It's hard to not feel bad for the Capitals - a team that can't seem to catch a break. Last year, they went up against their biggest rivals and lost despite out-chancing an inferior team by over a 100 scoring chances in a seven game series.
This year, things were looking up, they had a 2-0 lead against the Lightning and are only two games away from playing for the Cup.
However, in two games that remind one very much of last year's losing series, they outplayed the Lightning and happened to lose. Anyone talking about the Caps choking is not paying attention.
They came out and played two great games at home and could easily have won if not for Andre Vasilevskiy, who has played amazing.
In game three, the Caps were the better team, Ovechkin and Kuznetsov combined for over 20 shots and they still lost.
Last night, the Capitals were dominant 5v5 and if they could have scored on one of the 987 powerplayes they had, they would have easily won the game.
Can't be mad though, that's how hockey works.
The Capitals and Lightning may be tied, and the Lightning may have momentum and home-ice advantage back, but this series is not close to over.
The Lightning still have to achieve the improbable comeback of winning four of five games, and doing so while being drastically outplayed.
The Capitals could have swept this series if the Tampa goalie didn't steal two straight games - by doing nothing differently and just getting slightly luckier, this series would be over.
At the very least it should be 3-1.
But it's not. And that's fine. The Capitals still hold the advantage because they've been the better team. Also, I'm not sure how long Ovechkin's streak of bad luck can go on for.
Of course a tied series can go either way, but the Capitals should be secure knowing that at 5v5 they have proven to be too much for anyone on the Lightning, save their goalie, to handle.
Based on the way the Lightning have played, I still think it's impossible for them to win four of five and am confident that the Capitals will be playing in the Finals.
Washington Capitals Blogger • 
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