't cut it when Malkin and Crosby are hoisting Stanley, and while they spend their one day partying with Stanley in Mario's pool or whatever they choose to do with the Cup, Ovie will be in Russia, preparing to once again play the one-up game.
With all the good a fan can point to in the Caps latest playoff run, the optimism is there, but there's always room for more motivation. Perhaps the Caps aren't just missing one or two players to take them to the next level; maybe they need a moment to drive them even farther.
Pittsburgh winning the Cup could very well be that moment, even if it hurts your little Caps heart to admit it.
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