The Penguins are 9-1 in playoff series against the Capitals and have beaten them in each of the past two postseasons. That history will be a primary reason most people will pick the Penguins to win the Eastern Conference semifinals, which begin this week.
That’s a neat little narrative, but it isn’t relevant to this series.
I believe the Penguins will win in six games, but not because they have a mental edge. No, it will be because they have Matt Murray, one of the best playoff goaltenders in NHL history. Like most playoff series, this will come down to goaltending, and Capitals goalie Braden Holtby can’t outplay Murray four times in seven games.