Follow @james_tanner123 I'm not sure there's a bigger cliche in hockey than the 'must win' game - and we are talking about a sport which revels in cliches to the point of self-parody. So you know when you're calling something the biggest cliche in hockey, it's like calling the Wicker Man the worst Nick Cage movie.
But be that as it may, the Capitals are in a tough spot after losing game one.
In round one, they went down 2-0 to the Blue Jackets on home-ice, which meant they were essentially eliminated after two games.
They, however, made a miraculous comeback and somehow managed to win four straight to move on to the second round.
But, to do that twice.
To do that twice in a row.
Against your arch rival.
And against what is probably the best team in the NHL.
The team which is the back-to-back defending champs.........well that's a basic impossibility.
So game 2 is a must win game.
At the end of the day, the Capitals must go all-in. They must give 110% and remember that there is no I in team. They must play for each other, while taking it one game at a time. Just remember that when you put the puck on the net, good things happen. Play the full 60 minutes. Make sure that compete-level is off the charts.
But if they do lose, they can't cry over spilt milk. They gotta avoid losing like the plague.
I'm not even joking. With all due respect, this is a must win game. The fact of the matter is, they must give zero ____. They must investigate the curious case of the Penguins always kicking their ass.
They gotta hustle. Take it off line and fill the place with synergy. Or play with synergy? I'm gonna be honest here, I don't know what synergy is. I am pretty sure it's a made up word used exclusively by douches.
The Capitals must win. I write good. The end.