Fansided

NHL playoffs 2018: Updated bracket after Capitals beat Blue Jackets

By Michelle Bruton

COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 23: Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during game 6 in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio on April 23, 2018. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 23: Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during game 6 in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio on April 23, 2018. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Washington Capitals will meet the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs after winning their series against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night.

Washington Capitals fans were feeling the most dreadful sense of deja vu when their team got off to a 0-2 start in their quarterfinals series against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

It was especially concerning that both those games were at home. If Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals couldn’t get the job done at home, how would they take this series?

Well, the Capitals turned into road warriors in Games 3 and 4, winning the former in thrilling overtime fashion, as they also did for Game 5 to put them at 3-2 on the series heading into Monday night.

That’s when the Capitals erased all doubts about their ability to make a run in these playoffs, as they put away the Blue Jackets handily 6-3. Even taking away the empty netter in the final seconds, it was a lopsided performance in Washington’s favor.

Here’s the updated Stanley Cup playoffs bracket now that the Capitals have advanced. We have just one spot left unclaimed, as the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs continue to battle it out.

The Capitals owe a great deal of thanks to goaltender Braden Holtby, who has been phenomenal since reclaiming the starting job in the third period of Game 2. Perhaps some time on the bench watching Philipp Grubauer start some games helped Holtby turn his game around, after posting a less-than-stellar 3.46 goals against average and .894 save percentage in the regular season.

Not the case tonight, as Holtby made 35 saves on 38 shots for a .921 save percentage.

There’s no question who Barry Trotz will look to to open the second-round series in net against the Penguins.

For more from the NHL playoffs, make sure to follow FanSided and stay tuned to our NHL hub for all the latest news and results.

Home/NHL Playoffs