Washington DC

After postseason loss after grueling postseason loss, the Washington Capitals are finally poised to make a proper Stanley Cup run. 

Will they make it all the way or not?

That's the tough question everyone in Washington is asking their self. Most Washington fans, along with hockey analysts, think that Washington is a serious contender this year.

The Capitals aren't just a contender, they're the favorite.

The NHL offseason is almost over—training camps are set to begin across the continent during the next few weeks and the first preseason games shortly thereafter. Hockey has returned...almost.

But while there is still time, I'd like to take this opportunity to hand out all of the major NHL awards before a game is ever played in the 2011-12 season. Some of these predictions are a little crazy, some of them are far more likely than others, but all are meant in good fun.

The Stanley Cup is not included, as it is not a major individual award.  

During free agencies and trade deadlines of the past, Washington Capitals' General Manager George McPhee has often earned himself the name, Sleepy McPhee. 

Not this year. McPhee just got serious.

After three consecutive years of postseason failure and disappointment, McPhee has finally realized what the flaws in his organization are, and he is now doing whatever it takes to fix them.

Every September die-hard hockey fans look forward to drafting season for fantasy hockey. We get so excited to stack our teams and then we realize that after the first round almost every player you imagined would be on your team is gone.

So here it is, the Ultimate (Or should it be called impossible?) Fantasy team, line by line. Most of the entries will be obvious until we get a bit deeper, but hey, we can still have fun with this can't we?

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If history has taught us anything about the Washington Capitals in the playoffs, it's that this team has trouble finishing what it started. It's for that reason that the Capitals should enter Saturday's Game 5 with the Rangers with the mindset that the contest is a "must-win" situation for the team.

For all of the teams in the playoffs, they know that they'll have to play well at home to win their series. Whether you're an eight seed or a one seed, several home wins are nearly vital for a victory in the best-of-seven series.

On the eve of the NHL's 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs, many fans and talking heads in Washington D.C. were fixated not on Game 1 against the New York Rangers, but on the job security of Bruce Boudreau.

Never has a coach with a .679 regular-season winning percentage faced such criticism from the fanbase.

In Washington's first game of the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs, rookie goaltender Michal Neuvirth displayed great presence of mind after he surrendered a wide open crank from New York's Matt Gilroy. Regardless of the Ranger's sole tally of the game, Neuvy kept his chin up and continued to make tremendous saves.

The Capitals have struggled in the postseason in recent years. Whether it is losing to Montreal as the one seed or bowing out to the Penguins on more than one occasion, the playoffs and the Capitals have not gone together very well.

Yes I am going to talk to you about playoffs, but not just any playoffs, the NHL playoffs.  The NHL playoffs are hands down the most exciting playoffs in professional sports.