“The caps are back” – Washington Capitals clinch a berth in Stanley Cup Playoffs for eighth straight season
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Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals seize a spot for the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs after confirming the New York Islanders’ loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 at Scotiabank Arena on Sunday night. It marks the Capitals’ 8th postseason qualification for the playoffs and the 14th in the last 15th season, as marked in wtop.com. It is considered the 14th longest active streak in the National Hockey League behind the Pittsburg Penguins.
The Capitals are currently in the 2nd wild-card position in the Eastern Conference, trailing the Boston ruins by 3 points for the 1st wild-card, and the Penguins for the 3rd in the Metropolitan Division. The Capitals are currently at 42-23-10 points. The Capitals are trying to win back the first postseason series since the 2018 Stanley Cup Final. During the team’s first NHL championship they defeated the Vegas Golden Knights in 5 games.
Capitals ready for 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The Washington Capitals’ most likely opponents in the game would be Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, or the New York Rangers. The Capitals are averaging .340 goals per season, 8th in NHL. The team’s play has improved after the players returned from injury, converting 27.7 percent in 31 games since January 28.
The Capitals overcame early-season injuries of players, Nicholas Backstrom with a hip injury, T.J.Oshie’s upper and lower body injuries, and Antony Mantha’s shoulder surgery to go 20-6-7 tie with Tampa Bay Lightning for the NHL lead with 47 points through December 31st.
Alex Ovechkin, Capitals captain has 47 goals and 87 points in 73 games in his 17th NHL season, whereas Evgeny Kuznetsov has 74 points in 72 games, and Tom Wilson has 24 goals, 28 assists, and 52 points in 71 games setting an NHL career-high. Capitals defenceman John Carlson achieved 67 points, 15 goals, and 52 assists.
The Capitals who are at 10-9-2 for the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference this season, will most likely play Games 1 and 2 of the first round on road. The team acquired Marcus Johansson from Seattle Kraken and Johan Larsson from Arizona Coyotes in the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline on March 21, to add more depth to the forward position.
The Capitals gained 4-13-1 in their last 18 postseason games, taking a 2-0 lead over the Carolina Hurricanes in the 1st round of 2019. Washington Capitals have not won a series since winning the Stanley Cup in 2018 for the first time.
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Kaushani Chatterjee
(2165 Articles Published)