I finally decided to pay attention to the Flyers for the first time in 12 years, and this was the thanks I get???

That Detroit goal with 3 seconds left would've been the story of the year had the Washington-Philly game gone the other way, but when your life depends on Philly, you're already dead.

it was so sad seeing all players on the bench putting there heads down during the shootout bc they knew😔

The Caps empty net came 9 seconds after the Detroit tying goal so you really can’t say Torts dropped the ball on that one.

Seeing Washington beet the flyers and clinch the last spot and then watching the red wings win in a shoutout was heartbreaking

As a Sabres fan, I struggle to remember what heartbreak feels like.

Saw it live, screamed my head off for the Perron goal. Such a brutal finish, but glad to end the season on a high note. Go Wings!

As a Wings fan, this was heartbreaking. Can gripe and moan all we want about tiebreakers and such, but the Wings ruined their season themselves. We’ll be back, and hopefully this sting jumpstarts the squad next season.

Just an absolute rollercoaster of emotions. Total elation when Perron scores with 4 seconds left to the absolute downer of winning a game in a shootout and it meaning nothing. I'll get over it, but its gonna take more than a few hours to process the disappointment.

That losing stint really screwed them over last month. Damn. Patty Kane would’ve been elite in the playoffs

I’m an Avs fan, I should hate the Wings out of pure nature, but I was so excited when Perron’s shot went in. That was incredible! Just too bad Washington had to win yet another boring game and ruin the fun. Good luck next year, Wings. Still hoping for that Avs-Wings Final someday!

The future looks promising in Detroit. They never quit on themselves or each other and it took all 82 games to keep them out of the playoffs.

Nothing but respect for the wings coming from a ranger fan

That is such a killjoy end of the season for the Pens and Red Wings

Bro I’m a die hard hawks fan and just can’t imagine what the wings are going through bc they are the better team than the caps and it just stinks that a team who has a -37 is playing the rangers

As a Michigander, hockey player, and lifelong wings fan, I am just honored to have watched one of the greatest hockey moments on live tv. I will never forget that goal in the 3rd period off the draw. Honestly, to me, watching that last goal was worth far more than a cup victory. It inspired me to never give up hope, no matter the odds.

Boston and Toronto in the first round is going to go crazy!

As a Red Wings fan, I am sad but we did this to ourselves with those losing streaks. Had our amazing moments this season but hopefully will have more next season.

Damn. My heart is actually broken right now.

Torts just made himself enemy #1 between the Pens and Red Wings. How do you manage make Detroit and Pittsburgh agree on something?

The Redwings end with 41 wins, 41 losses, 91 pts and a +4 goal diff. The Capitals end with 40 wins, 42 losses, 91 pts, and a -37 goal diff. Show this to your friends who don't follow hockey and ask them to guess which one made the playoffs...

Appreciate the wings coverage. Big sad tn

The pens went on a crazy run and fell just short. Watching everything going right for the pens tonight and then the empty net goal, and the final second goal for the wings just broke my heart for the pens.

everyone is upset but the caps had a 5% chance to make the playoffs and worked hard and did it… we beat the bruins 2x and pulled off some difficult victories. some calls may have not been the best, sure, but the caps deserved it. they fairly got in.

was at work, wanted the caps in cause iont like the red wings. saw the game was tied with seconds left in montreal and tuned in to the caps radio broadcast JUST in time to hear that beautiful Oshie goal. Work of art

Lesson is not to put yourself in the position where your fate is dictated by somebody else and you can't do nothing but watch.

Wings fan from sweden here, i watched this in the middle of the night and when Perron scored I got so happy what i had to contain myself from not screaming. I was euphoric and right after.. yeah. This sucks

I'll never forget this.

Many thought the Caps would be bottom 5 in the league this year. They played well this season and Deserved to make the playoffs. Even so, I can’t believe just how many people are still insulting and trash talking the Caps. It’s outrageous. Sure, I will admit there were some bad calls, but over 82 games, the Caps beat the Pens, Flyers, and Wings fair and square. Give some respect to the Caps, they worked hard and didn’t get in by accident. They were the underdogs the whole season, lost Backstrom and Kuzy, and still managed to get in. I respect that. They got in through straight grit and determination, and though I do admit Detroit would have been awesome to watch in the playoffs, you cannot discount how much the Caps have wanted and worked hard for this every single day.

Video talks like Caps didn't deserve the playoff spot, very sour tone. Detroit didn't play well enough to deserve a spot, there's nothing heartbreaking about it.

I love that you are a big star wars and hockey fan, same here man both just great subjects to cover.

Wings deserved it more the way they finished..but also can't go on a 7 game losing streak a month before the season ends, so lock up Kane and looking forward to next season fellas

Just watched the press conference with torts after the game. He didn’t get the message from Detroit until after the goal was scored. Unfortunate situation for everyone

All I'm saying is great season for Detroit to get it down to game 82, but they should have beaten the caps in their final mu against eachother if they wanted to make the playoffs

Thanks for the recap.

It’s heartbreaking but this team this year proves Detroit is improving and they got loads of solid prospects in their system, they’ll be in the playoffs next year for sure considering they weren’t even supposed to make the playoffs based on what everyone was saying and the fact they lost due to a tiebreaker and were in it all season…they’ll make it

I'm super proud of this team, however, you can't lose 2 games to Arizona and blow a 4-0 lead to the Sharks and lose the game and expect to be in the playoffs. Great progression this year! LETS GO RED WINGS!

Either way, any of the 4 teams that would've clinched would get destroyed by the Rangers.

The Capitals won 1 second before the Wings-Habs shootout started, literally, I was keeping track of both games.

Heartbreaking to not make it but we've seen the team make a big step forward this season. Can't wait for the next one!

It's very funny to see nobody give the Capitals any credit especially over these past few games. Everyone said they wouldn't make it after the All star break because they had one of the toughest strength of schedules in the league and still found a way to win close clutch games, Backstrom was forced to retire, they sold at the deadline and lost two top 6 forwards in Kuzy and Mantha and still found a way to play through that, then at the end of the season we lose 2 of our top 4 D in Sandin/Jensen and the calls up killed it and didn't fold under pressure. Everyone considers this a heart break because Crosby played great the past month and Detroit made heroic comebacks to save their seasons, but maybe if the Pens didn't reach a point in the season where they looked like they had a chance at Celibrini and if Detroit didn't lose 8 games in a row getting outscored 31-12 they wouldn't be here in the first place and I see nobody discrediting either of these team for this. As a caps fan the Rangers are the team I least wanted to face because the capitals suck against fast teams with elite offensive fire power as everyone can tell by their goal differential and they do way better winning close games against teams that get their wins playing good defense lile the Hurricanes/Bruins so I really waned the Caps first round MU to be either of these 2 not the Rangers.

Detroit could've made the playoffs had they won one of 2 games vs the Caps in the last 10 games.

I'm a Pens fan so obviously I would've loved to see them get that playoff spot, but I was really hoping the Wings would get the playoff spot over the Caps, they're so much more fun to watch and they had such a strong end to the season

That icing call was BRUTAL, if it had been waived off as it should have been, most of the other drama wouldn't have occurred.

The flyers should be fined. Joke of a team.

as the leafs fan i agree the refs this year are all shiiii they should be all replaced

Seeing detroits season end is like thanos smile while watching the beautiful sunset.

Pens must be heartbroken as well - they saw everything happen without being able to do anything about it

even more interesting was a preview of the first round, Toronto should start freaking out.

I am just numb inside.

I'm both a Red Wings and Canadiens fan. I was happy to see Hutson playing so well already and Slaf getting his 20th goal of the season... I put my pride as a Habs fan aside to see the Red Wings through to the playoffs, and when Perron scored the game tying goal, I started jumping up and down like a maniac, unaware that the Caps would score shortly after. Seeing the Wings be eliminated like that, it's gonna take a while to get over it. But I believe the future is bright, both for Detroit and Montréal.

I felt so bad for them. I was really hoping Philly would pull off the win. I like Ovechkin,and am glad he gets in, but i always cheer for original 6 teams in situations like this

Honestly, when it comes to who gets in the playoffs. The nhl should do waht the mlb does and have a tiebreaker game with the hone team being the team who won the regular season tiebreaker. That would mean we'd have game 83, Detroit @ Washington, friday night. Winner makes the playoffs.

“Egregious” is exactly what I said after that early whistle. LFGR.

The Wings tying goal should have even happened with that ridiculous icing call

As a Wings fan all my life it is heartbreaking, it sucks to get so close but miss out on the dance. That said we (the Redwings) had the opportunity between Feb 29th to March 12 to take our fate out of other teams hands, and place it squarely in our own hands. Bravo to the teams that made it! I wish for safety for each player and that each team puts in the performance that in the end, they can look back and say the left it all on the ice. We will see you next season :)

As a Pens fan, I'm sad we're out, but knowing the Red Wings tied it with 5 seconds left andwinning, only to be out genuinely hurts,

This is so sad man, feel so bad for larks.

NY and Carolina in the second round again this year… that series is going to be a banger.

Definitely biased as a caps fan, but there's something at least to be said about how players react (or don't) right after the whistle is blown on the no-goal call. Either way, I agree that it's an unacceptable whistle there.

Sutherland's 🗑call (assuming we're ignoring the butterfly effect) eliminated 3 other teams. I don't understand why the rules aren't set up for overturn nonsense like that. I empathize big time with Wings fans on this one. Was really cheering for you guys to make the playoffs, as a Leafs fan.

As a wings fan i can’t even be upset. We had our chance, we played the caps 2 weeks ago and lost in regulation 🤷🏻‍♂️

Imagine being detroit. needing a win AND needing washington to lose. and learning during the overtime, that it doesnt matter anymore

Especially agree with your point about the officiating. Overall this year, it has been quite terrible. We've got a league with the best players, we should also have the best referees. Sure, it's easy to pick on them when we have video replay and the internet, but still...So many bad calls and so many inconsistencies all year long....

That tiebreaker rule is so stupid. It should be total wins instead of only counting regulation wins. Now you have washington getting in the playoffs instead of detroit despite them having more losses.

Why do people keep talking about whether Torterella knew or not? Why would he care? He's focused on the game in front of him and the team he coaches. And his two options are: 1) go to overtime, 100% get eliminated or try to win in regulation and have a small chance at making it. Why should anything else factor in? It's not his concern whether Detroit or the Caps make it in. He doesn't coach them.

I'm a Rangers fan also, but after last season losing in the first round, I never count anyone out, especially lower seed teams. Florida barely squeaked into the playoffs last year and they went all the way to the Finals. Playoff hockey is always a different kind of hockey

Bro they were so close...

Any reasonable Red Wings fan was honestly happy to have meaningful games this deep into April. They better get the bags ready for Raymond and Mo! Looking forward to a Rangers / Oilers Cup final!

I'm a Caps fan, and while I do agree the officials were extremely lazy tonight, both teams had quite a few penalties that were not called that could've affected the game just as much as the unallowed goal did. Sometimes things don't go how they should, but realistically there were probably many bad calls in earlier games this season that affected the standings just as much as the Caps/Flyers game. It's part of the sport (unfortunately). Detroit, I can't believe how hard you guys pushed for that final spot! It was fun (and nerve-wracking for me) to see your determination to acquire every point you had the chance to get. Now to the playoffs!

My family has had season tickets for capitals since they started in dc. For the first time in my life, thank you flyers

Lifetime 30-year-old Detroit native and Red Wings fan. May have been a heartbreaker last night but all of the mistakes I’m seeing my team make we weren’t going to stop making them if we had made the playoffs and would have probably had a first round exit. It was an interesting season to see if we were going to be taking a step backwards or a step forward to being a consistently competitive team in the league. I would say we moved forward this year

Pulling the goalie AFTER detroit was already in ot is dumb

The officiating this year has been a dumpsterfire. It needs to be corrected.

The Detroit Redwings really took "heartbreaking" to a whole new level! 😅

A lot of heart, unfortunately the team needs size and speed. Hopefully sour taste at the end of this season will carry over next year igniting more consistent play. I'll be a Wings fan for life, it's all I know after 52 years of following them. Thanks boys!

*Whelp! Looks like it's time for me to root for the 'Canes this playoff season!*

Feel worse for Sid and the Pens. The man carried his team so far this year. Still elite at 36 years old but the team couldn’t get there. Detroit has a future. This may have been the Penguins last chance

red wings fan here; i’m a very young fan but i’ve been a red wings fan the whole time i’ve been a hockey fan (about 8 years). this is the first season where i’ve paid very close attention to the wings. going through the highs (like january and february) and the lows (most of month of march) was a lot of fun and kept me on the edge oft seat; especially the last few weeks. this is the best season we’ve had in 8 years. it absolutely sucks to end like this but we’ll be so back next year. LGRW. 🐙🐙🐙🐙🐙

To be fair, the refs missed a guy hopping off the flyers bench during a 2 on 1 break for Washington

Hah hah, suck it Wings! - A Flyers fan that lived in Michigan in 1997. Yes, I'm still salty.

As a caps fan my heart was in my ass for the last half of that 3rd period. So glad we won but good god it was stressful.

I haven’t seen anyone that dejected after their own victory since Felipe Massa won the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix. *context for people who don’t follow F1 and/or weren’t following it at the time (probably most people who will read this comment) : Felipe Massa won the final race of the 2008 F1 season in his home country of Brazil. If everyone finished in the positions they were in when he finished he would have won the Championship, equal on points with Lewis Hamilton but holding the tiebreaker. Instead Hamilton made a pass at the final corner to claim the Title by a single point. Massa’s team was already celebrating his championship and had to be told the bad news.

I went from total elation, running around my house screaming like a lunatic, to being stoic and nonverbal for 2 days. They had chances to lock down the WC spot and blew it, but those last two games were top notch hockey.

As a Rangers fan NYR in 4 LGR

I’m honestly more sad that the Penguins didn’t get that spot. The capitals??? Seriously bro that sucks I really would rather see Crosby in the playoffs over Ovi, fucking Boston man they had to win against penguins and then lay a fat egg against the caps the day after

Patrick Kane to his agent: “I’ve made a serious mistake..” 💀🤣🤣

Just remember, referee Kelly Sutherland showcased his blind as a bat routine by blowing down a live up-in-the-air puck that ultimately came down, hit a Flyer, and went in the net. Should have been a 1-0 Flyer lead were it not for the blind ref blowing it dead. They would have had a 2-1 lead later and never needed to pull the goalie. And since we ended up tied 1-1 late in the third and needed a regulation win, Torts HAD to pull the goalie. And he said in his postgame presser that they didn’t get word that Detroit had tied the game in Montreal until after Ersson was already sitting on the bench. For Philly though, that 8 game collapse over the past 3 weeks killed their hopes. Losing to Chicago, Buffalo, Montreal twice, and Columbus was soul crushing. Winning just one or two of those games against those teams would have secured them a spot and none of this would have been necessary. But it sure made tings exciting, didn’t it?

-37 goal differential and Washington snakes their way into the playoffs

I know the caps are gonna get absolutely hammered against the rangers but as a Washington native I can’t help but chuckle at all the mayhem this has caused

Watching Crosby have an excellent year and the team finally pull together and end the season 9-1-3, this hurt a little extra

The call about the vertical puck was not egregious. You don't like it because it helped eliminate your team, but they blew the whistle normally, because everyone lost track of the puck... It bounced off a player when it landed, so according to the rules, no goal. It was a perfect call.

Sad we missed the playoffs, but glad we proved everyone wrong who said we'd finish behind Ottawa and Buffalo this year 🥹

Refs wanted that garbage Washington in the playoffs. They’ll prob be swept. Detroit Or Pittsburgh would’ve been a way better opponent.

It just makes the tears much more sweeter.

Wings really collapsed in second part of the season.

Selling at the deadline and being in a retool and still making the playoffs with a first time coach and -37 goal differential is insane. Couldn’t be more proud.

Wings should be mad at themselves, they played terrible hockey down the stretch. Ended up going 7-15 since that 7 losing streak in march. Just pathetic stuff. I more mad at that shit. They ruined their season themselves.

It’s not too many men when Washington doesn’t have the puck.

All the wildcard insanity comes to a crushing end... I was also going for Pitts/Detroit. Pretty sure no one wanted the Caps to make it, lol #NoCap ;)