This is uncharted territory for the Washington Capitals, as for the first time in five seasons, the they are entering a playoff series as an underdog.
After defeating Florida and the Rangers during the team's final two games of the regular season, the Caps earned the right to take on the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins in the opening round.
Despite the team's struggles with consistency throughout the season, the Caps are a much more dangerous team offensively than they were two weeks ago, as top center Nicklas Backstrom returned to action after missing 38 games due to a concussion.
The addition of Backstrom to the Caps' lineup cannot be understated, as the 24-year old Swede is by far the team's best playmaker. He is the only true number one center on the Caps' roster.
In his absence, the Caps relied on Backstrom's fellow Swede Marcus Johansson to fill the void, and though Johansson enjoyed brief spurts of increased offensive productivity, Backstrom is the team's unquestionable offensive catalyst. His return couldn't have come at a better time.
Heading into the postseason, Backstro ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Ryan Davenport
Washington Capitals: Will Nick Backstrom Be a Difference Maker in the Playoffs?
April 10th, 2012 by Ryan Davenport Leave a reply »
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