Enough time has passed that we can now talk about the end of the 2018-19 Capitals without sobbing. In this podcast, Ian and Peter discuss what went wrong for the team – but also for themselves. (Like the Caps, we’ve had some unfortunate setbacks in the past month.)
But we can also now look ahead – at a summer that will bring changes and opportunities. I’m looking forward to it.
Oh, and Ian goes off on a wild rant. So enjoy that.
By Peter Hassett 2 months ago
Round one was buckwild. Every division champion got eliminated, we got some very unlikely sweeps, and we got some dramatic games seven. There’s no way round two can match it, but let’s make predictions anyway.
Let’s visit with Keith, a coin.
By Peter Hassett 2 months ago
The 2018-19 Caps are dead and gone, forcing us all to reckon with a grim reality and an impossible question: who do we support now?
By Peter Hassett and Julia Karron and Brennin Weiswerda and Cara Bahniuk and Ian Oland and Rachel Cohen and Donya Abramo 2 months ago
One could understand if you, like me, thought last year’s championship meant that we would somehow be immune from the flu-like delirium/anxious firestorm that is a hockey playoff game seven. We were both wrong. This was bonkers. It’s unbelievable we do this to ourselves.
But hey, let’s talk about Caps and Canes Game Seven, and the end of the back-to-back dream.
Andre Burakovsky was first to score, capping off a great forecheck by the third line. Alex Ovechkin made some next-level moves to assist Tom Wilson for another first-period goal.
Sebastian Aho got a great rebound to score a shorthanded goal in the second, but Evgeny Kuznetsov responded with his first goal of the series. Teuvo Teravainen got a loose puck in the slot to keep the Caps lead to one goal after forty minutes.
Jordan Staal tied the game early in the third, pushing us into sudden-victory overtime. Twenty minutes of extra time didn’t give us an answer. But then, more than halfway into double overtime, Brock McGinn got a sneaky winner to end the Caps’ season.
Caps lose. Canes win the series 4 to 3.
By Peter Hassett 2 months ago
Welp. We’re here again: game seven, the crown jewel or whatever of sport. The tippy top or somesuch of human competition. The apex of doing things while other people are trying to do things at the same time and you want to stop them. Caps. Canes. Capital One Arena. weuogboweugbwioeg
This is an open thread for reactions, rage, and revelry. Tonight it ends.
By Peter Hassett 2 months ago
There is a noble and storied tradition of fans making mean rap songs about their preferred team’s opponent. Today, on the day of Game Seven, RMNB joins that tradition.
By Peter Hassett 2 months ago
The NHL has announced the deciding game of the Capitals-Hurricanes series will be held at 7:30 PM on Wednesday night. You have up until that time to reconcile with any alienated family members, drink a skin of wine, make love to a stranger, and shatter gender norms. Once the puck drops, all that matters is gay sev.
By Peter Hassett 2 months ago
For the first time this postseason, the Washington Capitals blew a lead, letting the Carolina Hurricanes sneak back into the game and series, forcing Game Seven on Wednesday night. But before we get there, let’s relive this pain together.
Brett Connolly kicked us off with some great moves low along the goal line. Archvillain Warren Foegele struck back, scoring on a spin-o-rama after a Canes power play expired, but Alex Ovechkin restored Washington’s lead with a beautiful wrister to make it 2-1 after 20 minutes.
Sebastian Aho pickpocketed Jonas Siegenthaler early in the second period to force a turnover and tie the game. Then, four minutes into the third period, Jordan Staal outworked Niskanen and Orlov up close to make it 3-2 Canes. Justin Williams added a deflection to make it 4-2 to surprise Holtby. Dougie Hamilton added an empty-netter.
Caps lose. The series is tied 3-3. We’re going to a Game Seven.
By Peter Hassett 2 months ago
The Caps could close out the Canes if they can win on the road, but that’s something they’ve not been able to do yet.
This is an open thread for reactions, rage, and revelry. Finish the fight.
By Peter Hassett 2 months ago
Alex Ovechkin scored 15 goals on his way to the 2018 Stanley Cup Championship. If that doesn’t seem like a lot, that’s only because you have gotten used to Alex Ovechkin scoring a lot. And despite living with a curious reputation as a playoff disappointment ever since he first made the playoffs with the 2008 Caps, Ovechkin is actually the single best postseason goal scorer of the current era.
By Peter Hassett 2 months ago
