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Predictions for the Washington Capitals vs Tampa Bay Lightning series |
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Follow me on Twitter @ToddCordell
In this edition of the hotstove, we share our picks for the Washington Capitals vs Tampa Bay Lightning series.
Todd Cordell
As much as I'd love to see Alex Ovechkin get a chance to play for the Stanley Cup, I just don't see it happening.
Tampa Bay ran into the Hart Trophy favorite in the opening round and had the luxury of facing the NHL's best line in Round 2. They won eight of 10 games.
The Lightning are much deeper than the Capitals up front, they have the best defenseman in the series, and I don't think they're giving up much – if anything – between the pipes.
Washington's power play will probably cause some problems but I don't see them generating much offense beyond that.
I like the Lightning in six.
Mark Paul
On paper, the Tampa Bay Lightning are superior. However, in Washington's two previous series the same could be said of their opponents. For this reason, and that Brayden Holtby and Alex Ovechkin seem destined to win the Stanley Cup despite the 2017-18 Washington Capitals being the least desirable iteration of the team in recent memory.
Nicklas Backstrom must be healthy enough to play and have an impact if the Caps can pull of another upset. Holtby is going to have to be even better than he's been through the first two series. Finally, the Caps must find a way to entice the Bolts into taking bad penalties because the power play will be their ticket to victory.
Washington Capitals in 7.
Peter Tessier
Tampa in 6 games.
They are rolling now, have integrated the players from NY well and simply plays a style that does not engage in the opposition's strengths only their own. The Capitals might have a bump because of getting past the nemesis of Pittsburgh but it's unfortunate that they have to hit the next juggernaut- Tampa.
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