Sorting through the Eastern Conference playoff race to see who the Caps might be taking on in the first round
As of Tuesday night, the Capitals have officially secured a spot in the playoffs... but it's just about the only thing that has been decided in this year's race. Seven points currently separate the second-place Rangers from ninth-seed Philadelphia, and the fight for the two wild card spots in particular is getting tight. In other words, it's anyone's guess which team will end up drawing a first-round date against the Caps.
There's no harm in trying, though - so here's a look at the field, focusing on the teams with the best chance of finishing eighth:
Currently: 34-23-12 (80 points), 13 games remaining; 5th in the Metropolitan, 9th in the Eastern Conference
Season Series vs.