Caps goalie Jose Theodore is well-versed in first-round playoff upsets. He’s won first-round series as an eight seed (with Montreal) and twice as a seven seed (with Montreal and then Colorado).
But that’s not surprising. Of the 60 series of the NHL’s current playoff format, the lowest two seeds have combined to win 22 times. A hot goalie can carry teams.
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The Caps have never been a top seed; but they have won as a No. 7 and lost as a No. 2.
By comparison, only three No. 8 seeds have ever won a first-round series in the NBA playoffs — and only once in a seven-game set.
“You like to think that you’re going in on a good roll,” Caps coach Bruce Boudreau said. “But I don’t think it makes any difference — as long as you’re in. When you’re in you got a chance. And that’s the main thing.”
It’s also a dangerous thing.
