WASHINGTON, D.C. Upon learning that the Capitals would meet the rival Penguins for a third straight year in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, captain Alex Ovechkin couldnt contain his excitement to get started. I cant wait, Ovechkin said after knocking out the Blue Jackets in Monday's Game 6. Its a huge opportunity for us to take a step forward. Despite the anticipation in the air, the team, as well as the critics and fans alike, are aware of Washington'ssecond-round woes, the broken record that plays year after year. In each of the last two seasons, as well as the matchup between the Capitals and Penguinsin 2009, Latrell Jossell Jersey their series have gone the distance, fueled by the rivalry that has simmered between the teams for years. But on all three occasions, the season would end in heartbreak for Washington, while Pittsburgh went on to pile upStanley Cups. GOLDEN STANDARD Still, the Capitals hope to change the course, as theyve grown tired of the redundancy that has plagued their playoff campaigns since they last advanced past the second round back in 1998. One day, it hasto happen, Ovechkin said Wednesday ahead of the series. If we want to get succe s, we have to beat Pittsburgh and move forward. Heading into Thursday's Game 1, there is certainly a different feel aboutthis series. Washingtons season has not been one in which they dominated the NHL in the regular season, thenfailed to find traction in the playoffs. Instead, the team is relatively younger, and has seen production from the entire lineup beyond the star players. Weve been knocked down a few times, but this group got up this year, Capitals coach BarryTrotz said. For many of the Capitals young players, this will be their first time joining the Caps-Pens playoff storyline, and they know itll be an exciting, intense series. MORE: Its going to be a good series, rookie Chandler Stephenson said. A lot of rivalry there, a lot of emotion. We want to keep going and win as much as we can. The Penguins just kind of says it all. At the end of the day, instead of Washington claiming that this year will be different, there isnt much hesitation there, or fear of the same story playing out. All there is is excitement to prove critics wrong, to break the narrative. This is why we work so hard all year, to be in this position, Ovechkin said. You know, its hard. Its going to be a big challenge for us, especially against Pittsburgh. Heading into the series, goaltender Braden Holtby, who has given the Capitals more confidence with his performance so far this postseason, believes the team has learned a lot from their numerous matchups with the Penguins, and can use that against them. I think thats a good sign that weve learned from them, so we can use that as another weapon on our side, Holtby said. However, the overwhelming amount of excitement in the locker room hasnt made the Capitals forget their past, let alone deny it. Instead, they simply want to move on from it. We dont want what happened last year, Ovechkin said. This is hope its going to be our year, and were going to try to do it. Charlie Moore Jersey