NHL playoffs 2017: Washington Capitals preview

Is this the Washington Capitals year to finally win a Stanley Cup? 

The Washington Capitals are Stanley Cup contenders virtually every season. Led by captain Alex Ovechkin, the Caps have missed the playoffs only once since the 2006-07 season. They’ve won three President Trophies, including this season. However, the Capitals lack any Stanley Cup champion banners flying in their arena. Washington will look to rewrite their own history in the 2016-17 Stanley Cup playoffs.

As always, the Capitals have a high octane offense. Though they started off slow, they have shot up the standings in 2017 — only the Pittsburgh Penguins have scored more goals than them. Alex Ovechkin scored 33 goals in an off-year, which tells you everything you need to know about him. Most people would kill for his off-year. For the first time in his career, someone other than Ovechkin will not have the exclusive team lead in goals. T.J. Oshie tied him with 33.

In recent years, their captain not scoring correlated with the Caps not winning. This isn’t the case with these Capitals. Of Washington’s 12 forwards, 11 of them have at least 10 goals. If you include his numbers with the St. Louis Blues, defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk is in double-digits as well. The Caps are following the Pittsburgh Penguins’ blueprint from last season, icing four forward lines capable of putting the puck in the net.

Defensively, very few, if any, teams are better than the Washington Capitals. They boast one of the deepest blue lines in the NHL. John Carlson, Matt Niskanen, and Shattenkirk fight for playing time on the right side. On the left side, Dmitry Orlov has emerged as a legitimate first-pairing defenseman. Karl Alzner provides stability for the second-pairing while Brooks Orpik is an excellent penalty-killer. Nate Schmidt is one of the best seventh defensemen in the NHL, consistently tilting the ice towards the Capitals with a 53.7 percent CorsiFor percentage.

The Washington Capitals greatest strength, however, is in the net. Braden Holtby is following his 2015-16 Vezina Trophy win with another extremely impressive season. He has a 41-12-6 record with a .924 save percentage. He’s been a huge reason for the Capitals allowing the fewest goals in the NHL. He has the highest postseason save percentage of any goalie with at least 10 playoff starts. Holtby loves to shine bright on the big stage. Last year, he was bothered by injuries, likely caused by fatigue and overuse. This season, Holtby enters the postseason fresh.

Why they can win

Simply, the Caps have the most talented team in the league. Having the most talent doesn’t guarantee you a Stanley Cup, but it sure makes things a lot easier. Washington has incredible depth, especially after acquiring Shattenkirk at the trade deadline. He’s given their power play another wrinkle and has made it optimal. Even if the worst-case scenario plays out and Holtby gets injured, Philipp Grubauer has proven to be an excellent option in relief. The Caps are looking much better going into the postseason than they did last season.

Why they can’t win

The Washington Capitals have horrible luck. Maybe they suffer from the DC sports curse. Each year, pundits pick them to win the Stanley Cup. The Caps have disappointed each time. They’ll have a huge gorilla on their back until they manage to toss it off and win a Stanley Cup. The NHL’s playoff format ensures they will face one of the top three teams in the league in the second round. If the Caps make it to the Eastern Conference Finals, the team they face will likely be well rested. In short, the Washington Capitals might be the only team capable of beating the Capitals.

X-factor

Justin Williams has a reputation as “Mister Game 7”. Throughout his career, he has come up huge in elimination games. Williams has won three Stanley Cups, playing a huge role in each of them. The Capitals signed him to be the last piece to their championship puzzle. Williams is the yin to Ovechkin’s yang. He’s their calming influence, carrying a quiet confidence about him. Williams is in a contract year and this might be his last opportunity to win a Stanley Cup. Expect nothing but the best from the Reggie Jackson of the NHL.

Must Read: 5 reasons why the Capitals can win the Stanley Cup

Prediction

The Washington Capitals have everything it takes to win the Stanley Cup. They have no glaring flaws and the only team who has consistently been able to beat them is themselves. The Capitals must play smart and confidently, knowing they are the best team in the NHL and they can beat anyone. While the Washington Capitals have an annual tradition of letting their fans down, this is their best chance to break it. Or they might be planning the most epic playoff collapse in franchise history. Regardless of if the Capitals win or lose, they’ll be a fun team to watch in the postseason.