5 reasons why the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs will be amazing

This year’s NHL postseason is shaping up to be a good one with several teams making their return after years of mediocrity. Here are five reasons why the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs will be awesome.

The playoffs get started this Wednesday, April 12, and there are tons of reasons to tune in. Over the next two months or so, the NHL’s most worthy teams will take part in the annual war of attrition, all in their quest to win the greatest trophy in sports – the Stanley Cup.

Last year’s champion, the Pittsburgh Penguins, are back to defend their title, but have a tough road ahead of them with their top-class rivals in the Metropolitan Division standing in their way.

So without further ado, here are some reasons (among many others) why you don’t want to miss the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

5. This could be Alex Ovechkin’s last chance at a Cup with Washington

Washington Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin has been chasing the Stanley Cup for years now. The Caps have been a dominant regular season team in the NHL for almost as long as Ovi’s been there, and now have three straight 100-point seasons to heir name.

Things have never seemed to come together for Washington in the playoffs, though. In Ovechkin’s career, they’ve never managed to progress past the second round, repeatedly upset by lower seeds. This year, they’ve won the President’s Trophy again, and might just look scarier than they ever have done.

Now, though, Ovechkin is 31 years old, and the Caps’ window is closing. Many of their key players will be free agents after this year, including TJ Oshie, Justin Williams, and Karl Alzner. The time for Washington to win their Cup is now, and they know it.

They added Kevin Shattenkirk at the trade deadline to beef up their defense, and they have one of the best goalies in the NHL right now in Braden Holtby. If you love the narrative of an surefire Hall of Famer chasing his first Stanley Cup, then the Caps will be a team to watch this spring.