The Capitals (27-20-6) will play their first game since Jan. 31, a 4-3 overtime win against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Since then, they've re-signed forwards Dylan Strome (who has been one of the best offseason acquisitions with 11 goals and 25 assists in 52 games) and Sonny Milano. I still think they are going to add a piece or two before the NHL Trade Deadline on March 3 as they are in the thick of the playoff race. But they have forwards Alex Ovechkin (32 goals), Nicklas Backstrom, and goalie Darcey Kuemper, who won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche last season.
The Bruins (39-7-5) have the most complete team in the League. They defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 on Feb. 1, their most recent game, to end a three-game skid (0-2-1). Boston has the best goaltending tandem in the NHL in Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman. Defenseman Charlie McAvoy has been great, and I think Hampus Lindholm is right up there for the Norris Trophy as best defenseman in the NHL for the job he did when McAvoy was out to start the season. The Bruins are a top-10 team in all major categories, are more than a one-line team and have center depth, something that plagued them last season.