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Which Eastern Conference Match-Up is the Washington Capitals Biggest Threat?

By CJ Witt

TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 23: Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) battles for a puck between Toronto Maple Leafs right wing William Nylander (29) and Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Travis Dermott (23) during the second period in a game between the Washington Capitals and the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario Canada. The Toronto Maple Leafs won 6-3. (Photo by Nick Turchiaro/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 23: Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) battles for a puck between Toronto Maple Leafs right wing William Nylander (29) and Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Travis Dermott (23) during the second period in a game between the Washington Capitals and the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario Canada. The Toronto Maple Leafs won 6-3. (Photo by Nick Turchiaro/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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RALEIGH, NC – SEPTEMBER 29: Washington Capitals right wing Garnet Hathaway (21) and Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Roland McKeown (55) fight during an NHL Preseason game between the Washington Capitals and the Carolina Hurricanes on September 29, 2019 at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – SEPTEMBER 29: Washington Capitals right wing Garnet Hathaway (21) and Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Roland McKeown (55) fight during an NHL Preseason game between the Washington Capitals and the Carolina Hurricanes on September 29, 2019 at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Carolina Hurricanes

I don’t think there is a big threat to Washington in the Metropolitan Division. All the toughest match-ups in the eastern conference come in the Atlantic division with the teams we’ve mentioned before.

Then again, to not mention the team that knocked you out the year before seems a bit foolish. Carolina beating the Capitals was no fluke win. The better team will win a seven game series every time. Last year in that match-up the Hurricanes were the better team. That means they’re a threat.

Record 4-0-0

Corsi For% – 48.28%

Scoring Chance For% – 47.34%

High Danger Corsi For% – 44.57%

Shooting% – 12.22%

Save% – 95.45%

High Danger Save% – 89.29%

Power Play% – 22.2%

Penalty Kill% – 72.7%

Just like all the other teams these stats are only five-on-five in the regular season. No playoff stats. The advanced stats for that series was even uglier with Carolina having a Corsi For% around 60%.

These stats kind of tell you the same things. Carolina was a hard-working team which allowed them to control play for most games they played. That hard-working style gave them scoring chances and high danger chances. If not for the high shooting and save percentages it’s likely a series that would have been a whole lot closer than 4-0 in the regular season.

Those high percentages led to the Capitals outscoring the Hurricanes 11-4 while 5v5. While the PK still wasn’t anything to write home about the power play was still good. That likely made up for any issues the penalty kill had.

It’s tough to say how good the Canes will be this coming season, I could see them going both ways, up or down. If they take a step back then that’s obviously one threat avoided for the Capitals. If they improve even more they might be an even worse match-up in the Metro division. Only time will tell, but right now they are the biggest threat in the Metro.

light. Related Story. Preseason wrap up

Which of these teams is the hardest match-up? Or is there another team that could be a sneaky threat?

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