Over the past four seasons the Washington Capitals have developed into arguably the best team in the Eastern Conference, at least for the regular season. But Alex Ovechkin has yet to reach an Eastern Conference Championship Series with the Caps to prove his greatness to hockey. His rival his whole career, Sidney Crosby from the Penguins, has not only been there twice, but he has played for a Stanley Cup and took one home. The Capitals over the past few seasons have had a high scoring potent offense with as many as 318 goals last season. This proved to be dominant all season propelling them to number one in the conference last season only to be dropped by the eighth-seeded Montreal Canadians in the first round. As the Capitals began the first round with a win last night, the game showcased the different preparations the Capitals have made to take the giant step forward in the playoffs this season.
As with any sport, defense tends to win championships. The Capitals have given up an average of 2.89 goals a game in the playoffs the past three years, including 3 or more in their first game each year. Last night the Capitals only gave up one goal in three periods and almost a full overtime. They have made more of a commitment to defense this season, along with better goal tending. They sacrificed some goals and some wins, but implementing their new philosophies over the regular season was important for their playoff success.
Ovechkin's goal to tie the game in the third period was a bit of a garbage goal but a goal indeed. The capitals have an abundance of talent to put the puck in the net, but when the goals aren't coming they have to find a way to win. In previous years they haven't been able to do that. The goal last night saved the game and gave them the opportunity to win in overtime. In the past three postseasons the capitals have only won one game in which they have scored less than three goals. If they can continue to grit it out and win the close games and combine that with their scoring upside, they will be a tough opponent for anyone to eliminate from the playoffs.
The last major thing to pull from the game would be the goal by Alexander Semin. Last postseason he was nonexistent coming up with zero goals. With Semin scoring the overtime goal, the Caps are hopeful he's off to a fast start. Two seasons ago Ovechkin, Backstrom, and Semin all put up big points in the playoffs and made it to game seven of the second round. All three of the Cap's stars will have to repeat that performance if they hope to go any deeper than that.
A few years ago the Washington Capitals were young talent and over the past few years they have blossomed into the best team in the Eastern Conference with Alex Ovechkin leading the way. They sky has been the limit for this team and this is the year they will finally get there. This season they have done everything right to prepare for the playoffs, and while their game last night might not have been pretty, they now know how to win even when the shots aren't hitting the back of the net. The nations capital might just see their first champions since the Redskins way back in January 1992.
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