The Washington Capitals entered the playoffs this spring with the look of a champion. NHL Presidents' Trophy winners for the first time—emblematic of the best regular-season record—the roster was deep and strong, and the goaltending proved itself over a long and productive season.
Washington added some good pieces at the deadline, including Daniel Winnik and Mike Weber, and had its sights set on a deep playoff run. The stars appeared to align this spring for the Capitals.
The Pittsburgh Penguins were on fire at the end of the regular season, finishing with eight wins in their final 10 games, and had the look of a team that could give other teams fits in the playoffs. Midseason acquisition Trevor Daley and deadline addition Carl Hagelin were both substantial additions who helped shape the depth chart.
The first round of the playoffs gave an indication of what we would see later on. Washington drew the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round, a gritty but flawed team that would push the Capitals to six games before bowing out. Braden Holtby was brilliant in the series, and Alexander Ovechkin averaged almost six shots per game. ...
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Article written by Allan Mitchell
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May 12th, 2016 by Allan Mitchell Leave a reply »
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