Morning Skate: Toss up

Friday! Today’s the last day before the playoffs begin, folks.

Drink in these tranquil, take-free days. They aren’t long for this world.

You could argue for days about certain aspects of this Bruins-Caps match-up: who has the better forwards? Better first line? Better defense????

You get the point.

However, the one area where the Bruins appear to have a distinct advantage is between the pipes.

Tuukka Rask is better than either of the Capitals’ young goaltenders, and given his lighter workload this season, should be (please) good to go.

For Washington, Peter Laviolette has decided, for whatever reason, to play a guessing game with everyone.

“Hey Peter, who’s starting?” “Oh we’re keeping that internal.” “.........”

While the starter is a Laviolette mystery, the options are known: Vitek Vanecek or Ilya Samsonov.

The young Czech Vanecek started 36 games this season; Samsonov started 18.

The problem for the Caps is that Samsonov is apparently on the league’s COVID-19 list, a place he’s been for nearly two weeks.

Given that, it seems like Vanecek is almost certainly going to start. Laviolette just likes to play it close to the chest.

Nice to not have that “who’s starting?” problem, eh? Unless Rask loses Game 1, and the nuclear takes begin.

Good times.

Today’s highlight

Speaking of Bruins and Caps goalies...

Today’s discussion topic

What’s an area where the Bruins have a clear advantage? What’s one where the Caps have a clear advantage?