With the Washington Capitals' 1-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins Monday, the Caps finished the season series with their heated rival sporting a 3-0-1 record. Earning points against Pittsburgh has not been an issue for Washington in recent years; the Caps are now 11-1-3 against the Penguins under head coach Bruce Boudreau and 10-0-2 in their last 12 overall. It's been nearly three years since the Penguins beat the Capitals in 60 minutes, but does that matter?
The Caps sit three points behind the Pens in the Eastern Conference and if the playoffs were to start today, they would meet in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. While the Caps dominate the regular season, the Penguins dominate the playoffs; these two teams have met eight times in the playoffs and Pittsburgh has won seven of them.
It has been said over and over that the Capitals will be measured on postseason success. That sentiment is true. It's nice to know that the Caps can solve the Penguins, but this current team has yet to do so when it counts. Until the Caps can pull this kind of streak in the playoffs, it's just another victory.