"...we haven't really played well..."

The Washington Capitals will skate onto enemy ice tonight for Game 3 in their best of seven Eastern Conference Semifinals Playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, up two games to none. After the "anything you can do, I can do better" show that was Game 2 (with Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby notching hat tricks), the Pittsburgh Penguins are staring at a 2-0 deficit for the first time in the Playoffs since the Stanley Cup Finals last year vs. the Detroit Red Wings (a series in which they lost in six games).

Game 3 in the last series for the Capitals was huge and is somewhat similar to Game 3 tonight for the Penguins. Back in Round One (seems like so long ago doesn't it?) the Capitals trailed the New York Rangers two games to none, with the Capitals losing both of their home games. Not wanting to go down three games to none, the Capitals played what was their most complete playoff game up to that point, winning Game 3 4-0. It was Simeon Varlamov's second playoff start in goal, and first on the road. But, as he has been all playoffs, he was as relaxed as ever, not letting the chatoic crowd of Madison Square Garden bother him. The difference tonight is that the Penguins are at home, a place where they went 2-1 in their first round series with the Philadelphia Flyers. The Capitals were 2-1 on the road in their first round series.

According to Brian Pothier, the Capitals are somewhat lucky to be up by two games going into tonight. "I hope we're not going to be lulled into a false sense of security, because we haven't really played well," Pothier said after yesterday's optional practice. "We've had timely goals and great goaltending, but as a team I don't think we've played nearly as well as we can. I'm sure Pittsburgh's a little frustrated by that; they have been playing pretty well but they haven't been able to score. We cannot think for a second that we've been dominating the series."

The difference thus far in this series has been the play of the goaltenders. Varlamov has the edge, making 68 stops on 73 shots (.93 save percentage) to Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury making 52 stops on 59 shots (.88 save percentage).

Varlamov must remain brilliant for the Caps to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals and get past the defending Eastern Conference Champion Penguins. But, as Pothier pointed out, perhaps the Caps have not played their best hockey in this series. That thought has to be daunting for Crosby and his mates.