2016 Playoffs

The Caps Have Done Everything Right, Except Score

The Capitals are on the verge of playoff elimination again. For the second straight year, Barry Trotz’s Capitals team look unlikely to pass the second round, and it’s just not right.

Washington’s franchise goalie, Braden Holtby, has stopped 663 of 702 shots (all strengths) across 23 games. That is a stunning .944 save percentage, and yet Holtby has a losing record.

Washington’s penalty kill has been perfect since Game Four of the first round, shutting down 24 consecutive power plays. That is remarkable, and yet the Caps are still about to break down for the summer.

What the hell?!

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By Peter Hassett 6 years ago

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Graphic by Nathan Burchfiel, existentialism by Albert Camus

Last night, the Penguins beat the Capitals in sudden death overtime… again. The loss is arguably one of the most painful in franchise history considering the context of the Caps’ historic season and the expectations the fanbase has heaped upon the organization.

Unlike in previous decades where I childishly ripped up trading cards of Sergei Fedorov (and clogged our toilet trying to flush them), I am handling this like any mature, rational adult would: just kind of staring into the abyss wondering why I do this to myself.

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By Ian Oland 6 years ago

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Gut Punch: Mike Weber’s Turnover Puts Caps on Brink of Elimination

Mike Weber chipped the puck away from the crease. It ended up on the stick of a Pittsburgh Penguin.

It’s not the first defensive turnover to lose a game this playoffs. We saw the same from Nate Schmidt and Dmitry Orlov. But in sudden death overtime against a hated foe to whom the Caps have lost 7 out of 8 playoff series, it burns.

Barry Trotz chose to give a sweater to Mike Weber over Nate Schmidt, a demonstrably better player. Whatever you think of Mike Weber’s play, the fact that he was playing in overtime was the true mistake.

The Caps, who won the President’s Trophy as the NHL’s best regular season team, are now one loss away from having just another disappointing season.

Let’s review the decisive play.

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By Ian Oland 6 years ago

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Sidney Crosby Leaves Game After Getting Slashed By Ovechkin, Has Temper Tantrum

Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby’s hand just had a semi-violent encounter. The Russian machine slashed Crosby in the arm while trying to forecheck. Crosby, injured on the play, would immediately go down the tunnel and into the locker room.

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By Ian Oland 6 years ago

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John Carlson Scores Fourth Goal of Playoffs, Almost Punches Ref Celebrating

John Carlson continues his hot postseason. The Caps defenseman scored his fourth goal of the postseason tying the game 2-2.

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By Ian Oland 6 years ago

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Watch Evgeni Malkin Check Daniel Winnik in the Head

In a series which has seemingly featured a head shot per game, Evgeni Malkin hit Daniel Winnik, surprise surprise, in the head. The play, which happened mid-way through the second period, occurred while the Caps were on the penalty kill.

Malkin was not penalized.

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By Ian Oland 6 years ago

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Jay Beagle Scores the Most Jay Beagle Goal Ever

Jay Beagle just scored his third goal of the postseason. After winning a race for a dump-in, Beagle took a choppy backhanded shot at the net and it randomly went in.

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By Ian Oland 6 years ago

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Round 2, Game 4 Live Blog: Caps at Pens

Photo: Justin K. Aller

This is about as must-win as a playoff game can get without it being an actual elimination game. Kris Letang is out suspended and Olli Maatta is still out concussed, so the Penguins defense is prime for getting scored on. If the Caps play another game like they did on Monday night, we’ll be coming out of Pittsburgh all tied up 2-2.

Barry Trotz is for some reason playing Mike Weber tonight. He’s going to be terrible and you and I are going to be mad. Let’s hope that we get scoring from all four lines and that Braden Holtby doesn’t stop being Braden Holtby.

Might die of stress. Liveblog below.

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By Chris Cerullo 6 years ago

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Caps at Penguins Pregame: Schmidtuation Critical

Welcome to Game Four. Let’s Do. This. It’s on. It’s so on.

The Caps need this game and, if they play much like they did on Monday night, they have a good chance of evening up the series. Just to make the challenge a little more difficult, Barry Trotz appears to have made a lineup decision that makes his team worse. More on that below.

8 PM start, unfortunately. NBCSN, even more unfortunately.

Team	Record	Possession	PDO	Power Play	Penalty Kill
Washington Capitals	56-18-8	52.0%	101.1	21.9% (5th)	85.2% (2nd)
Pittsburgh Penguins	48-26-8	53.0%	100.6	18.4% (16th)	84.4 % (5th)

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By Patrick Holden 6 years ago

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Why Benching Nate Schmidt for Mike Weber May Not Be the Right Move

Wednesday after the morning skate, NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti reported that veteran Capitals defenseman Mike Weber would get a sweater for Game Four. Barry Trotz is benching Nate Schmidt, the man who had a bad turnover which directly led to the Penguins’ game-winning goal Monday.

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By Ian Oland 6 years ago

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