Washington Capitals secure top seed, dodge Columbus Blue Jackets in Stanley Cup playoffs opener

With the Stanley Cup Playoffs in sight, the Washington Capitals secured the top spot in the Eastern Conference—and by doing so, avoided a highly threatening first-round foe. Standing at 51-21-9, the Caps are wrapping up the regular season with tailwinds working in their favor, and their fans are also sleeping better, knowing they'll begin their postseason quest against the Montreal Canadiens instead of the rampaging Columbus Blue Jackets.


The Washington Capitals’ last regular-season game is against none other than the Pittsburgh Penguins, the culmination of a rivalry that has been defined by two legends: Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby. It's the 73rd time the two all-time greats meet head-to-head, with Crosby reaching 93 points in those contests and Alex Ovechkin close at 67. But only Alex Ovechkin will carry on into the playoffs this time, as the Penguins fall out of the playoffs in what has otherwise been an atypical losing season under Coach Mike Sullivan.

After a midseason slump, the Capitals have rediscovered their groove in time. The recent 3-1 victory against the Islanders was preceded by Dylan Strome's hat trick and 32 saves by Charlie Lindgren. Strome has been setting personal marks throughout the year with Ovechkin providing confidence on the first line, as Nic Dowd recently signed a two-year extension to continue supporting the penalty kill.
These strong performances have reminded fans that the team is primed for a powerful playoff push. And when Washington fans discovered they'd be hosting the opening series of the playoffs against the Canadiens rather than the hot-streaking Blue Jackets, relief washed over the fanbase like a swift slapshot.
Though Washington's regular-season success and first-place finish are certainly much to be proud of, the team and its fans realize that the real work now begins. A series against Montreal might not be the worst-case scenario, but the pressure is still on.
Also read: Goal 895: Alex Ovechkin becomes a legend on ice—but he’s not done yet
If Ovechkin, Strome, and the crew can extend their current momentum, the Caps may be set up for a deep postseason run. Until then, however, Capitals Nation is happy with one straightforward reality: Columbus is someone else's issue.