NHL playoffs 2017: Updated bracket after Capitals beat Maple Leafs

The Washington Capitals beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in six games to end the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs. Here’s an updated bracket. 

It took them a bit longer than many thought, but the Washington Capitals have disposed the Toronto Maple Leafs. Give credit to the Leafs because they gave the Caps one heck of a challenge and scare.

But Washington is going on to the second round of the playoffs after beating Toronto in six games. Marcus Johansson picked up the series-winning goal in overtime. Here’s the updated Stanley Cup playoff bracket.

Washington advances to face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round. Sound familiar? It should. This is the third time since 2008 the two teams have done battle in the postseason. The Penguins have won each time in 2009 and 2016.

Coincidentally, Pittsburgh has won the Stanley Cup each of those years as well. So the winner of this series will most likely go on to raise Lord Stanley at the end. Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin will lead their respective teams into battle. It figures that the Caps would have to get past the Penguins in order to win a Stanley Cup.

For Washington, this is a huge series win. They did well against a very good Maple Leafs team. Their defense did well in Games 5 and 6 and Braden Holtby seems to be at the top of his game. That’s a good thing because he’ll have to be against the Penguins.

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The Leafs should be proud of their effort. They’re a young and exciting team with a lot of promise. Nobody expected them to do anything in the playoffs and they managed to give the Caps a decent challenge. Their future is quite bright.