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Stanley Cup remains realistic goal says Capitals coach
2008-03-24
Although the Washington Capitals have yet to secure a playoff spot, coach Bruce Boudreau insisted on Monday that winning the Stanley Cup remains a realistic goal. Boudreau, who took over the faltering Capitals after Glen Hanlon was sacked in November, has posted a 31-17-7 record since moving in behind the Washington bench while a late season surge has helped push the team up the standings. But with just six regular season games to play, including Tuesday's clash with Southeast division rivals the Carolina Hurricanes, the Capitals remain just outside the post-season picture. "If you don't shoot for the moon, you're not shooting high enough," Boudreau told reporters during a conference call. "My biggest thing when I came in was wanting them to believe they are capable of doing it (winning the Stanley Cup). I still believe we are. "We want to make the playoffs and believe we are going to be there but the Stanley Cup is our prize not making the playoffs. "Even though people outside our dressing room would firmly believe making the playoffs would be a great accomplishment. "Our goal is to win the Stanley Cup. Certainly anything is still possible in the tightly packed Eastern Conference standings that had four teams, Washington (82), Buffalo Sabres (81), Florida Panthers (81) and the Toronto Maple Leafs (80) all within four points of Boston Bruins, who were clinging to the eighth and last playoff slot with 84 points on Monday. With five wins in their last six games, the Capitals have also moved into position to challenge for top spot in the Southeast division lurking just five points behind the leading Hurricanes providing yet another route to the playoffs. Division leaders automatically qualify for a playoff spot. The Capitals continue to be led by their Russian sniper Alexander Ovechkin, who recorded his league-leading 60th goal last week and sits top the league scoring table with 106 points. Ovechkin's determined play down the stretch has triggered Hart trophy talk as league MVP but the Russian is more interested in getting a taste of the NHL post-season than more individual honors. "The last two years we think about vacation, about what we do in the summer, we don't think about playoffs," said Ovechkin. "Right now we have a great chance to move forward. "My personal stats are personal stats but right now I think only of the team. I want to help my team win games." "I like this atmosphere, everyday everything can happen." (Writing by Steve Keating in Toronto; Editing by John Mehaffey)
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