CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- The knock against the Capitals' defense the past two springs proved wholly legit: They were big and nasty, but too slow for that to matter much.
It would appear they've figured that out.
Here are the pairings they used to conclude their first-round Stanley Cup playoff victory over the Blue Jackets, and Barry Trotz is expected to stick with those for the series with the Penguins that opens tomorrow in D.C.:
Dmitry Orlov-Matt Niskanen
Michal Kempny-John Carlson
Brooks Orpik-Christian Djoos
Sure, they've still got some size with Orpik, though he most definitely left his once-impressive wheels behind right here in our town. They've still got some snarl, too, between Orpik and another old friend, Niskanen. But otherwise, it's a different dynamic built around their No. 1 guy, John Carlson, in that the rest of the corps can now keep up with him:
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