While it was tough on Bruce Boudreau earlier this season to return to Anaheim for the first time since being fired, the Wild coach still has a soft spot for the Washington Capitals.
"I love that town," he said of returning to the D.C. area last week with the Wild. "I never would ever thought of it because it doesn't have a state beside its name. D.C., right? But it's the most lively, energetic city I've ever seen."
Boudreau, elevated from Hershey to Washington during the 2007-08 season, won four division titles with the Capitals and the Jack Adams Award as Coach of the Year in 2008.
"This was at the time the greatest place in the world for me," Boudreau said. "It was the first chance I got to coach in the NHL. [Former GM] George McPhee treated me unbelievable. I'll never forget it."
Over the years, the Capitals have floundered in the playoffs, with many questioning whether Alex Ovechkin has the ability to lead the Caps to the promise land.
Boudreau, for one, is a huge fan of "Ovi" and believes this version of the Caps has as good a chance as ever to win it all.
Boudreau said the Caps have "no weaknesses." He sees an All-World goalie in Braden Holtby, a tremendous blue line led by John Carlson and Matt Niskanen and the biggest, deepest fourth line in the NHL. Oh, is there any top line as good as Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie, Boudreau wonders.
Boudreau adores Backstrom, who roasted the Wild in Tuesday's 4-2 victory at the Verizon Center. Backstrom assisted on three goals for his 34th career three-assist game. He hit the 50-assist mark and the 70-point mark for the fourth consecutive season, and seventh and sixth times overall, respectively.