It's hard for Capitals fans not to feel like it is the same old, same old. But WTOP Senior Sports Director Dave Johnson says you have to look out it differently.
Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby adjusts his mask after Pittsburgh Penguins’ Phil Kessel scored during the second period of Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference semifinals, Tuesday, May 10, 2016 in Pittsburgh.
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar
Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) sprawls in the crease as Pittsburgh Penguins’ Nick Bonino (13) puts the game-winning overtime goal behind him in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference semifinal series in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, May 10, 2016. The Penguins won 4-3 and advanced to the conference finals.
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar
Pittsburgh Penguins’ Nick Bonino (13) scores in overtime as Washington Capitals’ Nicklas Backstrom (19) and Matt Niskanen watch during Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference semifinals, Tuesday, May 10, 2016 in Pittsburgh. The Penguins won 4-3 in overtime to advance to the next round.
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar
Pittsburgh Penguins’ Carl Hagelin, center, is congratulated by teammates Olli Maatta (3) and Conor Sheary (43) after he scored against the Washington Capitals during the second period of Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference semifinals, Tuesday, May 10, 2016 in Pittsburgh.
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
WASHINGTON — It’s hard for Capitals fans not to feel like it is the same old, same old. The elimination by the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday means the Capitals team with the most regular season wins in franchise history has underachieved in the playoffs.
That sounds harsh, but so was the ending — the 4-3 loss to the Penguins in overtime. There was every reason to believe it was going to be different. This Capitals team never seemed to get rattled and had the momentum going into Tuesday’s overtime after forcing the extra session with three unanswered goals.
Now the Capitals are trying to answer questions about their inability to advance past the second round of the playoffs — something they have not done since 1998. The Caps playoff history has been painful, but it has nothing to do with the present.
In short, the Capitals lost to the hottest team in hockey. The Penguins had won 18 of 21 games before the series with the Capitals.
The 56 wins in the regular season were not a fluke and the foundation is in place for more success in the future.
Braden Holtby has arrived as one of the league’s best — if not the best — goaltenders. T.J. Oshie and Justin Williams have been added to a team with elite stars Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom.
That’s the take-away. The Capitals have not peaked. Head coach Barry Trotz just finished his second year in town and he is in charge of a team that is more likely to be motivated by this season instead of being defined by it.
Dave Johnson is Senior Sports Director and morning sports anchor. He first arrived at WTOP in 1989, left in 1992 and returned in 1995. He is a three-time winner of the A.I.R. award as best radio sportscaster in D.C. In 2008 he won the Edward R. Murrow award for best writing for sports commentaries.
