When the Washington Capitals faced the New York Islanders in the playoffs five years in a row in the 1980s http://www.billscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-tre_davious-white-jersey , players knew everything.They knew where Mike Bossy loved to shoot from, that Bob Nystrom was going to run them over and that they’d better watch out for Denis Potvin in the neutral zone.”We became so used to one another we were expected to play the Islanders in the playoffs,” former Capitals winger Craig Laughlin said. ”At some point, we always knew we were going to play them.”It’s starting to feel that way now for the Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins, who are meeting in the second round of the playoffs for the third consecutive year. Two teams playing each other over and over again in the postseason is a common theme in NHL history, especially when 16 of the 21 teams faced off in a divisional format similar to what has been in place since 2014 and is responsible for Capitals-Penguins III.The Capitals faced the New York Rangers from 2011-13 and the Chicago Blackhawks played the Vancouver Canucks from 2009-11. Hockey has changed plenty since the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens played series seven years in a row from 1984-90, but all that familiarity still breeds a whole lot of contempt.”For the players, it’s more difficult,” said former Edmonton defenseman Kevin Lowe, whose Oilers faced Winnipeg three playoffs in a row from 1983-85. ”The body checks are heavier, the cross-checks are harder, the slashes behind the play are harder.”Lowe doesn’t think there are any advantages to players seeing the same opponent over and over again in the playoffs. Even on a Stanley Cup-champion team in Edmonton, there was always pressure to beat the Jets because they had done it in previous years.Seeing the Penguins beat the Capitals on the way to the Cup the past two years, Lowe believes the stronger motivation belongs to Washington.”They’ve made their life miserable, so that amps them up more,” Lowe said. ”There’s no real advantage to the team that’s winning those years because you know every year’s different and you thought, `Oh Cheap Christian McCaffrey Jersey , we can beat these guys because we beat them before.’ It’s a new set of circumstances every time you play.”Former Philadelphia defenseman Brad Marsh recalled similar circumstances when the Flyers faced the Rangers in the playoffs in the ’80s. New York was often dozens of points back in the standings and yet won their series sometimes.Players also changed teams less frequently back then, so the series felt like the continuation of a never-ending rivalry that began each fall in the preseason and was renewed in the playoffs.”You certainly develop a hate for the team a little quicker because you’ve played them so many times in the regular season leading into the playoffs, and if you play them year after year, it certainly does give you extra motivation not to lose to them again,” Marsh said. ”You did know how each player played or what their strengths or weaknesses were.”By now, Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin said he and his teammates know ”pretty much everything” about the Penguins, just like they did about the Rangers a few years ago. Coach Barry Trotz joked there was ”less scouting, shorter days” before acknowledging, ”We’ll be looking for those little edges you can get when you start playing teams multiple times.”Even back in Laughlin’s day, the scouting reports – printed out on paper – were extensive. When Marsh faced the Rangers, he knew how to defend certain players in front of the net and what to expect from an opponent’s stars.Sometimes that’s a no brainer. The Capitals have to watch out for Sidney Crosby, the Penguins for Ovechkin and the 1980s Jets for Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier.Rick Tocchet, who played with Marsh on the Flyers in the ’80s and was an assistant coach with Pittsburgh in 2016 and 2017, thinks repeatedly facing the same team brings out different aspects in players.”If you were a skill guy, you’d probably go out of your way to hit a guy,” Tocchet said. ”If you really were an aggressive-type player, you’d try to make sure you’d continue to be aggressive and be willing to hit their best players. When you play a team so many times you’re willing to go out of your comfort zone to win those games.”Having an elite team like the Islanders and Oilers dynasties of the ’80s carried with it some pressure Authentic Christian McCaffrey Jersey , but beating the same opponent repeatedly in the playoffs had one benefit.”Knowing that there would be an element of doubt in there,” Lowe said. ”If you get them down in a series and things are looking bleak where that element of doubt might creep in quicker for the team that hasn’t won. It takes a while before you can actually get an opponent to that position.”The mental battle starts well before Game 1. Speaking from experience, Laughlin thought he and the Capitals could always go toe-to-toe with the Islanders. He figures that’s the only way to approach this kind of situation.”You need that feeling that this is a new year, it’s a new season, it’s a new series and why can’t we win?” Laughlin said. ”It is belief that you have a better team and a belief that you are playing better than them at the moment. I think that’s the only thing you can sort of feed off of is you have more belief in your game the way you’re playing now.”— LAS VEGAS (AP) Pierre-Edouard Bellemare didn’t know what to do as he browsed in the grocery store. Fans were admiring the native Frenchman and center for the Vegas Golden Knights, but he had become star-struck himself.”I’m pretty sure I saw Steffi Graf,” Bellemare said. ”I was on the phone with my mom, and I was like (gasps for air). I walked right behind her. I didn’t say anything, too shy.”Just your random day away from the bright lights of Vegas in Summerlin, roughly 20 minutes from The Strip. And Bellemare loves his new surroundings.”Going to your grocery shop, everything is kind of convenient,” Bellemare said. ”You get a habit of getting your routine done simple. Right now, with the newborn, the weather and the pool has been something we’ve been enjoying quite a lot.”Many members of the Golden Knights had no idea what living in Las Vegas would entail when they were selected in the expansion draft for the fledgling team. In less than a year, however, they’ve found their new home is much more than casinos and glitzy shows.Jonathan Marchessault said he enjoys a night out with his wife, either attending a show or having dinner at one of the many resorts on The Strip http://www.pantherscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-christian-mccaffrey-jersey , but he also enjoys taking his kids to the team’s practice facility to skate, or to swimming lessons when time permits. The team, after all, has made a historic run to the Stanley Cup Final, with Game 1 at home coming up Monday night against the Washington Capitals.”Like everybody what they think, you think of The Strip, you think of all the nightlife and everything but there’s a lot more,” Marchessault said. ”There’s actually a lot of people living here and the community where we live, it’s unbelievable. The people are nice and respectful. I’ve been in a few cities in my career and this is definitely one of the classiest places.”David Perron, who admitted he too was surprised that life existed away from Las Vegas Boulevard, said he recently enjoyed showing his visiting parents Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.”You grow up and all you hear about Vegas is The Strip and just think that’s what it is, there’s nothing else to see,” Perron said. ”It’s pretty eye-opening to see outside of it.”Coach Gerard Gallant reiterated his players’ sentiments, having become a local celebrity right along with them.”I told the people the other day if I keep coming here and you’re gonna pay for my breakfast I’m not coming back,” Gallant said with a laugh. ”They’re great people and they’re a lot of fun. Everybody recognizes you and I didn’t really expect that. Myself and my wife, we love Vegas, it’s been awesome. We go to The Strip anytime you want to go there Baker Mayfield Jersey Elite , you go down there for dinner, but besides that we’re out here in Summerlin and we love it.”Some of the younger players, like roommates Shea Theodore and Alex Tuch, don’t mind taking advantage of the spectacles and endless events that Sin City has to offer.”The shows are unbelievable,” Tuch said. ”I’ve met a couple of the cast (members), I met Criss Angel, there’s deejays and artists coming in and out of the city, so I’ve met a lot of cool people like that. The food is fantastic around here. And if you get away from the city you can play on some really nice golf courses too, which I like to do.”Said Theodore: ”I think my favorite part about Vegas is the different kinds of food you can get. We’ve been very lucky to have some good connections with a lot of restaurants in town. Rooming with Tuchy, he’s got some good connections.”General manager George McPhee said he’s come to appreciate the maturity of the players as they adapted to living in Las Vegas, with all the temptations and distractions.”It’s a high-character group,” McPhee said. ”We don’t want a bunch of clones, we’ve never wanted a bunch of clones, either in the front office or anywhere else in the organization. They’re all different, they have different lifestyles at home. There’s something for everyone to do in Vegas, so they do what they do. But when we come to the rink that’s where they become one.”—More Stanley Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/StanleyCupFinals