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Capitals Should Have Won, Didn't

April 16, 2018, 10:43 AM ET [48 Comments]
James Tanner
Washington Capitals Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT



Sergei Bobrovsky had a good game!

To say the least.

Not too often a goalie allows four goals and you're still talking about how great he played, but the NHL's current best goalie saved 54 shots for the win last night, all but eliminating the Washington Capitals.

The Capitals controlled over 60% of the play, including over 70% on over-time, as well as a league record 146 power-plays, and yet they still managed, somehow, to not win this game.

As much as I'd like to crow about being right about the lousiness of one B. Trotz (Esquire), the fact is, there really isn't anything else that could have been done - sometimes you are the best team and do not happen to win.

Sometimes Sergei Bobrovsky happens.

Still, there are things - like scratching three of the only eight players who finished the season above 50% possession, starting your backup goalie or skating Backstrom less at 5v5 than Chandler Stephenson - that drive you nuts. But what can you do? The Capitals are no strangers to dominating playoff games and losing. IN fact, it's right there in their team slogan.

WE ONLY WIN WHEN WE PLAY BAD



Jay Beagle, in for Vrana (why??????) scored, but also had a 31% CF and was -40% relative to the rest of his team. He isn't a good player, and Vrana is, but geeze man, learn to grind and you'll get to play.

As for Trotz, even though he had to pull Grubauer he still wouldn't commit after the game to starting Holtby. OK.

I will though: Holtby is for sure starting the next game.

Overall, the Caps are down 2-0, having lost both games on home ice. I'm not sure what the statistics say about that, but I did recently learn that the team that wins game one has a 75% chance of winning the series, so I highly doubt losing both games at home gives you good odds of winning.

I wouldn't be surprised to learn it's like 2%.

Doesn't matter - the Capitals are done, barring a miracle.
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