Pittsburgh has had great success against the Washington Capitals in the playoffs, but the Penguins will be challenged by the absence of a couple key players when the teams open a second-round series Thursday at Capital One Arena.
Center Evgeni Malkin, who led Pittsburgh in scoring in the regular season, and Carl Hagelin, a prime penalty-killer, have been ruled out for Game 1 because of unspecified injuries sustained late in the Penguins' first-round win against Philadelphia, coach Mike Sullivan said Wednesday.
"Guys have to step up in different roles maybe," Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby said Wednesday.