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A22 sports
Monday 1 october 2018

NHL season preview: Teams load up to challenge champion Caps

is,” Matthews said. “It’s not
easy. It’s not just a walk
in the park. Just because
we added John Tavares
doesn’t mean it’s going to
be a walk in the park for
the Toronto Maple Leafs in
the playoffs. We still got to
get there and no matter
who you’re playing, it’s go-
ing to be a battle.”
One battle the Capitals
now face is trying to avoid
any kind of Stanley Cup
hangover, which either
manifests as a slow start
or a rough patch once
the adrenaline wears off
this fall. Jonathan Toews,
who led the Blackhawks to
the Cup in 2010, 2013 and
2015 said: “It’s not really my
problem. That’s up to them
to figure out.”
Vegas goaltender Marc-
Andre Fleury, who went
through the Capitals to
help the Penguins win it all
in 2009, 2016 and 2017, also
In this Sept. 28, 2018, file photo Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby, left, tries to skate past Columbus Blue Jackets’ Gabriel Carlsson isn’t in the business of giving
during the third period of a preseason NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio. Washington advice, but he
Associated Press remembers it being an up-
hill climb.
By STEPHEN WHYNO bringing back an almost heavyweight rumble. Nicklas Backstrom and Lars “Every time I went to the
AP Hockey Writer identical roster from last San Jose added two-time Eller showed they could Final, next (season) the first
T.J. Oshie stepped to the year’s run. What the Capi- Norris Trophy-winning de- match up against any- couple months were a little
microphone and apolo- tals showed teams gunning fenseman Erik Karlsson, one and control games at rough,” Fleury said. “It’s
gized for his voice. for the Cup in 2019 is how St. Louis traded for center home and on the road. just trying to forget about
It was hoarse from days a championship window is Ryan O’Reilly and Min- “They were pretty deep, the past as quickly as pos-
and nights of celebrating never closed as long you nesota changed general obviously, in the middle — sible. ... The parity’s so good
the Washington Capitals’ make the playoffs. The Pen- managers to take another or anywhere, really,” Bruins around the league that the
Stanley Cup triumph and guins , Boston and Tampa run at an elusive title. Tam- center Patrice Bergeron playoff race is very intense
fans now had gathered on Bay in the Eastern Confer- pa Bay kept its deep core said. “Obviously the cen- down the stretch, so you
the National Mall after the ence, and the San Jose together, Boston is hoping ter position I think is some- need those points early
championship parade. Os- Sharks and St. Louis Blues in for better health and Pitts- thing that has a lot of im- in the season to help you
hie had enough left to start the West, take note: Previ- burgh is loading up for an- pact in different ways in out.” Parity is reality in a
a chant among the tens of ous postseason success other shot with Crosby ea- the game.” The Blues can league that has featured
thousands of fans: “Back- and failure is little indication ger to one-up career rival now go down the mid- a turnover of seven of 16
to-back! Back-to-back!” of what’ll happen next. Alex Ovechkin again. dle with O’Reilly, Brayden playoff teams each of the
With a full voice and the “They don’t give up after “He’s very determined Schenn and Tyler Bozak, past two years. Getting in
shortest summer of his ca- a lot of tough years,” Blues this year,” said Colorado’s and the Maple Leafs’ sign- really is half the battle for
reer behind him, Oshie winger Vladimir Tarasenko Nathan MacKinnon, who ing of John Tavares gives everyone, and especially
hasn’t changed his tune said of the Caps. “They like Crosby is a native of them a 1-2-3 punch of the the Capitals with the men-
that the Capitals can re- work on their game, play Cole Harbour, Nova Sco- former Islanders captain, tal challenge of gearing
peat. hard and finally reach their tia. “With the Penguins, it’s Auston Matthews and back up after winning it all.
“If we continue with our goal. This is really good ex- Stanley Cup or nothing for Nazem Kadri. Matthews, “The guys go through such
style of play and everyone ample for us. I think that’s them. ... They have a great Kadri and the Maple Leafs a grind to win a champion-
chips in like we did, I think what we need to try to do.” team. But Sid’s their leader. pushed Washington to six ship, and they know how
we have a really good The race to the playoffs be- Sid’s the best player in the games before losing in the much they’ve exerted,”
chance,” Oshie said. “I gins with the Capitals and world and he’s ready, for first round in 2017 but now said Carolina coach Rod
know the odds are against Vegas Golden Knights not sure.” have the horses to contend Brind’Amour, who was cap-
us, we had a short summer, favored to make it back The Capitals’ run through with anyone in the league. tain of the Hurricanes when
everyone else has a couple to the Cup Final, Sidney the playoffs mirrored the With Cup expectations they won the Cup in 2006
more months of training on Crosby ready to take back Penguins’ three champion- hovering over the center and missed the playoffs in
them. But we still have all the trophy he has hoisted ships over the past decade of the hockey universe, the 2007. “The physical part is
the pieces.” three times, Connor McDa- in that they were built on Capitals’ years of playoff not the issue. It’s mentally
Even though the Pittsburgh vid looking to lift the Oilers stellar goaltending and roadblocks and eventually getting ready to battle it up
Penguins went back-to- back into contention and center depth. Like Crosby, breaking through make for again and rev it up. ... If you
back in 2016 and 2017, the an influx of talent in the Evgeni Malkin and a host another important lesson can figure that out, then I
odds are against Wash- West again threatening to of third-line centers, Wash- for the Maple Leafs. think you have a chance to
ington repeating despite make this spring another ington’s Evgeny Kuznetsov, “That’s really how hard it win a few Cups in a row.”q