In the sixth game, “Washington” lost to “Florida” and finished its playoff performance in the first round stage. It was the fourth time in a row. Since winning the Stanley Cup for the first time in its history in 2018, the club has not won a single playoff series.
2019 – Departure from Carolina (3-4);
2020 – Eliminated by Islanders (1-4)
2021 – departure from Boston (1-4);
2022 – Departure from “Florida” (2-4).
All these four years, the course of the Capitals period was discussed in the press. Alexander Ovechkin’s team was considered contenders for many years. And now it is generally accepted that everything, the train has left. “Washington” with a leader over 30 can no longer win. There are no worthy replacements for veterans yet. And the salary cap does not allow wandering. Ovechkin alone cannot carry a team. Although he was retrained from a sniper to quarterback in this playoff. He has 6 (1+5) points in six games.
A breakout in the first round of the playoffs does not dare to call the capital a failure. The team can only be accused of an expressionless performance in the regular season (eighth place), because it got into the strongest team of the year in the first round. If the opponents were not “Florida”, “Washington” could easily have gone further, in which case he could also run. The fifth game was lost with 0:3 out of stupidity. The two meetings ended in overtime.
The Panthers compete for the Stanley Cup. It is believed that they have no experience, but the team grows, develops and acquires this experience. He beat everyone else in the regular season and is trying not to lose his trump card in the playoffs. And “Washington” Barkov had nothing to block Verhege, Huberdo, Giroud and Bobrovsky.
Osha has six goals in this series. Kuznetsov and Backstrom have two each. No other Washington player has more than one puck. For comparison, Verhege has six, Giroud three, Barkov and Reinhart two each. Florida’s attack was much more volatile, swift, and youthful. He and his trusty Bobrovsky were able to make up for the problems in the defense. The Capitals didn’t have Tom Wilson (he only spent 90 seconds in the first match), which means there was no one to beat the opponent. The “metropolitans” also did not have the young and talented Anton Lundell. Washington wasn’t good at breaking games. If they gave, they gave. There were episodes where the comebacks were successful, but the scoreboard was still not in their favor.
And of course the goalkeeper team remained the pain of the team. Colleagues correctly noted: it is not Vanechek and Samsonov to blame (it seems they have already given their maximum), but the management of the club, which “goals” in solving the goalkeeper problem. Brian McLellan hasn’t been able to find a reliable first score in two years, and during that time it’s been possible to ensure that the system’s goalkeepers aren’t drawn into the role. This summer, GM should revisit the issue, with few market options and salary caps no longer an excuse. Others understand.
The main part of the team has a contract for next season. The changes will be minor. And the huge deals of Ovechkin, Backstrom, Carlson and Kuznetsov will not allow for a global restructuring. He has a contract for next season and Peter Laviolette. There’s no talk of its early termination yet, but it’s possible. The game system of the American coach is not very attractive, the players get bored quickly. If there was an outcome, all of this could have been closed eyes. But he’s the same as Todd Rearden. By the way, Barry Trotz has now been released – the same person who led the club to the first trophy in history. Perhaps you should consider his return to the US capital?
In 2018, everyone understood that the team would weaken. There’s no escaping this as the Capitals have been at the top for so long (although in the playoffs, it often ended sadly). Aging leaders with big contracts, not just the coolest teenagers (high draft picks went to others), but also Ovechkin’s follow-up to Gretzky’s record. “Washington” is no longer a favorite in the Cup challenge. There are enough teams in the league that are stronger in composition and potentially stronger than Caps. But at the same time it is not worth putting a final cross on the team. “Gunpowder” is still there. And the same “Pittsburgh” with over 30 leaders fighting “Rangers” without the main goalkeepers, confirming it’s too soon to wipe out the seniors. The collapse of these great teams is far away.
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