Tampa Bay is the overwhelming favorite to advance out of the Eastern Conference.
Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals open the playoffs on Thursday. By Scott Allen Scott Allen Reporter covering D.C. pro and local college sports Email Bio Follow April 10 at 3:07 PM For the second consecutive year, the Capitals open the Stanley Cup playoffs against a relatively raw postseason opponent. Last April, Washington fell behind Columbus two-games-to-none before winning four straight to close out the series en route to the franchise’s first championship.
Led by first-year coach Rod Brind’Amour and captain Justin Williams, a three-time Stanley Cup champion who spent two seasons in Washington from 2015 to 2017, the Hurricanes are embracing the underdog role. The Capitals won all four regular season meetings between the Metropolitan Division foes, including two games in three days late last month, but Carolina enters the playoffs with the third-most points in the league since Jan. 1.
Should the Capitals advance, they’ll face a more familiar playoff foe in the winner of the first-round series between the Penguins and Islanders. Here’s how various experts see the Capitals-Hurricanes showdown shaking out, plus Washington’s outlook for the remainder of the playoffs:All 15 experts predict the Capitals will advance to the second round, but no one picks Washington to reach the Stanley Cup finals.
#Flames in 7, #SJSharks in 7, #stlblues in 6, #GoStars in 6, #TBLightning in 6, #TakeWarning in 6, #NHLBruins in 7, #isles in 7 https://t.co/Xm8baqY1yg pic.twitter.com/FgBf1OaZFvNeil Greenberg projects the Capitals-Hurricanes series will go the distance, with Washington prevailing in seven games.
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