ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) - Given how they've played as a favorite, maybe it's for the best that the Washington Capitals are an underdog for a change.
The Capitals have been to the playoffs four times in the Alex Ovechkin era, and each time they were eliminated by a lower seed.
They are back for a fifth straight year, but this time they scraped in as a No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference. They open Thursday with Game 1 against the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins.
Defenseman Karl Alzner says he likes the feeling of being the underdog. He says the Capitals were overconfident as favorites - so maybe the Bruins will feel the same way.
