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Capitals vs. Maple Leafs: Game 4 prediction

By Dave Stevenson

Apr 13, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) skates with the puck as Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) defends in the second period in game one of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 13, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) skates with the puck as Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) defends in the second period in game one of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Washington Capitals face a must win Game 4 of their series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Can they stop their postseason swoon? 

Entering the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, just about everybody had the Washington Capitals as their Stanley Cup favorites. However, the Caps are down 2-1 in their series against the Toronto Maple Leafs following a 4-3 overtime loss on Monday. The Leafs have proven to be the better team so far in this series. Game 4 will be held on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

The Maple Leafs have all the momentum right now. They came back from an early two goal deficit to beat the Caps in overtime in Game 3. Toronto’s speed and skill is proving to be too much for Washington to handle right now. They haven’t been getting great defensive play, but then again, their offense has been making up for it.

The Capitals find themselves in a surprisingly familiar situation. They’ve been down 2-1 in the first round recently, digging themselves into the same hole against the New York Islanders in 2015. Now the Caps must climb out of it by winning in Game 4. Washington is starting to feel the pressure. Only time will tell if the pressure is a good thing that wakes them up and causes urgency or if it will get to them and cause yet another postseason heartbreak. There could be some serious changes with the Caps if they fail to advance past the first round.

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Prediction

For better or for worse, all the pressure is on the Caps. Braden Holtby hasn’t been outstanding so far this series, but he’ll bounce back in Game 4. Washington, led by Justin Williams, will play with much more urgency. It will be another close game, but this time the Caps come out on top and it won’t require overtime.

Washington wins 3-1.

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