Capitals Loss

Here it is on Monday, a day and a half after the Washington Capitals lost to the New York Rangers in Game 7 of the second round of the playoffs (Conference Semifinals).  And the pain of disappointment is still with me.

For five straight years, the Capitals made it to the finals, and for five straight years they cannot make it past the Conference Semifinals.  Now, for the fourth straight year, a major disappointment.

I became a fan of the Washington Capitals during the 2003 - 2004 NHL season when a friend of mine took me to my first ice hockey game.  I was immediately hooked.  Based on proximity, I became a fan of the Capitals.  During those first years of my fandom, the Capitals were not a very good team.  However, despite not having the skill to compete against other teams, these Capitals were a hard working bunch that gave some of those more skilled teams fits.  They were a team to be proud of.

During the 2007 - 2008, the Capitals' owner, Ted Leonsis, declared that the 5 year rebuild plan they implemented was over.  The first half of the season the Capitals were majorly under-performing and fired their head coach, Glen Hanlon.  Bruce Boudreau, comes in as interim coach, saves the day to not only get the first playoff berth in five seasons, but their first Southeast Division title since they claimed the title in 2001.  To claim the title the Capitals won 11 out of their last 12 games, clinching the title on the last game of the regular season, beating the Florida Panthers 3 - 1.  It was a tremendous run.  It was such a fun time to be a Capitals fan.

They eventually lost their first round playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers in 7 games.  After the series, even though I was disappointed, I was proud of what the Capitals had done.

The next season, they make it to the Conference Semifinals against the dread Pittsburgh Penguins.  They forced a game 7 after allowing the Penguins to go up 3-2 in the series.  In game 7, the Capitals completely stunk up the joint and lost the game 6-2.   It wasn't disappointment I felt after the loss, it was anger.  These guys were getting payed millions of dollars only to lay a major egg against one of the most hated teams in the league.  It was disgusting.

In the 2009-2010 season, the Capitals posted a franchise record of 121 points and the franchise's first President's Trophy.  This was the same season that the Capitals scored 313 goals, 56 more goals than the next best team.  Their opening series was against the Montreal Canadiens who had barely squeaked into the playoffs.  After the Capitals lost the first game against the Canadiens, they went on to lose the next three games to go up 3-1 in the series...only to lose the next three games to lose the series.  The highest scoring team in the league, averaging a whopping 3.82 goals per game during the regular season, and a even more of a whopping 4.75 goals per game in the first four games of the series were only able to put up 5 goals in the next three.  It was frustrating, aggravating and infuriating.  I couldn't have been more angry against this team.

Then came the next season (2010-2011).  The Capitals won yet another SE division title and even became the #1 seed for the playoffs.  They dominated the Rangers in the first round winning the series 4-1.  Only to be swept in the next round against the Tampa Bay Lightning.  Again, it was aggravating and infuriating.

Now I come to this season.  The Capitals had a mediocre regular season, firing Bruce Boudreau and hiring Capitals legend, Dale Hunter as coach and ended up with the 7th seed for the playoffs.  Their first round opponent were the Boston Bruins, the defending Stanley Cup Champions.  Everyone, I mean, EVERYONE expected a short series with the Bruins coming out on top.  Enter, Braden Holtby, who was the third string goaltender who ended up playing the last two games of the season and became the playoff starting goaltender after injuries to both Michal Neuvirth and Tomas Vokoun.  Holtby was outstanding, posting a shutout during regulation. Problem is, Tim Thomas also posted a shutout during regulation.  Holtby gave up a goal in 1:18 of the OT period to lose the game.  For the next 5 games the Holtby and Capitals shocked everyone fighting the Bruins tooth and nail to force a game 7.  The Capitals eventually won game 7 in OT, making it the forth time in this 7 game series to go into overtime.  Everyone one of the 7 games were decided by one goal.  That was an NHL record.

In the next round they were up against the #1 seed, the Rangers.  Back and forth Holtby battled against Henrik Lundqvist going into game 5 tied.  In game 5, the Capitals had a two goal lead up to the last 22 seconds of the game, when Joel Ward got caught up into a battle for position  during an defensive faceoff bringing his stick up for a double minor penalty.  During the ensuing PP, the Rangers tied it up with only 6 seconds left in regulation.  They then scored again in the OT period, during the 2nd half of the double minor to win the game.  I personally thought this win for the Rangers was the changing point of the series.  Despite going back to Washington for game 6, the momentum was all in the Rangers favor.

However, the Capitals came out hard in game 6 and completely dominated the game (despite giving up a goal late to make it another 1 goal game, the Capitals still dominated the game).  Back to New York were both team going for game 7.  I could've been more happier.  Now the pressure was all on the Rangers, and the Capitals had taken away the momentum from the Rangers.  I was wrong.  The Capitals came out flat in the first period, giving up a goal to Brad Richards 1:32 into the game.  The play was a complete break down in defensive assignments allowing Brad Richards time and space to score with a beauty of a shot.

The Capitals came out in the second strong...but failed to score.  Then came the third period.  It was sad the effort the Capitals gave.  They gave up another goal about the half way make of the 3rd period, only to get to within 1 goal when the Capitals scored 38 seconds later.  The Capitals were mostly lethargic for the entire period.  A golden opportunity arose when Ruslan Fedotenko threw the puck over the glass for a delay of game penalty less than a minute later.  What occurred during the next two minutes was a tragedy.  The resulting powerplay was abysmal.  Not only did the Capitals not get a shot on goal, but the Rangers were robbed of a short handed goal.  My heart sank after that powerplay because I knew that the Capitals were not going to win this game.  The Capitals only mustered four shots on goal in that last 20 minutes.  4 shots.  No one is going to beat a top notched goaltender like Lundqvist with only 4 shots on goal.

So, the Capitals go home yet again, without making it past the 2nd round of the playoffs.  Despite only being the 7th seed, and having a rookie goalie in net for the entire playoffs, the Capitals should have won against the Rangers, but yet again, a lethargic display occurred in a pivotal time of game 7.  Golf time.

There are many questions that need to be answered during the off season.  Will Dale Hunter come back as head coach?  What will happen with Alexander Semin (who I hope has the door hit him on the ass on his way out)?  What about Dennis Wideman (good riddance I say)?  Or Jeff Schultz (why this guy doesn't hit anyone is beyond me)?  How about Mike Green (who is a RFA this off season)?  Will Ovechkin stay as the captain?   Most importantly, will George McPhee stay as general manager after 14 years at the helm?  These are some of the questions I hope get answered with a NO (with the exception of Hunter), especially after, yet another disappointing season.