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Washington Capitals: Breaking down the toughest opponents in 2019

ByMichael Marzzacco|
TAMPA, FL - MARCH 30: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates his 50th goal of the season with teammates and against goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on March 30, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/NHLI via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - MARCH 30: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates his 50th goal of the season with teammates and against goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on March 30, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/NHLI via Getty Images)
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Carolina Hurricanes

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 24: Brock McGinn #23 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates with his teammates after scoring the game winning goal in the second overtime period against the Washington Capitals in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 24, 2019 in Washington, DC. The Hurricanes defeated the Capitals 4-3 in the second overtime period to move on to Round Two of the Stanley Cup playoffs. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 24: Brock McGinn #23 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates with his teammates after scoring the game winning goal in the second overtime period against the Washington Capitals in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 24, 2019 in Washington, DC. The Hurricanes defeated the Capitals 4-3 in the second overtime period to move on to Round Two of the Stanley Cup playoffs. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)

Washington sees them: Oct. 5, Dec. 28, Jan. 3, 13

The Washington Capitals toughest opponent is the one who ended their season just a few months ago. The Carolina Hurricanes aka “Bunch of Jerks” are back and better than than the team that took the NHL by storm last season.

The Capitals swept the Hurricanes in the regular season last year, winning each of the four games including two late in the regular season. While the Capitals were the favorite on paper, the Hurricanes were possession darlings and their hot streak down the stretch just to get in the big dance did not make them intimidated going up against the defending Stanley Cup champs.

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 24: Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (70) makes a save in the second overtime on a shot by Carolina Hurricanes right wing Saku Maenalanen (8) on April 24, 2019, at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 24: Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (70) makes a save in the second overtime on a shot by Carolina Hurricanes right wing Saku Maenalanen (8) on April 24, 2019, at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Hurricanes added Patrick Marleau, Erik Haula, and re-signed Petr Mrazek and Sebastian Aho. The Hurricanes will give the Capitals and Penguins the biggest run for their money in the race to the top of the metropolitan division. In the end though, they may additionally be the toughest opponent in the playoffs once again.

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 24: Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) hits Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brett Pesce (22) in the first period on April 24, 2019, at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 24: Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) hits Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brett Pesce (22) in the first period on April 24, 2019, at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

After all, the spring was when the Hurricanes caught everybody off guard. After defeating the Capitals in double overtime in Game 7, they stunned the Barry Trotz-led New York Islanders with a four-game sweep in the second round.

These five opponents will be the toughest opponents for the Capitals in the 2019-20 season. Which opponents do you think will be the biggest challenge for the Capitals this upcoming season.

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