Photo: Patrick McDermott

Whimper. The Washington Capitals put in a perfunctory effort in their final game of the 2013-14 season. Hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning at home for Fan Appreciation Day, the Caps showed very little intensity in a goalless defeat.

After forty minutes, the Caps had hardly mustered just seven shots– a season low. Jay Beagle was back at Alex Ovechkin‘s flank. Braden Holtby was overworked but perfect. The third line was better than everybody else. The team couldn’t reach a result in #rego or overtime, so we went to the shootout for the 21st time– a new league record.

That last paragraph could’ve applied to dozens of Caps games this season. Fitting it all happened today; just another reminder what you don’t want out of your hockey team.

To the Washington Capitals of 2013-14: I’m not mad. I’m just disappointed.

Joe B suit of the summer. H.A.G.S., guys. L.Y.L.A.F.

For the sake of good record-keeping, here are your shootout bullets.

• Evgeny Kuznetsov snaked, but was too slow.
• Matt Carle beat Holtby five hole-tby. (Sorry.)
• Alex Ovechkin got fancy but didn’t find the net.
• Michael Kostka had nothing.
• Nick Backstrom went wide. Game over.

Changes are coming. That’s for sure. How many and whether they’ll be for the better are yet to be determined. The Caps could become a modest, defense-first team– and might deal away the offensive core that they’ve mostly wasted since 2011. Or they could go all-in on Alex Ovechkin and reload a crash-the-net team that would be eminently fun to watch.

This is my official vote for the latter.

Either way, this is the end of this. Whatever’s next, it won’t ever feel like this again. The roster, the coaches, the front office– the sword of Damocles looms above them all. A shining new era is tip-toeing nearer.

Now, for you, gentle reader of RMNB, let me offer my sincerest thanks. This place could have just been us shouting into the void, making jokes for no one in particular. Instead, everything we’ve created has felt like a collaboration– an open exchange of ideas and a community with which to share them. I may not know you personally, but I consider us kindred anyway. You and me– we’ve been through the meatgrinder together this season, having a blast nonetheless. I’m glad to be with you, here at the end of all things.

So what’s next for RMNB? In a word… MOAR.

And it starts pretty much now. Big stuff. Stay tuned. Crash the net. Caps forever.