Washington Capitals Playoffs: Top 3 reasons they will upset Panthers

#2 Experience

Another edge the Capitals have is playoff experience. Even though the Panthers won the President’s Trophy, that’s the only pressure they’re facing as it’s their series to lose.

Evgeny Kuznetsov even admitted that to the media after Monday’s practice:

"“I’m actually a believer of the opposite. I believe the more young guys you have the less pressure it gives to the team because the other teams, they know how it felt and I always believe the opposite. The more young guys you have it’s a little bit easier for the team.”"

T.J. Oshie believed that playoff experience, the joy of a Cup and the heartbreak of defeat, could help:

"“We are pretty experienced in there to know that once you get to an NHL playoffs, the gap in playoffs is so much closer than in the regular season. Now, if we don’t play to our best ability and don’t play our game, they are probably going to score a lot of goals so they have that ability. But we have that ability also, if we are playing our game and playing as a team and taking care of each other and making smart puck decisions.”"

A lot of people think the Caps having an old team would be a disadvantage but experience always helps.