Well, I’m a tad disappointed. After a strong start gave them no goals, the Washington Capitals self-immolated, losing Game Two in disastrous fashion.

In the first, Washington had all the offense but no goals to show for it. That momentum carried into in the second, but Matt Cullen’s shorthanded goal suddenly put the Caps on their heels. They responded immediately with Matt Niskanen’s one-timer off Alex Ovechkin’s pass, but the Pens surged after that. Sidney Crosby carved up three Caps D to serve Phil Kessel. Jake Guentzel beat Braden Holtby short-side on a breakaway.

Holtby was pulled at the second intermission, with Philipp Grubauer taking his spot. He was instantly tested and found wanting on an early power play converted by Phil Kessel. Nick Backstrom gave fans some spirit by finishing Alex Ovechkin’s chance, but Evgeni Malkin crushed those spirits with a helpful bounce. Jake Guentzel’s empty-netter made it 6-2.

Caps lose 6-2. Penguins lead the series 2-0.

• One thought: this is bad.
• Once again, the Washington Capitals dominated play in the first period. They made chances, drew penalties, locked down neutral, rang posts, and did absolutely nothing that affected the scoreboard. Once again. But in volume we know that kind of play wins championships, so naturally the Caps stopped playing that way after one period.
• The Caps still spent a lot of time in the Pittsburgh zone in the second period, but they gave up high-quality chances in the process. Cullen’s, Kessel’s, and Guentzel’s goals were all on the rush, all odd-man rushes. The first two were failures of defense; the third an abject but solitary failure of goaltending. More on that below. Oh boy.
• Niskanen’s goal was nice though. Yey.
• Braden Holtby was pulled from net after two periods, giving up three goals on 14 shots. In relief, Philipp Grubauer fared no better.
• Ian Cole smushed Tom Wilson‘s face into the boards. I don’t know what the damage was, but Wilson definitely needed some adjustments on the bench. Yuck. (No call, btw.)
• We’re gonna argue about Braden Holtby being the escape goat, but Kevin Shattenkirk is gonna be in the discussion too. Shattenkirk’s misplay along the blue line gave 40-year-old Matt Cullen an open path to score, then, in the third, he put the puck over the glass to give the Pens a power play that they converted.
• That ice was garbage, by the way. It was a hot and humid day in DC. Those poor air conditioners did their best, but it wasn’t enough. Kind of a theme here.
• If half of the Caps shots that rang the post actually went in, we’d be in a tied series for Game Three next week. Weird how things work.
• Late in the game, the Caps starting assassinating Penguins players, injuring two in the final five minutes on blocked shots. Add to that Patric Hornqvist’s nasty block in the first and this became a costly win for Pitt.

James Baldwin face of the night

So, let’s talk about goaltending, but also really about life.

Jake Guentzel got an odd-man break in the final five minutes of the second period and beat Braden Holtby on the near side. It was an uncharacteristically bad read by Holtby and the reason he was pulled.

All fake due respect to the slavering morons who grunt empty platitudes like “he’s gotta have that,” but righteously and absolutely placing blame solely on the goalie is stupid, even though it feels good.

The Penguins were three-for-three on odd-man rushes allowed by the Caps skaters in the second period. The first was a fast, one-on-zero, shorthanded goal; the second was the world’s best playmaker undressing three Capitals before handing a grade-A chance to one of the world’s best shooters. The third was a total beach ball, and Holtby blew it.

He hasn’t been his usual self — his usual self being the single best playoff goalie in NHL history, without hyperbole — this postseason. Even in the Leafs series, Holtby didn’t give have the quiet, sterling confidence that characterizes his game.

But if you think he’s the sole reason why the Caps lost, then you’re imagining a game simpler than the one actually being played. Holtby has had three goals supporting his effort through one and two-thirds games, and he’s watched as his skaters punctuate their overall good play with blatant failures in neutral that make the opponent’s chances way too dangerous.

It’s not a simple game. When things go wrong, as they clearly effing have here, a simplistic response is rarely helpful. The Caps have tried scapegoating before: it cost them their offense and their coach, and it halted their progress for three miserable seasons. Scratching the itch feels good in the moment, but it’s not a real solution among grownups, which I suppose is why it flourishes on the internet.

Busy, busy, busy.

So, down two games to none and heading on the road, here’s what the Caps need to do: Stay the goddamned course. It’s not an accident that they’ve won two straight regular-season titles. They’ve figured this stuff out already. Don’t all of a sudden start doubting everything because bad bounces bred big mistakes.

It’s a question of character as much as a question of strategy. Let’s see what the Caps are made of.

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