Team believes 2-0 deficit is not insurmountable
Momentum can turn so quickly in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Just five days ago, the Capitals were a well-rested team that had come through a physical first-round series intact. Now after a pair of home losses, they are fighting just to keep the season going. A dispiriting 3-2 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday at Verizon Center left Washington in a 2-0 hole entering Game 3 at St. Pete Times Forum on Tuesday night. If the Caps don’t turn things around fast, another promising year could be over by Wednesday night.
“I don’t think this series is over,” forward Brooks Laich said. “I think it’s just beginning.”
| CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS |
| Capitals vs. Lightning |
| (Tampa Bay leads series 2-0) |
| Game 1 » TB 4, WAS 2 |
| Game 2 » TB 3, WAS 2 (OT) |
| Game 3 » Tue. at TB, 6:30 p.m. |
| Game 4 » Wed. at TB, 7 p.m. |
| Game 5 » Sat. at WAS, 12:30 p.m.* |
| Game 6 » May 9 at TB, TBA* |
| Game 7 » May 11 at WAS, TBA* |
| Caps notes |
| » bin Laden’s death puts Caps’ loss in perspective |
| » Washington conducted an optional practice at Kettler Iceplex on Monday. Only six players who appeared in Sunday’s Game 3 loss participated, and 17 players total were on the ice. |
| » The Caps and Lightning play rare back-to-back playoff games at St. Pete Times Forum on Tuesday and Wednesday thanks to a commencement ceremony for the University of South Florida scheduled for Thursday at the arena. |
There is a template for such a comeback in recent NHL history. Washington itself overcame a 2-0 series deficit in the first round against the New York Rangers two years ago after losing the first two games at home. Just last week the Boston Bruins accomplished that same feat against the Montreal Canadiens, advancing in seven games. But that puts immense pressure on the Caps in Tuesday’s game against the Lightning. While a comeback from two games down is not unheard of, a team has blown a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven series just three times in NHL history. Washington would rather not face that daunting challenge.
“We’ve been through a lot, and we know what to expect and what to expect from ourselves,” defenseman Jeff Schultz said. “No doubt in our minds we can come back. … We’ve been here before. Put a lot of emphasis on being great, and it starts [Tuesday].”
In stark contrast to a charmed 2009-10, the Caps indeed navigated some hardship during the regular season. There was an eight-game losing streak in December, an ugly 4-1 loss at home to the Los Angeles Kings on Feb. 12 just before a difficult five-game road trip and, of course, watching this same Tampa Bay team take control of the Southeast Division for 66 days between late December and early March. All the while Washington tweaked its style of play, juggled rookie goalies and dealt with an offensive drought that has lasted almost a full year now.
Fixing the power play would help. It’s a small sample size, but the Caps are 0-for-11 in two games with the man advantage, reminiscent of last year’s disastrous 1-for-33 power play against Montreal in a first-round upset. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, has scored twice on its nine power plays — just enough to tip the scales in a pair of tight games. The Lightning also have killed 45 of 46 penalties in nine postseason games.
“Well, they have to win four. And we have been in tough situations this year, and we’ve bounced back,” Washington coach Bruce Boudreau said. “And we’re going in there to win Tuesday night. I think the games have been so close that it’s one move here, one move there. And it’s not like we’re going to go in there and throw in the towel. We’re ready to play.”
