Attention Hockey pool followers, if you selected a Washington Capital collapse in the second round, please proceed to pay window to collect your winnings.
It was, WIN and move up a PLACE in the Stanley Cup derby for the Tampa Bay Lightning and a NO SHOW for the Washington Capitals on Wednesday night, that as the Lightning swept the Caps out of the Stanley Cup playoffs 4 games straight.
In a showcase of will, over unexhibited skill, the Lightning shut down the one of the NHL's most offensive orientated lineups, showcasing more shortcomings of a Capital squad that has provided examples of such things in previous playoff seasons.
From goaltending woes to scoring troubles, the Capitals simply couldn't find an answer to the Lightning strategies, when Tampa Bay needed a goal, one seemed to go into the net. When Bruce Boudreau looked down his bench for someone to lead the charge, it seemed that few were ready to take up the torch.
That in the short stroke is the capsule of this series, the Lightning considered underdogs in rounds one and two, simply seemed to want to win more than their opposition and found ways to secure that outcome.
While Tampa takes advantage of what could be a ten day break before they next see a playoff game, over in Washington Thursday morning will bring another season ending post mortem, complete with questions of what went wrong, why it went wrong and who is going to carry the can for yet another playoff exit.
The knee jerk reaction most likely would be to remove head coach Bruce Boudreau from his post, though while tempting for owner Ted Leonsis, it would be but offering up a sacrificial lamb that covers up the many deeper problems.
Clearly this group assembled by General Manager George McPhee still is missing the intangible that champions are made of. There was no steadying influence on the ice, the Caps instead seemed panicked at times. Too many of these Capitals wilted under the heat of the playoffs, their leader Ovechkin taking stupid penalties that put Tampa Bay on the power play with the anticipated result. When he wasn't in the penalty box, he seemed unable to put the team on his shoulders as sometimes is required in dire circumstances.
Ovechkin is still one of the great talents in the NHL, but with yet another playoff disaster complete during his reign, he will remain one of the NHL's incomplete players, until you cross that bridge to the Championship questions always will simmer on the hot stove.
There has been a resigned kind of speculation over the last few days that Boudreau will pay the price for his team's failure, perhaps not fair speculation, but none the less it's the first thought when these kind of implosions take place.
A more fair hockey world would offer Boudreau a hard working and passionate coach a better shake than that being speculated these days, but in a results oriented business as the NHL the sands in the hour glass only get so many shakes.
There is a nucleus of talent beyond compare in Washington, still when it came time to push through, that nucleus wasn't able to provide for the confidence their coach and GM had placed in them.
Changes will be required in Washington, how wide ranging will be determined by the teams owner who once again failed to see his team deliver.
Leonsis' Capitals have been considered the favourites to reach the Stanley Cup finals for a number of years now, it's a status that judging by this season's quick exit probably wasn't deserved and a status that most likely won't be in place when the Caps next take to the ice in the fall.
National Post-- Questions abound as Capitals swept away
Globe and Mail-- Lightning sweep Capitals
Globe and Mail-- Boudreau shouldn't take the fall in Washington
Toronto Star-- Lightning sweep into Eastern Conference final
CBC-- Coaching wasn't Capitals downfall
TSN-- Who could pay the price for Capitals loss?
ESPN-- Capitals' Blame Game
ESPN-- Only thing left to say: What a waste
Washington Post-- Capitals ousted from playoffs again, face questions about future
Washington Post-- After another playoff collapse, the Capitals must make changes
Washington Post-- Capitals are swept by Ligthning in second round
Washington Times-- Caps search for answers in wake of sweep
Washington Times-- Capitals swept away by Lightning
Washington Times-- Capitals were on thin ice throughout the series
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