Fansided

Predicting the first round of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs

By Griffin Youngs

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 07: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals and Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Vegas Golden Knights shake hands after Game Five of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final between the Washington Capitals and the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Capitals defeated the Golden Knights 4-3 to win the Stanley Cup Final Series 4-1. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 07: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals and Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Vegas Golden Knights shake hands after Game Five of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final between the Washington Capitals and the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Capitals defeated the Golden Knights 4-3 to win the Stanley Cup Final Series 4-1. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 21: James Reimer #34 of the Florida Panthers makes a save against Andre Burakovsky #65 of the Washington Capitals in the third period at Capital One Arena on October 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 21: James Reimer #34 of the Florida Panthers makes a save against Andre Burakovsky #65 of the Washington Capitals in the third period at Capital One Arena on October 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Metropolitan

M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC1 Florida Panthers

It’s a battle of opposites. The reigning Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals vs. the team on the longest playoff series win drought in the Florida Panthers. Even though there’s no rivalry between the two, they’ll both be plenty motivated to take each other out and move on for their own reasons. Would the Capitals take their fifth straight playoff series, or will the Panthers end the longest playoff drought in the league?

Why Washington is in

The defending Stanley Cup champions kept the Cup-winning gang together heading into their first ever title defense in the franchise history, so the playoffs should hardly be in the question barring nuclear meltdown. Alex Ovechkin is going to continue to lead this group as the best goal scorer of this generation, and to support him they’ve got one of the best top nines in the league today, with center depth that is the among the best in the league with Nicklas Backstrom, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Lars Eller. Andre Burakovsky and Jakub Vrana should be ready for breakout years, and they could push an already great offense to another level.

Off the paper, the incredible bond this team shares from coming together for the Cup run is second to none in the league. This is the first time in forever that the Capitals have come into season without dread hanging over their heads, and that could really help the team avoid their early season slumps, but only if they aren’t still literally hungover from there celebrations this summer.

Why Florida is in

The Florida Panthers fell just one point short of the playoffs last year, but there should be no excuse for them to miss this season with the talented roster they have. Their projected first line of Jonathan Huberdeau, Alexander Barkov and Evgeny Dadonov could turn into one of the best lines in the league.

Unlike last season, the Panthers will now be getting a huge boost from their other lines. The addition of Mike Hoffman after taking advantage of his lowered trade value and sticking him beside the most underrated player in the league, Vincent Trocheck, makes for a formidable top six, and with top center prospect Henrik Borgstrom ready for a full time NHL spot, their center depth is set to compete for a playoff spot for years to come.

The problem is that with the Atlantic being as stacked as it is, getting into a wild card spot might be their best chance without a team falling off in front of them. They will have to battle all the way to the end of the season to secure a spot and have to offer everything they have to even get in.

Who will win

This would be a hard fought series from both sides, and all games would be close, including several overtime games. The difference in each game will be that the Capitals finally learned how to overcome adversity in the playoffs and triumph, while the Panthers are still searching for that experience at all.

The Panthers have the skill to hang with the Capitals on offense, but that defense won’t be able to defend the likes of Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov for very long unless they can make some acquisitions to shore up their top four depth. Also, Luongo is 39 years old heading into this season, and who knows if he’ll be able to sustain himself all the way into the postseason. Capitals have the advantage just about everywhere, and they’ll win their fifth straight playoff series if this match-up is the case. But crazier upsets have happened, and all it takes is a couple bounces to shock the world.

Capitals over Panthers in five games

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