Washington Capitals Are Built for the Playoffs Under Head Coach Dale Hunter

These Washington Capitals are different.

Each of the last three years, the Capitals have rolled through the regular season, collecting three Southeast Division titles, two No. 1 seeds, and one Presidents' Trophy. And what do they have to show for their regular-season dominance?

• Two Game 7 losses on home ice. 
• One blown 3-1 series lead. 
• Zero appearances beyond the conference semis. 

Those Capitals teams, coached by Bruce Boudreau, were a powerhouse on offense but a liability on defense. Their defensive deficiencies were hidden during the regular season, but exposed in the postseason. And this kept the Capitals from realizing the ultimate goal. 

Boudreau's system was ineffective during the postseason, and his message fell on deaf ears when he tried to alter it. He was fired in late November, haunted by his playoff failures. Boudreau was replaced by Dale Hunter, and the Capitals legend immediately implemented his own system:

• Responsibility in the defensive zone. 
• Trap in the neutral zone. 
• Aggressive forecheck. 
• Cycle in the offensive zone.  
• Traffic in front of the opposing goalie. 

That sounds like a pretty good recipe for the playoffs. 

Now it's time for the Washington Capitals to taste playoff success.