Washington Capitals: Top 3 final predictions for Stanley Cup Playoffs

Top 3 final Washington Capitals playoff predictions.

The Washington Capitals are back in the Stanley Cup playoffs but in a unique tournament that will be unprecedented with August hockey. They’ve spent a week inside the bubble in Toronto and played one exhibition game where they came out on top 3-2 over the Carolina Hurricanes.

Alex Ovechkin got things started with a goal right from the office to put the Caps up 1-0. Vincent Trochek tied it before the Caps retook the lead on a goal from Evgeny Kuznetsov that was a tic tac toe of sorts from Dmitry Orlov to Ovechkin to Kuznetsov.

Ovechkin added his second goal of the game in the second period off a pass from Tom Wilson to put the Caps up 3-1. The Canes got one back in the third but the Caps would hang on.

Braden Holtby got the start in goal for the first two periods and stopped 12 of the 13 shots he faced. The team gave way to Vitek Vanecek in the thrid as he made 13 saves on 14 shots.

Now that the exhibition is over it’s time to shift to the real thing beginning Monday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Here are our 3 final predictions before the quest for the Stanley Cup continues.