ARLINGTON, Va. — When the Penguins lost to the Capitals in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the prevailing sentiment was Pittsburgh’s puck-management was a problem, that it fell short of expectations and became too big of a problem to overcome.
That’s not wrong, but we’re learning now that there was maybe more to the story.
Now holding a two-games-to-none lead in the Stanley Cup final, Washington has been especially good defensively, almost surprisingly so, adept at forcing teams to adjust in the neutral zone and causing plenty of turnovers along the way.
Vegas is the most recent team on the list, although Tampa, Pittsburgh and Columbus could probably commiserate with some of the stuff the Capitals — of all teams — have done, a defensive improvement that actually started late in the regular season.