Washington Capitals: Would the Caps Be the Most Dangerous No. 8 Seed Ever?

For Washington Capitals fans, it has been a very anxious month. Actually, the past 10 days or so have been an emotional roller coaster ride.

From the lows of a huge collapse at home against the Sabres, to the highs of gritty wins over the Bruins and Canadiens, to another disappointing outing against the Lighting—and all the while the Caps playoff lives were hanging in the balance. First they controlled their fate, then they didn't, then they did.

Someone grab the Dramamine.

Last night, though, it all paid off as the Caps clinched a playoff berth for the fifth consecutive season. With the playoffs now secured, there is a surge of speculation as to how this years Capitals might fare in the playoffs. Featured Columnist Jessica Isner just published a very good article on how the Caps' invitation to the dance could spell doom for the Eastern Conference's top seeds. 

While I would not go so far as to say the Rangers, Bruins or Penguins might as well start making plans for the golf course right now, the fact remains that the Caps currently are the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. They could end up as high as the No. 3 seed depending on what happens tomorrow.

As I read through Isner's article, something occurred to me. The Capitals could very well be the most dangerous number eight seed in NHL playoff history.

That sounds like a bold statement, but think about it. These are the Washington Capitals we are talking about. It's not like we are discussing the Columbus Blue Jackets as a No. 8 seed, or the Canadiens from two years ago, or anything similar to that.

We are talking about the four-time defending Southeast Division champions. They are pretty much the same team that took the eventual champion Pittsburgh Penguins—with a healthy Sidney Crosby, mind you—to the brink of elimination in a seven-game series for the ages three years ago. 

They are pretty much the same team that won the Presidents' Trophy just two years ago. The same team that took the No. 1 seed in the east last year.

And they still have one of the top five players in the league on their team in Alexander Ovechkin.

That certainly does not sound like a typical run-of-the-mill No. 8 seed to me.

The naysayers will point to a stunning number of playoff failures that has haunted this franchise since it's inception—and they should. I have witnessed too many of them firsthand. They will also point out that if this team is so good, then why are they a No. 8 seed in the first place? It is a very valid question.

But when you look at this team, what they have been through and how familiar they are with their likely playoff opponents, you will see merit in the possibility that the Caps could be the most dangerous eight seed ever.

This is a team that was built last offseason to compete in the playoffs. The problem was that they let this little thing called the regular season get in the way and very nearly missed out on the playoffs completely. Add on a slew of significant injuries to key players and throw in a coaching change for good measure, and the Caps underachieving this regular season is not entirely shocking.

All that is behind them now, except for the injuries as it is very uncertain if we have any goalies other than Braden Holtby to turn to. The Caps can now turn their attention to what they wanted to focus on the entire time—the playoffs.

In reality, the Caps have been playing playoff-caliber hockey for the past month. Almost every game was a must-win affair, and the pressure was immense. This trial by fire—as opposed to going into the playoffs on cruise control, as Isner mentioned—could benefit the Caps greatly. They should be ready to go from the moment the puck is dropped in the playoffs.

Another factor that makes the concept of the Caps as a No. 8 seed so intriguing—and alarming for their opposition—is that for the first time in their recent run of playoff appearances, they will not have to hold serve on home ice the first two games.

Instead, the Caps get to go into attack mode immediately. Instead of worrying about dropping a game at home and losing home-ice advantage, for the first time in the Ovechkin era the Caps get to try to steal a game or two on the road, take home ice from the opponent and go back to Verizon Center, where the Caps are very tough to beat.

As if all that were not enough to make you consider that, indeed, the Caps might be the most dangerous No. 8 seed ever, just take a look at who they would face in the opening round: the New York Rangers—for the third time in four years. For those keeping score, the Capitals have eliminated the Rangers both times they have met in the playoffs in the Ovechkin era, including last year in five games.

Are the Rangers a better team than they were a year ago? Absolutely. Have the Caps slipped in the past year? It would appear that way. But the Caps know how to play the Rangers in the playoffs.

More importantly, the Caps know how to beat the Rangers' stellar goalie, Henrik Lundqvist. This season, the teams have blown each other out once each, and then the Rangers won a tight one-goal game back in February.

The two teams close the season against each other on Saturday at Madison Square Garden. The Caps will be playing for a possible divisional championship. Don't think for one second the Rangers are going to mail that game in. They want to send a message to the Caps. No, they need to send a message to the Caps that this year will be different.

If the Caps win on Saturday, though, and they still end up as the No. 8 seed, the mind games will begin. The pressure, that immense pressure usually reserved for the Caps, will all be on the shoulders of the Rangers.

Unlike most No. 1 versus No. 8 pairings, there will be very little margin for error, if any, for the Rangers. Drop one game at home and they will be in trouble. Lose them both and they may not see MSG again until next season.

And if the Caps knock off the Rangers, they would quite possibly tangle with the defending champion Bruins next.

The Caps have fared very well against Boston this year, taking three of four from the B's. One of those wins came in a shootout. Another was a one goal victory. The Caps won both games in Boston. There is no reason to think that the Caps could not give the Bruins all they could handle, and then some.

And if it is the Caps versus the Penguins in the Conference Finals, all bets are off.

When the Capitals are on and playing their best, they can play with and beat any team in the NHL. How many No. 8 seeds have ever been able to make that claim?

They are battle tested from the struggles of the past month, they are hungry to prove to themselves and everyone else that they can succeed in the playoffs, there is hardly any pressure on them at all, and they know their likely playoff opposition very well.

It all adds up to one conclusion.

The Washington Capitals could very well end up being the most dangerous No. 8 seed in NHL playoff history.