NHL Playoffs 2012: 6 Ways the Washington Capitals Can Beat the Boston Bruins

The Washington Capitals have gone from the brink of missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs to a popular dark horse candidate for a deep playoff run.

Before the Caps can even entertain the notion of exorcising their past playoff demons, they will have to figure out a way to defeat the defending champions, the Boston Bruins.

That will be no easy task. The Bruins have all the pieces in place to be the first repeat champions since the Red Wings accomplished that feat in 1998 when they swept the Caps.

The task will be difficult, but not impossible, especially for a Caps team that might be peaking at the perfect time. The Caps are not your typical number seven seed and they took three of four from the Bruins during the regular season.

The playoffs, however, are a different matter entirely, something the Capitals know all too well.

Can the Caps pull off this upset?

Yes, they can—and here are six ways they can do so.

1. Control the Tempo

Two years ago, we would have been saying the exact opposite thing.

But, here in 2012, if the Capitals hope to pull off this upset they cannot allow themselves to get in a shootout with the deeper, more physical and, arguably, more talented Bruins. Doing so would play to Boston's strengths, and that is a recipe for disaster for Washington.

Some of the stats for the Bruins are intimidating to say the least. They have scored six or more goals 13 times this season. When it is five-on-five, the Bruins are the top scoring team in the NHL. They have six guys who have scored 20 goals, the most of any team in the NHL. They are physically imposing, and with their depth they can just keep up the pressure until, eventually, the opposition cracks.

The Caps must avoid this to have a chance. They need to dictate the pace of the games and control the tempo. They would be wise to watch film of how the Canadiens did the same thing to them two years ago, or how the Lightning dictated the pace and tempo of the series against them last year.

And this can be done as it plays into the type of style Dale Hunter has tried to bring to the Caps this season. It worked very well for the Caps against the Bruins in the regular season.

If the Caps can stand up to the pressure the Bruins will bring, and if they can slow that attack down some, the Caps can win this series.

2. The Capitals Top Line Must Come Up Big

Probably the biggest matchup of this series, at least from the Capitals' perspective, has to be their top line of Alexander Ovechkin, Troy Brouwer and Brooks Laich against the Boston defense—more specifically, Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg.

If the Caps are to have any chance at all, Ovie has to continue to be on the torrid pace he was at the end of the season.

But, it has to be about more than just Ovechkin. Brooks Laich guaranteed a playoff berth for the Caps. If the Caps are going to do more than just get to the playoffs though, Laich will have to do more than talk—he will have to produce.

The same has to be said for Troy Brouwer, who has come up with some big goals this year and has rightfully earned his spot on the Capitals top line.

Ovie cannot do it all for Washington, nor should he have to. Too many of the Caps' prior playoff failures were because no one else, besides Ovechkin, seemed to show up. If Laich and Brouwer can do some damage, it will force Chara and Seidenberg to at least think about shifting their focus some.

That could open things up for Ovechkin to do what he does best.

For the Capitals to have a chance, the top line must come up big. If they do, the Capitals can absolutely win.

If they don't, this series will be over quickly.

3. Alex Semin, Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Green Must Show Up

If there are three guys on the Washington Capitals who might hold the key to this upset in their hands, it would have to be Alex Semin, Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Green.

For years now, Caps fans have watched Semin, Backstrom and Green put up huge numbers in the regular season only to vanish once the playoffs started.

This year has been a bit different as Backstrom and Green were injured for long periods of time. They are both now, however, as healthy as they have been in a while.

If the Capitals can get production out of Semin, Backstrom and Green, the lift it would give the Caps would be enormous.

It would give the Caps some much needed depth as far as a scoring threat and would take some of the pressure off of the top line.

More importantly, however, would be the confidence boost the Capitals would get if their playoff sleeping giants suddenly awoke.

Momentum is always a key factor in these types of series and if Semin, Backstrom and Green step up and finally show up in the playoffs, it just might give the Caps the belief they can indeed pull this upset off.

For the Bruins, having the Caps take momentum and control of the series could spell the end of their reign as champions.

4. An Unlikely Hero Must Step Forward

For the Capitals to upset the Bruins, someone must step forward and be a hero. It does not have to be as far as scoring goals either. Someone to actually match the physicality of the Bruins, in a series like this, would be almost as important as a goal scorer.

The most likely candidate for the job would seem to be Jason Chimera. Chimera was a huge factor in last year's five-game elimination of the Rangers. Chimera had perhaps his best regular season ever as he reached the 20 goal mark. He is also not afraid to lay a big hit on someone or, if necessary, drop the gloves.

If Chimera can do to the Bruins what he did to the Rangers last season, then this series will be very competitive.

Elsewhere on the Caps roster, there are opportunities for players to step forward and be unlikely heroes.

Mike Knuble is such a player. He has had a disappointing season by his standards, but Knuble has been an effective postseason player in the past. If Knuble can contribute, it would be a huge boost for the Caps, who need to find some depth in their lineup to counter the Bruins' advantage in this category.

Joel Ward is another player who could redeem a somewhat sub-par regular season by stepping up against the Bruins. Ward's great playoff run for Nashville last year is one of the reasons the Caps pursued him in the off season. If Ward can put up similar numbers this year, the Caps' chances increase dramatically.

Mathieu Perreault is another player who has had flashes of being dangerous this past season.

Marcus Johansson is another player who can have an impact. Johansson played fairly well in the playoffs last year, and he did tally a goal and an assist the last time the Capitals and Bruins played.

For the Caps to upset the Bruins, they need to find a way to match the Bruins depth.

Finding some scoring from a potentially unlikely source would be a great place to start.

5. Braden Holtby Must Give the Caps a Chance to Win

Suffice it to say, the Caps goaltending situation is not good—and that is putting it mildly.

Thomas Vokoun is still out, and there is no indication he will be coming back soon.

Michal Neuvirth, who stole the series against the Rangers last year, is also injured, and no one is quite sure how serious that injury is.

Thus, the weight of the world falls on the shoulders of Braden Holtby.

Holtby's job in this series is not to outplay Tim Thomas. That is unrealistic.

But, if Holtby can hold his own against Thomas and the rest of the Bruins, the resulting lift in the confidence of the Caps would be immeasurable.

After all, no one is expecting Holtby to perform well under the circumstances. That is a lot of pressure to place upon a rookie goalie.

But, if he does step up and at least plays on a comparable level to Thomas, this give the Caps a true chance at winning this series.

If Thomas is not on his game, it really opens up the Pandora's Box of possibilities.

The Bruins are expected to have a staggering advantage in net. If Holtby can neutralize that by playing well, this upset could happen.

6. Steal One in Boston

For the first time in the Ovechkin era, the Caps will not open a series with home ice advantage.

Yes, we all know that home ice in the Stanley Cup Playoffs means virtually nothing.

Still, the Capitals are in a unique position here where they have a chance to steal one in Boston, return home to Verizon Center (where they are very tough to beat), capture the momentum and, perhaps, take complete control of the series.

For the record, the Caps won both games in Boston this year, so this is very possible.

If the Caps can steal a game in Boston, it could change the entire complexion of the series.

Boston will be under quite a bit of pressure to begin with. Lose one in Boston and that pressure will increase.

Lose both games in Boston and that pressure might become unbearable.

For the Caps to have the best chance of pulling off this upset, they need to win one of the first two games in Boston.