NHL Playoffs 2012: Capitals Turning into Best Story of NHL's Second Season

Don’t look now, but the No. 7 Washington Capitals are finally playing like the team so many experts thought they were going to be in years past.

After a lackluster regular season, the typically offensive-minded Capitals have morphed into a defensive squad that feasts on the mistakes of their opponent. They head back to Washington with the home-ice advantage and all of the momentum in the series.

The No. 2-seeded Boston Bruins averaged 3.17 goals per game during the regular season (second in NHL), but the stingy Caps defense has held them to a grand total of two goals in a combined nine games. Most of the credit goes to goalie Braden Holtby.

Forced into action after injuries to Tomas Vokoun and Michal Neuvirth, Holtby has saved 72 of 74 shots. He is beginning to get that look in his eye of a red-hot goalie who peaks at the absolute perfect time. If he keeps up his current pace, the offense is not going to be asked to do much.  

Considering they are a team that features four incredible offensive threats in Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Green, the offense is going to start scoring more goals eventually.

With defenseman Adam McQuaid not scheduled to make the flight to Washington for the next two games, the Bruins are now lacking depth. With the grueling games the Caps have given them thus far, this is not a good thing.

The Capitals are playing with house money at this point and it looks to be what the team needed all along. Without the expectations to do much, the Caps are going to be shocking the NHL world by knocking out the defending champs in the first round.

It’s funny what low expectations and a hot goalie can do for a team in the playoffs. That’s why the NHL’s second season can get so wild. 

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