Photo: @smel18
Heading into the all-star break with 47 games played this season, the Capitals own the league’s best record at 35-8-4 good for 74 points, and 4 points ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks with 6 games in hand.
With the way this team has played this season, it’s definitely a possibility. It all starts with the man in net, and Braden Holtby has emerged as arguably the top goalie in the NHL this season. The Capitals play with an elevated level of confidence when Holtby is between the pipes because the guys fully trust him to stop just about anything that comes his way. Phillip Grubauer is also a very reliable backup goaltender when Holtby needs a night off.
Photo: NHL
The defense in front of Holts and Grubi has been much improved from years past. One of the ‘09-’10 teams biggest weaknesses was the blue-liners, but this season’s defensive unit has been one of the strong points. Even with injuries to Brooks Orpik and John Carlson, guys like Taylor Chorney and Nate Schmidt have really stepped up and played well in their place. The ironman Karl Alzner is blocking shots left and right, and this blue-line unit will only improve with the looming return of Brooks Orpik.
With regards to the schedule, 30 of the last 35 games will be played against teams with records above .500. The Caps don’t have any breaks longer than 2 days for the remainder of the season, with 4 back-to-backs remaining (or possibly more). The good news: Braden Holtby plays exceptionally well with shorter periods of rest, and the team has shown that they are capable of beating any opponent in front of them, so if the Caps get hot down the stretch, look for them to make a push towards the 60-win plateau.
All that really matters though is the Capitals’ performance in the playoffs. Whether or not they snag the President’s Trophy is irrelevant. Hoisting the Stanley Cup above their heads is really all that matters, and anything less than a championship will definitely be a disappointment.
By Gabe Mead