“I didn’t have my game tonight,” Varlamov said. “The coach’s decision was absolutely right … . Of course I’m disappointed about it; I didn’t want to lose like this. I didn’t want the season to be over.”

His magic, crafted in the previous 12 playoff games, had vanished. Had he not been so spectacular at times, then the Capitals might have lost more games by a wider margin – and there wouldn’t have been a Game 7.

“He’s been our Superhero,” said Caps defenseman Brian Pothier.

“He won a lot of games for us,” said Caps captain Chris Clark.

But when the second goal snuck past Varlamov eight seconds after the first one did, it deflated the Caps. They could have recovered, but two more quick goals in the first 2 minutes, 12 seconds of the second period ended any realistic hope of advancing.

“Two goals you can come back from,” Clark said.

But, he said, three goals and then four and five makes the task even harder. With nearly two full periods left the Capitals fate had practically been decided.

“It’s tough,” Caps forward Viktor Kozlov said. “We’re professionals and no matter what happens you have to keep going. That’s the toughest part.”

They’re professionals; they’re also human.

“It’s hard,” Clark said. “It’s probably one of the toughest things to keep going and show character as a team and not give up. You never know. There are plenty of games where teams do come back. Games swing so easily, but we didn’t get any swings going our way at all. It’s disappointing.”

In other games, Varlamov was able to withstand a barrage of opportunities, allowing the Caps to swing the momentum, and the score, back to their favor. That was not the case Wednesday.

Wednesday’s problems weren’t his alone. The Capitals’ defense did not provide enough help. Sidney Crosby scored on a power play goal, somehow sneaking in from just outside the crease. A defensive breakdown led to the second goal, eight seconds later. Actually, it was more of a bad break, as Pothier tried to knock the puck out of the air, but could not clear it and the Penguins pounced for a breakaway goal.

“I feel bad that we did not play better for him,” Pothier said. “He’s been bailing us out the entire postseason. I was hoping we’d put in the effort to help out, but we were nowhere to be found tonight. … I honestly don’t have the words to describe how we came out. Whether it was nerves or anxiousness or maybe overthinking or trying to do too much.”

The third goal came as the crowd chanted, “Let’s go Caps!” and only 28 seconds into the second period. Less than two minutes later came the fourth on a rifled slap shot glove-side and Varlamov exited the ice. He entered as one of the top stories of the postseason, with a 2.28 goals against average in his first 12 games since replacing Theodore.

But perhaps the playoff grind took its toll on Varlamov.

“It was more difficult mentally than physically,” he said. “Physically I was all right, but of course we had games every other day so if I had more rest maybe my game would have been better. Unfortunately that didn’t happen.”