WASHINGTON (AP) - The Washington Capitals are well-rested. The Tampa Bay Lightning have barely had time to catch their breath.
The Capitals and Lightning open their Eastern Conference semifinals series Friday night in Washington.
The Capitals haven't played since last Saturday, when they finished off the New York Rangers in five games.
The Lightning needed seven games to eliminate the Pittsburgh Penguins. They flew straight to the nation's capital after their 1-0 clinching victory Wednesday night and didn't practice Thursday.
Washington coach Bruce Boudreau says if his team wins Game 1, everybody will say it was because the Lightning were tired. If Tampa Bay wins, they'll say the Capitals were rusty.
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