Three years, four Game 7’s.
Caps Fans: ‘Here We Go Again’
That’s the frustrating reality for fans of the Washington Capitals. Two years ago, the young Caps fought back from a series deficit to earn a Game 7 with the Philadelphia Flyers. They even got that one to overtime before Joffrey Lupul ate their hearts out.
A year ago, the New York Rangers built a 3-0 series lead before the Caps came storming back yet again to win the series in seven games. In the second round, the Caps jumped out to an early 2-0 series lead before losing three straight. They won Game 6, earning yet another Game 7 on home ice, but the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins were too much to handle and another season would end early.
Now we’re here. Tonight, another Game 7 will be played at Verizon Center in downtown Washington D.C. For a team that’s expected to win the Cup, playing the bottom-seeded Canadiens, this scare is here far too early. Fans are worried including those at SBN’s Japers’ Rink.
Spectacular failures. The most disappointing team in franchise history. Choking dogs. These are among the labels that will be applied to the 2009-10 Washington Capitals... if.
An opposing goalie who was relegated to the bench in favor of his hot-headed backup earlier in this series has since caught fire and is poised to propel the playoffs' worst regular-season team into the second round... if.
A power-play that led the NHL in efficiency during the regular season has deserted the Eastern Conference's top team and seemingly taken the confidence that produced one of the most potent offenses hockey has seen with it, leaving the first non-Original Six team in League history to top 120 points on the verge of extinction... if.
So here we are, wondering whether we're a couple of days away from seeing another knock-down-drag-out best-of-seven with the hated Philadelphia Flyers... or break-up day. You know, the day when the team grasps to explain what went wrong and reveals all of the injuries and maladies its players have been playing through: Mike Green, detached cranium; Alexander Semin, dislocated cajones; Tomas Fleischmann, absent atria; etc. (given the lack of brains, courage and heart, respectively, displayed by these three, this series has looked more like a Wizard of Oz revival at times than playoff hockey).
Will the air be filled with disappointment tonight at Verizon Center, or will the Caps create euphoric relief with a victory? We’ll find out at 7 PM.
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