ARLINGTON, Va. -- There are, of course, the obvious storylines that are dominating discussion heading into the highly anticipated second-round series between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals. Game 1 is Thursday at 8 p.m. ET at the Verizon Center.
Sidney Crosby versus Alex Ovechkin.
Evgeni Malkin versus Alex Ovechkin.
Matt Murray and Braden Holtby, the dueling goaltenders.
But there are deeper connections between these two teams, and these histories and experiences will provide an interesting and emotional undercurrent to the proceedings.
Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen signed with Washington in the summer of 2014 after playing in Pittsburgh; in Orpik's case, he'd spent his entire career with the Penguins. Assistant coach Todd Reirden also made the move from the Penguins to the Capitals that summer.
Eric Fehr signed with the Penguins last summer after spending his entire career in Washington.
Patric Hornqvist played for Capitals head coach Barry Trotz while both were with the Nashville Predators. And so on and so on.
The Virginia, Minnesota, native Niskanen, 29, talked about those kinds of connections and other topics.
ESPN.com: When you think about this series, and it's a team that you know obviously very well, do players get the same anticipation about a matchup like Pittsburgh-Washington that the fans and the media do?
Niskanen: I think it's different. Fans and the media love it. I think as players, we just want to win it and advance, regardless of who we're playing. Are we more familiar with them than some other teams? Sure. Do we necessarily like them? Probably not. But it's all about trying to advance and we've worked hard to give ourselves this opportunity, so we're excited about the chance to advance more than anything.
ESPN.com: It happens in every series, I'm sure -- the connections, players who played with one team and then another. But does it mean anything different to you and to Brooks Orpik or Eric Fehr in the Pittsburgh room, that there is that kind of connection?
Niskanen: I can't speak for them personally. But [for] myself, it doesn't really affect my approach or my thoughts on what we want to accomplish. Again, I'm familiar with some of their people and how they play and some of those things. I'll use some of that stuff, but I don't to win any more or any less, certainly, just because it's them. We've built all year to give ourselves a chance and we think we have an opportunity, so it's all about advancing.
ESPN.com: You beat the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 6 on Sunday. Do you go right into focusing on the Penguins the moment that series is over against Philly?
Niskanen: I think mentally you turn your brain off for a couple of days. Just to try and recharge. Now, when we're at the rink for these couple of practice days leading up to it, we're focused on Pittsburgh and how they play and what we're going to have to do to have success. You physically put in some work here to keep yourself sharp. But in between series, typically mentally it's a little bit of a break. Because once a series happens, you're pretty much invested into everything you're doing even away from the rink. So a little break's nice.
ESPN.com: What did you do? How do you turn your brain off?
Niskanen: I spent a lot of time with my 6-month-old. Just playing with him and hanging out, relaxing. Put my feet up, watching a lot of TV. Some good family time.
ESPN.com: Did you watch the other series? Or do you really try to step away from the game completely?
Niskanen: I've done both. I did watch the St. Louis-Chicago game [Game 7] because that seemed like must-watch TV. But I won't watch every game or even parts of every game. Just catch some highlights here and there, but [to] get your brain away from it from time to time is good and healthy, so you're excited to come to the rink and focus on your job.
ESPN.com: I would be remiss if I didn't ask you about playing against Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, guys you know well. In terms of defending, getting ready for that sort of series, do you think about players specifically or is it really about the game plan that you and the coaching staff have put in all season?
Niskanen: I think it's some of each. Based on how their team has played lately, the coaches are going to put together a game plan of things to look for and what we want to [do], how we want to play and details of our game. But as an experienced player, you use some knowledge to your advantage all the time about knowing your opponent and what they like to do, especially [because I'm] a defenseman. Every player has certain tendencies in areas of the rink that they look for or certain moves or shots or sequences, whatever it may be. A little inside knowledge there that will hopefully give me a little bit of an advantage.