The sky-is-falling Capitals fans want one thing written today. Because they’re so used to doom enveloping their franchise every spring, they want angst, desperation, panic. They want, “OUR SEASON IS 48 HOURS FROM MELTING IN TAMPA!”
But I am here to say: Relax.
Washington Capitals' players react to the overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series on Sunday. (May 1)
Track every shot and goal of every Capitals playoff game.
Despite losing its first two games on home ice, this team has got this series — very likely in six games, seven if Ovi and the boys must.
This isn’t a bit; in fact, the likely outcome has already been etched in Stanley Cup playoff annals, circa, oh, 2003.
Look it up: Lightning-Capitals, first round. Two games into their 2011 matchup, the symmetry between the two series almost eight years later is almost eerie.
Back then, an older Caps team beat a young and inexperienced Tampa Bay club twice on the road before the Lightning’s young legs began to figure out a veteran goaltender in Olie Kolzig, and Nikolai Khabibulin recovered from two shaky starts.
A Washington team featuring an aging Peter Bondra was actually hampered by playing back-to-back games on home ice (on back-to-back religious holidays, no less). The 2011 Lightning have to play on Tuesday and Wednesday because of scheduling conflicts with their arena.
The Caps never got the bounces after Game 2 in 2003 and lost four straight. Martin St. Louis was just 27, Vincent Lecavalier was a mere 23. Jaromir Jagr, shadowed for much of the series by his Czech Republic countryman Pavel Kubina, scored just two goals while playing with a sore wrist.
Ted Leonsis’s strategy of buying someone else’s star to win a Stanley Cup died the night the Caps lost in triple overtime at home, on a goal scored by St. Louis, before a paltry crowd.
“I have to really reconsider the kind of commitment and investment I’m making with this team,’’ Leonsis said at the time. “I’m not a quitter. . . . It was hard to see 14,000 fans. I don’t like the treatment that we’re getting from the building. The party’s over. To play back-to-back games on Passover and Easter Sunday does not help.’’
Leonsis and General Manager George McPhee soon backed up the truck, hauled out the garbage and started over. With a lockout looming, Leonsis embraced new-age NHL frugality by dumping everybody and building through youth. Then came the drafting of the next NHL superstar, Alex Ovechkin, who less than three years later became hockey’s first $100 million player, and was joined by Mike Green, Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin to form one of the youngest, most talented nucleuses ever assembled.
But now, Washington fans, the shoe is now on the other foot: With the exception of Steven Stamkos, the Caps have the resilient kids on their roster, and the Lightning could become old very quickly if it doesn’t pay attention at home.
Lecavalier isn’t ancient at 31, certainly not after he scored twice, including the winner in overtime Sunday night in Game 2. But he isn’t the NHL postseason rookie he was in 2003 anymore.
“It was my first time in the playoffs,” Lecavalier said outside Tampa Bay’s locker room Sunday night, recounting his team’s series win in 2003. “I was so young and had so much energy. I don’t want to say I felt invincible, but when you’re that young, it doesn’t bother you when you’re down 2-0 in a series. You really think you can do anything.
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