Stunned, confused, angry, upsetting, somber, disheartening and/or numb. Those are the emotions running through the minds of the Washington Capitals and the Capitals fans after the team seems unable to shake the ghosts of postseason past. Sunday’s heart-breaker just adds to the list of horrid playoff memories.
Alex Ovechkin scored two power play goals, the Capitals held a 3-1 lead in the second period, and there was a Braden Holtby sighting and yet the Capitals left Capital One Arena stunned.
Matt Calvert deposited the rebound past Holtby at the 12:22 mark of overtime to give the Columbus Blue Jackets a 5-4 win and a commanding 2-0 series lead as the series shifts to Columbus for the next two games.
The Capitals’ season is hanging on by a thread as they dropped the first two games at home. Now what are the habitual postseason chokers to do?
3. Alex Ovechkin Showed Up and It Still Wasn’t Enough
Alex Ovechkin lit the lamp with two power play goals, becoming the franchise leader in multi-goal postseason games. He was active on both ends, even laying a brutal open-ice hit. He had scored just one goal in his last seven playoff games. He burst through with two beautiful goals that lifted the spirits of the sold out Capital One Arena. A 3-1 lead after Ovi’s second made it appear Washington was ready to even up the series and shift the momentum. Unfortunately, that was not the case and what’s more disturbing, it’s hard to think Ovechkin could have played any better.
2. Philipp Grubauer Expirement Seems to Be Over
Grubauer got the nod at the start of the series to man the net for the Capitals. He had the hot-hand and Holtby had been struggling as of late. It seemed to make some sense, except for Grubauer’s lack of postseason experience. Holtby had it, and had a history of being strong this time of year. All of that came to forefront after Grubauer surrendered four goals for the second consecutive game. This time in the frame of just two periods and 22 shots.
A 3-1 lead vanished in the matter of minutes with a three-goal barrage from the Blue Jackets in the second period. It was enough for head coach Barry Trotz to make a change, sending Holtby to the net at the start of the third period. Holtby saw eight shots and saved seven for a better save percentage over Grubauer, however, the one that got past him gave the Blue Jackets the official W.
Despite that, Holtby has to be in net for Game 3. The Grubauer experiment is over. Hotlby was the more proven goalie regardless of his recent struggles. This is a guy that was a First-Team All-Star in 2016 and a Second-Team All-Star in 2017, he was just in a rut. Now faced with a 2-0 deficit, it’s time to end the suspense and lean on the guy that put Washington in the position for a run over the past three seasons. If defeat is destined, might as well face it with all your best knights.
1. Capitals Backs Are against the Wall with No Answers How to Survive
Back down memory lane it appears the Capitals are. How did they lose Game 2? They threw everything including the kitchen sink at the Blue Jackets. Washington had 58 shots on goal. They were aggressive. They received seven power plays, converting on three including T.J. Oshie’s one-timer with just over three minutes remaining in regulation that ultimately sent the game into overtime.
And yet, they still lost. They got Ovechkin’s best, took advantage of an undisciplined team, and yet they still lost. Why? They were just as undisciplined or unfocus. Turnovers, blown coverage, and guessing wrong led to the three-goal barrage that put them behind in the second period.
It’s certain questions and second-guessing are swirling inside the Capitals locker room and with little to no answers have to right the ship. Could it be another early exit for the Capitals? It sure looks like it.
