The turnaround began on a Friday afternoon in November when Capitals rookie Nicklas Backstrom scooped a rebound shot past Philadelphia goaltender Martin Biron for a 4-3 overtime win.
With that goal, just his second of the season to that point, Backstrom not only earned his struggling team a much-needed victory. He also unwittingly started a comeback that will continue into the Stanley Cup playoffs later this week against those same Philadelphia Flyers, whom the Caps host in a best-of-seven quarterfinal series starting Friday at Verizon Center.
Washington’s 37-17-7 record since that day is the fourth-best overall record in the entire NHL since Thanksgiving Day. During that stretch, they have at least one win over every Eastern Conference playoff team and three more wins over Western Conference playoff teams.
“We went from the bottom to the top,” said Backstrom, a leading contender for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s top rookie. “I think the pressure [of being in last place] was from everyone else. We showed each other what we can do.”
Now the task is to take advantage of their Southeast Division title and No. 3 playoff seed and make some noise in the postseason. With 15 players on the roster who lack any playoff experience that won’t be an easy task.
“It helps that the last two months we were pushing each other to the limit,” said forward Viktor Kozlov, who has appeared in 14 playoff games with Florida, New Jersey and the New York Islanders. “But I think everybody’s played in the playoffs before in different leagues, different tournaments. At least everybody’s got the idea of what it will be like.”
The Caps enter the Philadelphia series winners of seven in a row and 11 of 12. And they needed every single point to outlast the Carolina Hurricanes for the division title. Normally, a five-day break during a hot streak like that would be shunned. But, preparing for what could be a demanding, physical series against the Flyers, the Caps will take any time off they can get.
“We’ll have some hard practices so we’re staying in the right mind-frame,” said defenseman Mike Green. “But mentally, I think, the last month-and-a-half has taken a toll. To have five days here to regroup is good for us.”
