Friday May 15 7pm
The Washington Capitals can clinch their second trip to a conference final in franchise history with a victory at home tonight against the Ottawa Senators. The only previous trip to the conference finals was back in 1990 when the Capitals were swept by the Boston Bruins. There are actually four players -- centers Dale Hunter and Michal Pivonka, left wing Kelly Miller and defenseman Calle Johansson -- that still remain from that team from eight years ago.
The Caps hope to have star right wing Peter Bondra back in the lineup tonight. Bondra, who shared the league lead with 52 goals during the regular season, was left dazed in Game Two of the series when Senators defenseman Lance Pitlick checked him head-first into the boards late in the second period. Bondra was able to play Game Three on Monday and recorded a goal and an assist in a 4-3 loss at Ottawa, but was scratched in Game Four.
Olaf Kolzig recorded his second playoff shutout to carry the Capitals to a 2-0 win at Ottawa on Wednesday and a three games to one lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Ottawa outshot the Caps, 36-11, to continue a series trend, but was continually frustrated by Kolzig. In this series, the Capitals have outscored Ottawa, 15-7, despite trailing in shots, 139-69.
The 6-3, 225-pound Kolzig has allowed just seven goals in the first four games of the series and is 7-3 with a 1.82 goals-against average in the postseason. He had a 38-save shutout in a first-round series victory over Boston.
Defenseman Sergei Gonchar has six goals in the playoffs after scoring only five in 72 games during the regular season.
The Senators were 4-0 at home in the postseason before Wednesday's loss.
Daniel Alfredsson leads the Senators with seven goals and two assists in the postseason, while Alexei Yashin has five goals and three assists.
Center Adam Oates leads the Caps in playoff scoring with five goals and five assists.
If the Senators win tonight, Game Six will be Monday at Ottawa.
