TAMPA
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif Jersey , Fla. — The Washington Capitals know they have a lot of work to do.
The Tampa Bay Lightning know their work is far from done.
Both teams expect to be at their best on Monday for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals at Capital One Arena with Tampa Bay holding a 3-2 series
advantage and the chance to advance to the Stanley Cup Final.
The Capitals, a franchise haunted by the failures of postseasons past, are staring down another one heading in to their first elimination of this
playoffs.
After finally pushing past the Pittsburgh Penguins and advancing past the second round for the first time in 20 years — and the first time in the Alex
Ovechkin era — Washington kept rolling right on in to the conference finals,
winning the first two games on the road.
But since grabbing that 2-0 series lead, the Capitals have dropped the past three games and are once again facing questions about seeing a big series lead
dissipate into disappointment.
In the conference era, which dates back to 1974-75, only two teams in 41 occasions have won the first two games of a conference final or league semifinal
and failed to win the series: the Montreal Canadiens in 1984 and Boston Bruins
in 1991.
“It’s OK,” Washington captain Alex Ovechkin said. “We’re going to play better in Game 6 and we have (to) bounce back and come here and play a Game 7 and
that’s it.”
The Capitals are leaning on some of the adversity they have faced this season, including being down 0-2 themselves in the opening round after dropping
consecutive home games to open the series against Columbus.
“We kind of had our backs against the wall a couple times this year in this playoffs. We can draw from those experiences,” defenseman John Carlson said.
“Just got to go out there and play hockey. That’s what we do. Just all about
upstairs and what you can control. I think if you stay in the moment like we
have, we got a pretty good chance of winning.
“I think these guys are a very capable group that is very capable of winning the next game. That’s all we’re worried about.”
History is not on Washington’s side, however.
When a series is tied 2-2 in a best-of-seven format, the team which won Game 5 has an all-time series record of 215-55, a 79.6 winning percentage.
But the Lightning are well aware that a 3-2 series lead means the next victory is going to be the hardest to earn.
Twice in the previous three years Tampa Bay has been in this same position in the conference finals. In 2015, they held a 3-2 lead against the New York
Rangers heading back home but lost Game 6 before winning in seven games. In
2016
Marquel Lee Jersey , the Lightning were up 3-2 on the Pittsburgh Penguins in the conference finals and lost Game 6 at home and eventually the series in seven
games.
Now, they are back in the same situation in 2018, but instead are heading on the road with the chance to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the third time
in franchise history.
“We have a lot of unfinished business,” Lightning forward Ryan Callahan said. “This isn’t even close to being over. This last game’s definitely the hardest,
against a very, very good Washington team and to go in their building and try to
close them out it’s going to be tough.”
Tampa Bay has been a strong road team in these playoffs, posting a 5-1 record away from home with four consecutive road victories. The Lightning have also
never lost a playoff game in Washington in three all-time postseason meetings,
which also includes 2003 and 2011, with a 7-0 record.
Yet, all that matters is what Tampa Bay can put forth on Monday.
“We’re going to have to match their urgency,” Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said. “The closeout games, potential closeout games, they just seem to bring out
the best in everybody. For us, we’ve had some success when we’ve gotten the
lead. When you do that, you put a little pressure on the other team. Something
we’ll try and focus on (Monday) night.”
The retirement of Joe Thomas left a gaping hole at left tackle for the Cleveland Browns.
Left guard Joel Bitonio is willing
12th Fan Jersey , but not necessarily eager to succeed his close friend at the position.
"If they want me to do that, like, cool, whatever makes the Browns better," Bitonio said. "But I think left tackle is the toughest spot on the line, and
after playing left guard for four years, going on five now, it would definitely
be different.
"I don't think it's a thing where I have to volunteer for the spot, but if we get down the line and something needs to happen, we'll see what happens
there."
Though Bitonio isn't a household name outside of Cleveland, he is one of a handful of known quantities on a team that went winless in 2017 and is 1-31 in
two seasons under coach Hue Jackson.
The 6-foot-4, 305-pounder was a second alternate for the Pro Bowl and did not miss a play last year, helping the Browns average 4.46 yards per rush to rank
sixth in the NFL.
Offensive line coach Bob Wylie acknowledged that bumping Bitonio, an All-Mountain West left tackle at Nevada, to the outside is tempting
Nathan Peterman Jersey , but not palatable because it would simultaneously create a weakness at guard.
"The state of the left tackle is our state of the union," Wylie said. "But (moving Bitonio) is the last option. If you were going to go from A down, that
would be Z. That would be Z."
Thomas was the face of the franchise for 11 seasons, earning 10 Pro Bowl selections and playing 10,363 consecutive snaps before suffering a career-ending
torn left triceps last Oct. 22 against Tennessee.
Third-year pro Shon Coleman has the first shot to fill his shoes, while second-rounder Austin Corbett and former No. 2 overall pick Greg Robinson are in
the mix. Coleman was pulled off the field Sunday during practice and received an
audible scolding by Jackson.
Center JC Tretter, right guard Kevin Zeitler and Bitonio each expressed hope that one of the top three candidates can win the job and keep their three-man
interior unit intact.
"I'm excited to work with them again and, hopefully, be a dominant inside group," said Bitonio, a second-round selection by Cleveland in 2014. "I've
become really good friends with JC and Kevin, so we're kind of bonding and I
think the sky is the limit. We're continuing to grow together."
Tretter said the uncertainty at left tackle hasn't affected Bitonio during training camp, nor does he expect it to, because he is a "real pro."
Jackson wants to make a decision before the Browns' third preseason game on Aug. 23 against the Eagles, putting Coleman on the hot seat to produce or force
the staff to contemplate option Z.
"I know that Joel will do anything for the football team
Spencer Ware Jersey , but hopefully we do not have to go to that," Jackson said. "But if we do, we do. Once we get a feel for what we have there, then as a group
we've got to make a decision on how to continue to move forward."
Bitonio is hoping for the best, and hoping to stay where he feels most comfortable. All 47 of his NFL games have been played as a starting left
guard.
"Right now, I'm really focused on playing left guard and trying to get whoever is playing next to me ready to play left tackle," he said. "I think
anything else is something that's pretty far down the line."
NOTES
Rookie QB Baker Mayfield impressed Jackson with several sharp passes. "Baker is deadly accurate with the ball," the coach said. "He's an outstanding listener
who has been everything a quarterback can be for an organization so far." . DE
Myles Garrett, the top overall pick in 2017, and RB Duke Johnson were given the
day off, along with LB Jamie Collins. WR Corey Coleman also was scheduled to
rest, but declined the offer. . Former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel
attended the late afternoon practice.
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