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NHL playoffs 2017: Capitals vs. Maple Leafs preview and prediction

By Dave Stevenson

Apr 4, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie (77) carries the puck past Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Matt Hunwick (2) at the Air Canada Centre. Washington defeated Toronto 4-1. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie (77) carries the puck past Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Matt Hunwick (2) at the Air Canada Centre. Washington defeated Toronto 4-1. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Can the Toronto Maple Leafs upset the President’s Trophy winning Washington Capitals in the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs? 

No two teams are more famous for their playoff failures than the Washington Capitals and the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Caps have never won a Stanley Cup and have only been to one Eastern Conference Final since 1994. Moreover, the Leafs haven’t won the Stanley Cup since expansion. They have 13 Stanley Cups, but each of them were won when the league featured six teams.

Washington will have all of the pressure to win in this series. For the second straight season, they’ve won the President’s Trophy for having the best record in the NHL. However, winning it hasn’t done the Caps any favors. Each time they’ve own it, they’ve failed to advance past the second round. The only time Washington has been in the Eastern Conference Finals since 1994 was back in 1998. Coincidentally, the Caps made their last Stanley Cup Final appearance in 1998.

This year, it’s different. The Caps have arguably their best team ever. With a lethal offense led by Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and T.J. Oshie, Washington can score at will. More importantly, the Caps have been incredible defensively. Braden Holtby is a Vezina Trophy caliber goalie and Kevin Shattenkirk has been the best trade deadline pickup in recent memory.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be relying on their outstanding offense. Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, Nazem Kadri, William Nylander and James van Riemsdyk give them a forward group at least close to the Caps’ core. However, Frederik Andersen will have to steal some games for them if they’re going to pull off an upset.

Must Read: 2017 NHL Playoffs Preview and Prediction

Prediction

Toronto will give the Capitals a good challenge. However, Washington knows how to stop teams like the Leafs from experience. Why, you ask? Because the Caps used to be a better version of them. Defensively, Washington has a significant advantage. The Leafs are going to be one heck of a team very shortly. But they lack the blue line depth needed to compete with the top teams.

Pick: Caps in 6

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