Washington Capitals: Alex Ovechkin and Crue Ready For A Serious Playoff Run
Washington Capitals: The Team Has Made Some Significant Deals All-Season Long, But Do They Have What it Takes to Win a Cup?
Jan 21, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) skates in warm-ups prior to the game against against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Alex Ovechkin:
Since the Washington Capitals drafted Alex Ovechkin first overall in 2004, they have looked at him as the team's savior. And while he has been he's yet to bring the franchise a Stanley Cup. But this year looks like the year they may actually do it. So will Ovechkin go down as the greatest Russian to never win a cup? Or will he finally achieve it? We'll find out come playoff time.
Transactions:
Over the last year, the Caps have made some significant deals and it started back in June when they acquired Lars Eller for more center depth from Montreal in exchange for two draft picks, meaning they didn't lose any roster players. They then acquired depth defenseman Tom Gilbert from LA for a draft pick meaning yet again they didn't lose anyone on the main roster. Their biggest move all season had to be when they acquired Kevin Shattenkirk and Pheonix Copley from St. Louis for two minor league players and two draft picks, again no one from the current roster, and that's only trades.
Feb 24, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals right wing Brett Connolly (10) skates on the ice while displaying rainbow stick tape as part of Hockey is for Everyone night during warm ups prior to the Capitals' game against the Edmonton Oilers at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Transactions Part Two:
Back to the off-season, when the Caps lost Jason Chimera to the Islanders who has been a great depth forward for the organization, they went out and signed Brett Connolly as a replacement. And so far this year he's been quite good putting up 21 points in 57 games while having a superb +21 rating. Much better than his output last season where he only had 25 points in 71 games and finished as a minus one, so Connolly is definitely having a career year.
Goaltending:
Now when it comes to career years Braden Holtby is having one of his own, he's on pace for 42 wins, a 2.05 goals-against-average and a .925 save percentage. Which will be just as good as last season's output, the only difference is the wins where he had 48 last season.
Another Caps goalie who is having a career year is backup Philipp Grubauer who is on pace for 12 wins, a 2.10 goals-against-average and a .925 save percentage, which will eclipse last year's total by a massive margin.
Nov 12, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; Washington Capitals forward Niclas Backstrom (19) skates with the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Washington Capitals forward 5-1. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Offense:
With the rate the Caps are scoring despite Alex only being in the 60 point range, brings back the point of how much offensive depth this team has this season. For instance center Nicklas Backstrom who has put up 75 points so far and is on pace for 86. Justin Williams and T.J. Oshie have been great past additions that have finally gotten used to the Caps system and are now flourishing. But some are calling this year a dud for Ovechkin due to his offensive numbers, but if you look at his play away from the puck he's really stepped things up defensively which will help big time in the playoffs.
Defense:
The Caps have a wicked defensive core with veterans Karl Alzner, John Carlson, Matt Niskanen, Brooks Orpik, Dmitry Orlov, and newly acquired Kevin Shattenkirk. The team has all the pieces it needs on the backend to keep pucks out of the net, and to help them with that they also have two solid goalies.
Feb 28, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Washington Capitals defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (22) skates against the New York Rangers during the second period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Conclusion:
Washington is definitely a force to be reckoned with this postseason, and if they can get an easy first round matchup they could very well play their way into the Stanley Cup Final. But if they are given a team like Pittsburgh in the first round who will push Washington to their limits, which is something you do not want in the first round, they will wear out and be doomed come the later rounds that's if they can pull off the series win against the Pens. But anyone else they should do just fine since team management went out and made all the right moves to strengthen the team this season. Now they just have to go out and prove it!
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