2019-2020 Stanley Cup Playoff Qualifiers: Everything You Need to Know
The National Hockey League returned to playing August 1, 2020. The 24 teams that were in the Toronto and Edmonton “bubble” cities participated in a round robin or qualifier round. The round robin teams (already in the playoffs and playing for seeds) consisted of, in the Eastern Conference: Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lighting, Philadelphia Flyers. In the Western Conference: Dallas Stars, St. Louis Blues, Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights. The teams played one game against each team in their same conferences.
The results of the round robin: East (Toronto bubble)
- Flyers (3-0-0, 6 points)
- Tampa Bay Lighting (2-1-0, 4 points)
- Washington Capitals (1-1-1, 3 points)
- Boston Bruins (0-3-0, 0 points)
West (Edmonton bubble)
- Vegas Golden Knight (3-0-0, 6 points)
- Colorado Avalanche (2-1-0, 4 points)
- Dallas Stars (1-2-0, 2 points)
- St. Louis Blues (0-2-1, 1 points)
The qualifier round was to decide which teams will join the round robin teams in the actual Stanley Cup Playoffs. The teams played a best 3 out of 5 to determine the winner. The series: Toronto Maple Leafs vs Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins vs Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers vs Carolina Hurricanes, New York Islanders vs Florida Panthers, Chicago Blackhawks vs Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames vs Winnipeg Jets, Arizona Coyotes vs Nashville Predators, Minnesota Wild vs Vancouver Canucks.
Results of the qualifying round for the East is the Blue Jackets, Hurricanes, Islanders, and notable upset Canadiens coming out on top. For the West: Blackhawks, Flames, Coyotes, and Canucks move on to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
First Round matchups to look forward to for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which start on August 11:
Flyers vs Canadiens
Capitals vs Islanders
Bruins vs Hurricanes
Lighting vs Blue Jackets
Knights vs Blackhawks
Avalanche vs Coyotes
Stars vs Flames
Blues vs Canucks
Best Wins for the Capitals’ 2019-2020 Season (so far)
5. Samsonov Comes Up Big in the Heart of Texas
The Capitals have always struggled to pull out a win against the Dallas Stars when on the road. The rookie backup goalie Ilya Samsonov saved twenty four out of the twenty-five shots ending the night with a .960 save percentage. The Capitals goals came from Wilson, Carlson, Ovechkin, and two from Kuznetsov.
4. Offensive Surge Against to Beat the Sabers
The Capitals beat the Buffalo Sabers six to one when they met November 1st. The Caps got off to a hot start potting in four goals in the first period. Branden Holtby saved twenty-nine out of the thirty shots he faced and laded a .967 save percentage.
The next wins have something in common: all come back wins. The Caps are one of the top teams in the NHL for not only goals scored in the third period, but also goals scored with an empty net/man advantage.
3. Capitals Bite Back Against the Sharks
T.J Oshie scores with just fourteen point seven seconds left to tie the game after the Caps give up four goals to San Jose, three of those Sharks goals from Evander Kane. Despite being down multiple times in the game, the Caps pull out a thrilling win in overtime from a great goal by Lars Eller
2. Ovechkin: King of the Kings
Alex Ovechkin finish the L.A Kings of in the third period when he gets a natural hattrick. The Caps were down by one going into the third; Ovechkin scores three goals in the span of five minutes to lead the Caps to a four two victory. This game also marked the eleventh time Ovechkin has reach the 40-goal mark in his career. This is just one of many hattricks he achieved this reason.
1. Don’t Poke the Bear
Where to begin in this over the New York Islanders. The Capitals get off to a rocky start in the first and second period being down four to one. Devon Toews, after scoring the Isles fourth goal, proceeded to mock Kuznetsov bird celebration. You know that old say: don’t poke the bear? The Capitals come out hot in the third leading to the Islanders giving up five goals in that one period. Oh, and not to mention Ovechkin gets a consecutive hattrick leading to him passing Mario Lemieux for 10th place on the NHL’s all-time goal list. This is without a doubt was the most exciting game of the season and it did not hurt seeing the looks of shock on the Islanders faces.
Unfinished Business 