PHN EXTRA: Washington Capitals Say Penguins Rivalry Has Changed

PITTSBURGH — The Penguins locker room dismissed the question if the heated Pittsburgh Penguins-Washington Capitals rivalry was somehow changed. Of course not, most players replied, because the Penguins have always taken Washington seriously and nothing has changed despite the Stanley Cup’s current address in the nation’s capital.

That may be true for the Penguins. Maybe. It does seem a little bit dubious that the Penguins would be unfazed after watching their long-time rivals vanquish them on home ice then win the Capitals first ever Stanley Cup.

But we’ll take them at face value.

“No, I think it’s staying the same. We’ve played each other 19 times over the last few years and the playoffs. That says a lot,” said Patric Hornqvist.

The closest PHN could come to getting an affirmative in the Penguins locker room was Jake Guentzel, who dished more of a stock answer than an admission.

“That’s the team you want to play because they were on top last year. You know they’re a good team, they’ll come out because they’ve been playing well,” Guentzel said.

Not exactly a fiery admission, was it?

But the Washington Capitals have a different tune.