This entry written by DCist contributor Jesse Rounds
At the end of a losing season, the Capitals are going to have to fight off ennui and frustration to maintain the camaraderie that the team claims will make them a threat next season. Their recent record isn’t helping any. Last Thursday the Capitals traveled to Manhattan to take on the playoff-bound Rangers and attempt to halt a three game slide. Washington stayed on pace with the Rangers until the 3rd period when former Capital Jaromir Jagr scored a classic goal, followed in the waning seconds by a brilliant save by Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist against a shot by Alexander Ovechkin. The game ended 5-4.
On Saturday Chris Clark recorded his first career hat trick and the Caps were able to force a shootout against the Florida Panthers. However, with only one shootout goal scored by Florida’s Joe Nieuendyk, Washington was only able to salvage a point in the 4-3 shootout loss.
The Montreal Canadiens came to the Verizon Center on Monday night leading the Florida Panthers by 6 points for the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot. The Capitals could be playing spoiler at this point in the season, however, they haven’t been up to the challenge. For the first time in a while the Caps looked completely flat in their 4-2 loss. Caps Coach Glen Hanlon made the somewhat surprising decision to bench Ovechkin for 14 minutes in the third period. Hanlon was clearly frustrated, stating, “I felt that was one of the few games we didn’t give a winning effort.” The strategy may have fired up Ovechkin, who scored a goal (his 44th) during his brief appearance late in the game, but it left some players frustrated. Hanlon commented on benching Ovechkin by saying, “He didn’t play the first part of the third period. It’s a decision we made internally that we needed to do. It needs more expanding, but I just feel with respect to everyone involved, it’s just better not to.”
The team has a chance to turn this late slide around but will have to do it during a seven game road stretch that will begin in Florida against the Panthers (Tonight 7 p.m., Comcast Sportsnet).
(AP Photo taken by Frank Franklin II)
