Even though I believe it to be highly unlikely, pretty much some stuff I put into a recent blog was almost said word for word by Columbus Blue Jacket forward R.J. Umberger. In the interview he said that he thinks that the Washington Capitals don't have what it takes to win the Stanley Cup because if they make it to the finals that they can be shut down by any Western Conference team.
There is also evidence to support this theory. If you happen to catch the game between the Vancouver Canucks and Washington Capitals from this year, you will understand. Alexander Ovechkin in that game didn't even have a shot and was completely shut down like a nerd on prom night (No, I do not speak from personal experience about the prom night).
The Canucks did to him what they did to Sidney Crosby or any other high skilled player from the East that they play against, shut the player down with a five man unit and play them hard. If a team can do this against the Washington Capitals they can beat them.
However having said this, Washington is far from a one trick pony. The Capitals also boast a great offensive line up with Niklas Backstrom, Alexander Semin, Mike Green, Brendan Morrison, and Mike Knuble has been a great fit on a line with Ovechkin.
The one question I do have with Washington though is their goaltending. Jose Theodore who has been doing very well this calendar year (He has yet to lose a game in regulation), has been known to fold under pressure. I have seen Theodore collapse in the past and that can be any teams undoing, it won't matter how many goals the Caps can score if opponents can put more behind Theodore.
In conclusion though, I see the Capitals making it to the Stanley Cup finals, it depends who they are against if they win it. If they end up against the Vancouver Canucks, the Detroit Red Wings, or the Phoenix Coyotes, the Sea of Red may have to wait another year for the Cup.
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