Around the NHL in 30 Days – Washington Capitals

Fansided’s Around the NHL in 30 Days makes its second to last stop today. That stop is in D.C. to check on the Washington Capitals. I see some similarities between the Capitals and Sharks. Both teams have great offensive talent; both teams have strong regular seasons; but both teams fail to get over the playoff hump and make the Stanley Cup Finals. The great writers at the Capitals Outsider blog feel that this will be the year that the Caps not only make the final, but ultimately hoist the Stanley Cup.

Well you all know how we feel here at Blades of Teal. We strongly feel that the Stanley Cup will be calling San Jose home this year. But who knows who Team Teal will have to defeat in the Finals? It’s quite possible that we may have to defeat Alexander Ovechkin and his Caps. Doing that, my friends, will be no easy task this year if the Caps manage to stay healthier than they did last year (e.g., Mike Green’s concussion, Tom Poti’s groin, etc.). Add into the mix the wise free agent signing of goalie Tomas Vokoun, and the Caps can finally say that they are as strong at the back end as they are upfront with the forwards.

Here is a snippet of what the writers at the Capitals Outsider are saying about their team:

"We have seen the last few seasons that the Capitals always collapse in the postseason. This year will not be the case. Every concern that the Capitals had last season have been addressed: the Caps need more grinders (Ward, Brouwer, Hamrlik), a bigger veteran presence in the crease (Vokoun), and more vocal leadership (Boudreau talked to Ovechkin in the offseason about this, and so far the captain has risen to expectations.)"

In two meetings with the Caps last year, the Sharks won both by 2-0 and 3-2 scorelines. Looking at the results of these two games it might be easy for some to conclude that the Sharks would match up well with the Caps, and therefore handle them easily in the Finals. Remember that results in the regular season are nice, but it’s victories in the postseason that mean all the world to a hockey club. I expect that the Caps will easily make the playoffs. If the Caps and the Sharks were to meet in the Finals I would expect it to be a very entertaining series, and ultimately one where San Jose would prevail. I can’t wait for the puck to drop for real!! Let’s go Sharks!!

Check back tomorrow as FanSided’s Around the NHL in 30 Days wraps up in Winnipeg.

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