Are Capitals pretenders or real contenders?

[BallardEra]

maybe even 8 or 9 with all the bad trades and slow washed up players!

You'd think that the Pens were in the playoffs.

 

[stephenball]

So watch the final be Jets vs caps. Which i would be fine with. Nothing against either team.

Honestly it would be a pretty great finals, the teams are kind of the mirrors of each other this year, even both their games went to OT (Jets won both, but no 3v3 in the playoffs)

Honestly it’s a grab bag for the Caps this year, have no idea what will happen. It kind of feels like because so many people are calling their season a fluke (I think the roster is vastly improved over the past few years) it’s like they weirdly have very little pressure which could help. They’ve proven to be very resilient this year. Their record when giving I the first goal is incredible, they’ve only lost three games in a row once this season, and outside of that they’ve only lost two in a row three times (edit: four times now). Although who knows, all it takes is a bad stretch of four games in the playoffs to be bounced

 

[Czechboy]

calling their season a fluke

I think they've amazing and it isn't a fluke. Everything fell into place beautifully. I'd honestly be happy for them and Ovi if they won it all. Same with Helle and the Jet's bringing the Cup back to Canada. Both amazing stories that I'd happily follow.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

It's always hard to judge Cinderella teams. One one hand, they could get swept in round 1 and on the other hand they could go all the way to the cup final.

 

[saintunspecified]

pretender, etc. is all about narrative. of the metro bracket including Capitals, Hurricanes, Devils (setting aside WC2 for the moment) only 1 has won the bracket in recent years - the Hurricanes. and, yet, if the hurricanes win the narrative could be that they may finally turn the corner. and if they don't, it's kind of a continued disappointment for the Aho-Slavin Canes. If the Capitals or Devils win it, it's a changing of the guard.

imo there's such a huge difference between the capitals and the teams duking it out for WC2, that it would shock me for them to lose a first round series. there's no team that might be WC2 that the Capitals shouldn't push around.

 

[Viqsi]

I can’t conceive any 1st place team being called a pretender. The meaning behind that word indicates that they are not to be taken seriously.

Even if they lose spectacularly by getting swept in the 1st round, that still wouldn’t make them pretenders.

Tampa got swept by CBJ in 2019 after having one of the most dominant regular seasons of all time. They proceeded to win back-to-back Cups in 2020/21.

So basically y'all're saying you want us to reach WC#2 and bring the brooms again?

 

[Thechozen1]

It’ll be a Washington vs Colorado Stanley Cup Final

 

[Lt Dan]

Pretenders, because I'm biased and still hate PLD.

There is nothing wrong with that. In fact it should be activity encouraged

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

So basically y'all're saying you want us to reach WC#2 and bring the brooms again?

If that’s the magic trick to guarantee B2B wins, then be my guest

 

[NVious]

It's always hard to judge Cinderella teams. One one hand, they could get swept in round 1 and on the other hand they could go all the way to the cup final.

And if the Bruins taught us anything, it's that the season truly means nothing.

 

[Edmonton East]

Winnipeg - Pretender
Dallas - Contender
Toronto - Pretender
Carolina - 2nd round exit

So you think the Caps are Pretenders....yet have Carolina as a round 2 exit. Which would at least put the Caps in the ECF (most likely). Doesn't really make sense.

 

[Johnny Tomala]

Pretenders for sure. Just like Jets.

 

[SkinsFan09]

Their biggest flaw is the power play. They have to fix it before the playoffs it's a disaster. Not sure why they don't give Protas PP time.

 

[Coldnwindy]

They're contenders. I reckon both the #1 and #2 PDO teams will reach the finals this year, like they did in 2011.

 

[Muffin]

So you think the Caps are Pretenders....yet have Carolina as a round 2 exit. Which would at least put the Caps in the ECF (most likely). Doesn't really make sense.

Because there’s no way the Caps would ever lose to Montreal right? Has that ever happened before? Can you refresh my memory?

Being higher in the standings doesn’t mean you’rea better team. Playoffs are different.

 

[Deno]

Over the last month the Jets played the Caps twice and won both games. In both games the Jets may have played their best games of the year and only won in fake 3 on 3 OT in both games. The Caps are the real deal.
Right now I'd say that only the Panthers have a chance to get past them.

 

[Deno]

I think they have a good team in the regular season, but their foundation is weak. I see them being out as early as 2nd round. I do think they have Stanley Cup potential, but I also see them being out as early as round two.

As a Jets fan I think Florida repeats. And I live, shout True North, and always say Go Jets Go and want the Jets to win the cup!

As a Jet fan myself I do not see what you see. I'll give Florida the advantage because they are the champs but I think the Caps have a very good chance of making the finals.

 

[Deno]

Watching the Caps Jets game the other night ..

Lots of us Caps fans were commenting how physically big the Jets are, especially up the middle. Both teams are so well rounded. If the Caps are top 5 in all 3 units - goaltending, D and scoring ... Jets are No. 1 in all those.

Jets > Caps

As a Jet fan I disagree. When the Jets play their A game they win easily no matter who they play. That is, except the Caps. In both games against the Caps the Jet played their A game and had to win in OT to get past them. I think the Caps are a real threat to win the cup.

 

[Deno]

It’ll be a Washington vs Colorado Stanley Cup Final

I doubt this.
I do not see the Avs beating both the Stars and Jets to get out of the Central.