Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
It’s not always how you start, it’s how you finish. And the Washington Capitals have looked terrific in their finish to the 2013 regular season. After a miserable start to the year, the Caps found their footing at the end of March and into April, leaving them looking like serious contenders.
Alex Ovechkin is a prime reason for that. Ovechkin finished tied for third in the league with 56 points, but his hot streak towards the end of the year will leave him with the Rocket Richard Trophy for the third time in his career, as he lead the league with 32 goals.
But while no player in the league is hotter than Ovechkin, he’s not the only reason that opposing teams should be terrifying of this Capitals squad. He has one of the best setup men in the league next to him, in Nicklas Backstrom. Other players are in the midst of very fine years as well.
Those players include the likes of Mike Ribeiro and Troy Brouwer, the latter of which is coming off of one of the best regular seasons of his careers. There’s some top tier talent on the blue line as well, including Mike Green and John Carlson.
Only three teams in the league scored more goals than the Caps this season. Their power play is the best in the league. Since March 21st, the Capitals have only lost four games, two of which were in overtime or in a shootout. “Hot streak” barely describes what they have done over that stretch.
If they can keep the puck out of their net, this team is going to be a force in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Though they’re middle-of-the-road as far as their defensive numbers go this season, we’ve seen what Braden Holtby can do in the postseason.
Holtby finished last year’s playoffs with a 1.95 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage. Had it not been for him, the Caps likely would have been boat-raced right out of the postseason.
This is going to be a tough team to bet against in the playoffs. They’re firing on all cylinders and have some of the most dangerous offensive talent in the game. This might just be the year that they shake off those playoff demons that have plagued them for the past few years.
