McPhee still has faith despite poor playoff showings
It was another long, painful goodbye at Kettler Iceplex on Thursday. That has become an unwanted annual tradition for the Capitals in recent years, but four consecutive early exits from the Stanley Cup playoffs, including this week’s shocking sweep at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning, have made it so.
General manager George McPhee met with the media Thursday and addressed the status of coach Bruce Boudreau, who has overseen each of those playoff exits and has a 17-20 postseason record.
“I expect [Boudreau] to be back. He’s a good coach,” McPhee said. “Someone said he’s not a playoff coach. There’s no difference between a playoff coach and a regular-season coach. You’re either a good coach or you’re not. He’s a good coach.”
Boudreau has a 189-79-39 record in almost four full seasons as a coach with Washington. He took over on Thanksgiving Day 2007 and has led the Caps to four consecutive Southeast Division titles. That record represents the highest points percentage (.679) for any coach in NHL history with at least 250 games. But despite being the top seed in the Eastern Conference each of the last two seasons, Boudreau’s teams have earned one playoff series victory during that stretch — the five-game first-round win last month over the New York Rangers. Overall, Washington is 2-4 in postseason series under Boudreau.
“It’s not up to me to think,” Boudreau said when asked about his job status. “Those questions — how can I answer them? And I can’t. And I leave it up to somebody else or I’d go nuts.”
McPhee said over the next few days he will conduct exit interviews with players and coaches, meet with the team’s pro scouts and then present an offseason plan to owner Ted Leonsis, who provided his own thoughts on his blog, “Ted’s Take,” in the aftermath of the second-round loss.
“I am stunned that we were swept in round [two],” Leonsis wrote. “In times like these people are emotional; angry; and demand change. I understand. The best course of action for us though is to let a few days pass; be very analytic about what needs to be improved; articulate that plan; and then execute upon it.”
Washington shared injury news with reporters, too. Veteran winger Mike Knuble indeed broke his right thumb in the Rangers series and played against the Lightning with pins inserted in the digit. Defenseman Mike Green missed Game?4 vs. Tampa Bay with a hip flexor injury. Teammate John Carlson suffered a hip pointer in Game 1 severe enough it caused pain in his ribs and back muscles. Veteran center Jason Arnott underwent left knee surgery in March, and it is believed left wing Alex Ovechkin also had a minor knee procedure that same month.
