NHL Playoff Predictions 2012: Why Boston Will Be Bounced in the First Round

The NHL playoffs are here, which means that drama is set to unfold. Every year, a top team falters in the first round. Maybe it is because of a poor matchup, maybe it is because the team did not play up to how they played in the season.

In looking at the matchups for the first round, I believe that the second-ranked Boston Bruins will not make it out of the first round. They are set to face the Washington Capitals, and I believe the Capitals are hungry enough, talented enough and experienced to to take out the defending Stanley Cup champions.

First off, the Bruins are 1-3 against the Capitals this year. Although the games were close, they obviously did not get the job done against Alexander Ovechkin and company.

Moreover, Nicklas Backstrom will be back in the lineup for Washington—a piece they have sorely missed for the past couple of months. He may be the missing link for Washington in terms of winning more games.

Sure, the Capitals made the playoffs, but as the seventh seed.

Even more than that, the Capitals are a very seasoned playoff team, which is always a tough matchup for any team in the first round. Although the Bruins are similarly seasoned, they are facing a motivated, underdog team that believes they can win. That combination of experience and motivation is a recipe for a Capitals upset.

The Bruins are a great team, but in terms of star power, the Capitals have more talented players. Nicklas Backstrom, Troy Brouwer, Mike Green, Alexander Ovechkin and Alexander Semin, just to name a few, are greater all-around players than the top Boston players. This may not hold much weight, but when you have that many guys who are playmakers, offensive production comes easier.

Alexander Ovechkin is a stud in the playoffs, racking up 50 points in 37 games played. In addition to his offensive productivity, he makes everybody around him better. He can carry his own weight as well, using his strength to force bad plays and push other players around.

Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin have both had pretty similar postseason histories in their careers. Together, both have played 37 playoff games, combining for 24 goals (12 each) and 38 assists. These are the two men, other than Ovechkin, that could help bury the Bruins.

Similarly, as a defenseman, Mike Green has been very productive in the postseason. Green has 25 points in 36 career playoff games, a high number for a guy running the blue line. His presence brings an all-around attack that that rivals any team in the NHL.

Goalie Braden Holtby will need to put on a very good performance, but he definitely has it in him. He has a great team in front of him, but he will need a top-notch performance to give his team a chance. Either way, he is talented and has the ability to hang with the best of them, given the opportunity.

And so the playoffs begin. I may be right and I may be wrong. The Washington Capitals have all the tools to make a first-round upset of the Boston Bruins happen. The Bruins are a fantastic team, but they will need to give a wholehearted effort if they want to beat the scrappy, talented Capitals.