The Capitals lose game 4 and are swept in the series. What went wrong & what's next for this team?

Рет қаралды 832

19 күн бұрын

The Washington Capitals' season came to an abrupt and disappointing end tonight as they were swept in four games by the New York Rangers in the first round of the NHL playoffs. After defying expectations all regular season long by clawing their way into the postseason despite an aging roster, lack of depth, and trading away key players at the deadline, the Caps ultimately fell flat when it mattered most.
Right from the opening puck drop of Game 1, it was clear this series would be uphill battle for Washington. A careless giveaway by defenseman Nick Jensen led directly to an early Rangers goal setting the tone. The Capitals seemed undisciplined and unfocused, taking unnecessary penalties and allowing multiple power play goals. Despite Alex Ovechkin typically elevating his game in the playoffs, the captain was held scoreless and mostly ineffective against New York's smothering defense. Meanwhile, the Rangers young stars like Kaapo Kakko and Adam Fox outworked and outhustled the Caps. Goaltender Igor Shesterkin also thoroughly outplayed Washington's Charlie Lindgren. Besides a few sparks from the team's rookies, the Caps generated little offense and lacked the desperation needed to extend the series. Ovechkin was never able to make his typical impact, culminating in him being held pointless for the first time in 15 career playoff appearances. A late game misconduct penalty on T.J. Oshie seemed to seal the Caps' fate.
While there were some promising performances from Washington's youth like Hendrix Lapierre and Martin Fehervary, it simply wasn't enough to overcome the lackluster play of the team's veterans. The early playoff exit calls into question what moves the Capitals will make this offseason to revamp their aging core into true contenders once again. For now, a disappointing end to a once-promising season.
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Пікірлер: 44

@SomeNativeOfficial 16 күн бұрын

Jensen single-handedly lost this game for the Capitals. I didn’t know that he was playing for NY tonight. 0.57 seconds into the game passes straight to Kakko to make it 1-0 NY. Then he takes a penalty to to give NY the PP for Trocheck to score. And to cap it off screened Lindgren so Panarin could score and seal the deal with the eventual game winner.

@robertsquared2916 16 күн бұрын

He played 1 game!! I think Ovi putting up Donuts for the 4 th straight game had more of an impact 🤷🏻‍♂️l

@wa2k99 16 күн бұрын

It was hysterical that you tried to make a case that Washington could win this series. Rangers were better in every way. But each game was still tough

@pype720 16 күн бұрын

Thanks for a great season of pods. It was a tough series to watch for sure.

@LockedOnCapitals 16 күн бұрын

Appreciate it

@gordm3527 13 күн бұрын

Know what the Caps really could have used this series? A guy like Anthony Mantha. GM MacLellan cost this team a few wins by giving up and selling at the deadline. Time for fresh blood in the front office.

@NSgeg765 16 күн бұрын

Thank you again Dan for doing these podcasts. I appreciate your dedication to this team. Your assessment seems contradictory as you say you want all these changes but you don't want a tear it down to the studs. To really bring in top line young talent you have to either get lottery picks or find some rare finds in late rounds. See Bruins getting Pasternak at 24 back in 2014. Rangers rebuild was helped by the fact that they traded some of their better players to contenders while they were still near the top of their game and were able to land Pannarin at age 27. It's rare any stars of his caliber become free agents. They also were bad for a couple of years and got good draft picks from that. Caps might be able to get some prospects or good draft picks up by trading Carlson now that his contract is nearing the end but other than that, they don't have much of value. Wilson would have brought back a decent yield but they elected to re-sign him as the "future captain." Caps are not unique in not wanting to rebuild as Pens are in the same boat and even teams like CBJ make ill fated attempts to try and "retool" even though they are bad and should rebuild. Blackhawks spent years trying to stay relevant before they finally admitted they needed a rebuild. I don't see Blues or Lightning going the rebuild route even though their situations are similar to Caps. I think this whole Caps not wanting to rebuild to keep Ovi happy is overblown. It's more that as long as Ovi, Carlson, Wilson, are on a team coached by Carberry, they won't be a a bottom five team. Overall this season saw many young players play larger roles on this team something fans have wanted for years. Lets be honest, the only reason Caps made the playoffs is that Eastern Conference was really bad this year and no one seemed to want that last spot as Pens, Lightening, Isles and Caps are aging, Devils took a big step back, and Red wings and Sabres didn't take the next step forward and are stuck in the middle again even tough they are in theory at the end of rebuilding.

@LockedOnCapitals 16 күн бұрын

Appreciate it!

@jameshannagan4256 16 күн бұрын

The interesting thing about the Rangers rebuild is that the best young players were mostly picked in the late teens and early 20s Miller, Schneider Krieder, Cuylle (2nd RD) and Chytil who is very talented when healthy was also in the 20s. Some trades and FA signings and the two years the got 1st and 2nd overall pick although Kakko hasn't broken out yet. Zac Wilson the 7th d-man second rd pick he'd be a 2nd pair d-man for a lot of teams. My point is once you guys get some cap space there are always really good players who become FAs the Rangers lost JT Miller and Paval Bucnevich because they couldn't afford them and they were also picked in the 20s Gordon never got credit. They will be able to take advantage of capped out teams and rebuild pretty fast.

@eirikrdberg1161 16 күн бұрын

39 years old soon is the problem with Ovechkin. In the past he’d be retired by now. After around 15 seasons players retired in the past. The goals record and his love for the game and lifestyle in the NHL is difficult to give up on. Ovechkin would still be scoring playoff goals on a team with great passers who would be willing skate hard and give ovie the puck. Never happened this year. Ovie stood ready to shoot, but nobody ever worked hard enough or were capable of setting him up.

@jameshannagan4256 16 күн бұрын

I thought they worked hard they just didn't have the personell with all the injuries on the blue line.

@Bob-wy6zv 15 күн бұрын

Unfortunately I did not see Ovi that much involved that much in this series.

@umphstein4629 16 күн бұрын

Was hoping for a six game series, New York was obviously a better overall team, hate how many podcasters dismissed the caps when this serif was more competitive than many of the so called elite teams down 3-1 in there series and are getting crushed Winnipeg and Toronto for example. Congrats on getting in and getting young players get experience, we won’t be such a slow old team next year

@waynethera2712 16 күн бұрын

The Caps were definitely overmatched this series at all aspects. Only a Charlie Lindgren theft of a game would would give them a chance. However he did not play well enough, a little to deep for my liking.

@GeofftheTurkey 15 күн бұрын

You wanna know what went wrong, they made the playoffs.

@jamesruscheinski8602 15 күн бұрын

just overmatched

@larrynester4713 16 күн бұрын

All the Capitals high end talent is too old.

@fortunecooky436 16 күн бұрын

But you said caps in 7?

@jaybirdtapsnracks3460 16 күн бұрын

Oshie aslo embellished and got a trip call. Unfortunatley, it's getting more prevelant in hockey. Knee to knee has to be called regardless of the injury incurred. And he did stick his knee out. Also, watching the Rangers broadcast no one mentioned that Fox was chirping at Wilson right before Wilson went after him. WIlson was skating by, not even looking at Fox. I'd sign Wilson to the Rangers any day.

@jameshannagan4256 16 күн бұрын

Me too he'd be great for us.

@lc2858 16 күн бұрын

I don’t think it’s fair to say with certainty that Fox flopped. He was out for nearly a quarter of the season with a serious injury to that same knee Jensen hit. I’m sure he was in a ton of pain. And regardless it’s a trip no matter which way you look at it.

@eirikrdberg1161 16 күн бұрын

I think Ovechkin will score more goals than 8 in the first 43 all seasons he plays in the future. Hope he signs an extension.

@jameshannagan4256 16 күн бұрын

Honestly I thought the Caps didn't embarrass themselves they played hard and the only game they weren't really in was game one. Obviously i'm a Ranger fan but I never troll I always look for discourse on teams sites especially in the playoffs. I haven't watched the entire podcast but I had to say something about the knee to knee cheapshot that this guy was trying to say fox flopped on, that's just silly I hate those plays and often guys get hurt on them. Fox never flops I have never seen him act hurt when he wasn't so I think his accusation is pretty stupid and comes across as sour grapes it was a knee to knee hit.

@waynethera2712 16 күн бұрын

I definitely agree the knee on knee was dangerous, but hardly intentional. Super slow motion makes it seem like they have a lot of time to shift and turn when it’s actually tenths of seconds. After the Wilson and Buchnevich and Panarin incident a few years ago, the Rangers did the right thing. They are so much tougher and grittier now, and it’s given the skilled guys more confidence. Good luck in round two.

@jameshannagan4256 16 күн бұрын

@@waynethera2712 Dude he stuck his leg out because the guy was going to skate right past him with the puck it was intentional and it would have been a smart play if the ref didn't catch it. I thought Alex was hurting and also just gassed plus the Rangers were covering him like a blanket they weren't going to let him beat them it was up to his teammates to make the Rangers pay for all the extra attention.

@sdgakatbk 16 күн бұрын

I hate losing, but I still think it's great they made the playoffs after selling off. I don't think Carbery will get the Adams, but I hope he gets some votes. In any case LETS GO CAPS!!

@jameshannagan4256 16 күн бұрын

I like the coach he did everything he could do all the injuries gave his team little chance. They were gassed too from trying to get into the playoffs in the first place which was quite a difficult task. They should be proud and in my opinion they were better than the teams they were fighting for the spot I don't care about goal differential it's a meaningless stat a bad stretch or two or a rash of injuries and before you know it you look worse than you really are the Rangers would have slaughtered those teams.

@cindyrussell1581 16 күн бұрын

The capital's got in only because one of the other teams lost, otherwise there never deserved to be in the playoffs.

@eirikrdberg1161 16 күн бұрын

They stuck it to Pittsburgh, Detroit and Philadelphia who all would have been sweeper as well. Ovechkin scored more than 30 goals for a record 18th time. They made the playoffs when nobody said they had a chance in October or December or February. They did it. They were never going to beat a stacked rangers, the presidents trophy best team in league. Only negative thing is that they got a sweet little win in game four before being 3nded in New York.

@ricardoagila3115 16 күн бұрын

The fact of the matter is, after this humiliating sweep from the Ranger, the Caps must change personnel. Ovechkin has peaked and, is on his way down. Trade him for two first-round picks and a second-round.

@eirikrdberg1161 16 күн бұрын

@@ricardoagila3115 I actually agree. I don’t know if Ovie would go to another team, but if he could stand there and easily net 60 goals on line with Mcdavid at 39 years of age,,, would he say no?

@ricardoagila3115 16 күн бұрын

@@eirikrdberg1161 Rebuild the team through draft picks and trade for younger prospects. It may be painful for the fans but in order to be competitive next season, drastic change must be done, and this means saying farewell to Oshie as well.

@user-jb3wz2zv8j 15 күн бұрын

👍

@bankingonmoney8224 16 күн бұрын

I'm happy to see this over it was an embarrassing display. Now I can watch Herahey with their talent back a more deserving playoff team.

@NSgeg765 16 күн бұрын

Embarrassing? I think Caps only made it because Eastern Conference was so bad and no one seemed to want that last playoff spot. Caps were clearly facing a huge talent deficit against a loaded Rangers team.

@jameshannagan4256 16 күн бұрын

That's such BS they played really good down the stretch to get in and didn't embarrass themselves at all they were in every game besides the first and with all those injuries that's amazing.

@bankingonmoney8224 16 күн бұрын

I agree regarding the Caps making the playoffs because of a weak conf. The only reason the Caps made it in the playoffs is OV turned things around, youth contribution, and Charlie Lindgren. OV went cognito in the playoffs, and youth contributed very little (expected). Lindgren is the only reason the games were even close. One positive I can say is that our young players received playoff experience.

@kashshhds8824 16 күн бұрын

We will get the cup but def not in the next 5 years I hope the bears win the Calder cup to semi make up for the sweep

@yourmentalandlord 14 күн бұрын

Caps didnt belong in the playoffs. Simply put.

@simonfahima3488 16 күн бұрын

I commented on your second game of thie series podcast I knew it would be a sweep was very cute to see the optimism though from caps fans

@strategic1710 16 күн бұрын

I can’t remember a playoff series this lopsided in terms of on ice ability. Caps deserved to be there because they did what it took to do it, but they had no chance in this series, it was just a tune up for the rags.

@VisibleEnd 16 күн бұрын

So pathetic go Canucks go

@bearwooden660 16 күн бұрын

C'mon, man you serious calls didn't go Caps way? 6 PPs in game 3.... All I got to say, Oshie face washing, pushing Panarin and while it is a playoff hockey Caps really tried to goon it up and got no reprimand for it.