Caps are a top 5 team as long as they can get good goaltending. VV got hung out to dry last night so not upset about that. He's been really good the last 2 months. Samsonov has game break talent. Just need to stay healthy and get more time.

i agree. i like VV more but Sammy ceiling might be higher. Im hoping yesterday was just an off night. Capitals struggle vs NewYork teams lol idk why

We go as far as our goaltending will allow us to go and as far as Evgeny Kuznetsov can take us. We know what we're getting in the playoffs with just about every other skater on the roster. We've seen what happens when Kuznetsov is on his game. I really think the key to us going on a deep run is Laviolette finding a way to bring out 2018 Kuznetsov.

If I could like this twice, I would. So far Lav has seemed to find the old Kuzy overall.

But I think it still comes down to what VV and Sammy can do. We don't have the old reliable in Holtby anymore. Despite his overall decline the last few years with the Caps, he still played very well/clutch in the 2018 cup run (we'll see if our young goalies can perform similarly)...plus there's The Save™️.

Spot on. Up until 2019, Holtby was statistically one of, if not the, best playoff goaltender ever. Granted the Carolina and NYI series were tough for him (if it wasn't for two weak goals we would have easily won Game 7 against Carolina and walked to the Finals), so I'm intrigued to see our youngsters in there. If I were to make my best guess, I'd say we roll the hot hand of whichever goalie is playing the best at that time. I'd love for this to be the coming out party of Samsonov where he shows that first round talent, but VV feels like the safer pick.