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Washington will face Blue Jackets in 1st round of NHL playoffs

By Chris Cichon

WASHINGTON — The Washington Capitals will face the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round of the NHL playoffs.

Washington beat New Jersey on Saturday night 5-3, and Columbus fell in Nashville against the Predators 4-2. If Columbus had won, the Caps would have taken on the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Capitals will open their best of seven series at home, Games 1 and 2 are to be determined.

Now with Caps, Tuch recalls Holtby’s save on him in 2018 Final: ‘If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em’

By The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Tuch joins the Washington Capitals having already been part of a big moment in their history. It was Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final in 2018. Tuch, then a member of the Vegas Golden Knights, swept the puck toward an open net — only for Capitals goalie Braden Holtby to make a stupendous save with a desperate reach of his stick and blocker. Washington held on to win 3-2, knotting the series on the way to a five-game triumph. “I talked to Holtby in the line afterward and he said it was the luckiest save of his life,” Tuch said Friday. “So that made me feel a little bit better — but not really at the same time, because he was shaking my hand after winning the Cup.” Tuch was in his first full season that year. Now he's a three-time 30-goal scorer the Capitals acquired in a trade this week with Buffalo. He spent four seasons with Vegas and then five with the Sabres.
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