Down 3-1, Caps Face Embarrassing First Round Loss

Yes, I know that last year, the Caps were down 3-1 to the Flyers and forced a seventh game, one they should have won. Yes, I know that this is basically the same team, just more experienced, except for in goal, where 20-year old rookie has been better than Cristobal Huet was last year in round one. Still, down 3-1 against the New York Rangers, the Caps are staring yet another first-round series loss in the face. This one would be especially bad; this was the best Caps team in history (in the regular season) and was absolutely loaded on offense. The problems - the defense and goaltender – would be their Achilles heel in the playoffs. Well, the defense has been fine, and, other than game one, the goaltending has been great. The problem? The offense.

This was one of the best offenses in the regular season, boasting Rocket Richard Trophy winner Alexander Ovechkin, 30-goal scorers in Mike Green and Alex Semin, 20-goal scorers in Nicklas Backstrom and Brooks Laich. This team could score on anyone. Well, until the playoffs. The Caps refuse to pay the price it takes to score in the playoffs. The Rangers have done a fantastic job of keeping the Caps to the outside on offense and they have done an even better job blocking the shots. The Caps refuse to park someone in front of the net and disrupt Henrik Lundqvist's sightlines. They refuse to make adjustments against a team that has been completely outplayed all series long.

Too often, the Washington offense revolves around watching Alex Ovechkin skate in, shoot it, and then let the Rangers break out. There is no one crashing the net and there is no secondary scoring. The third and fourth lines have done absolutely nothing all series long and it is absolutely disgusting to watch. Sure, the Caps can take solace in the fact that they have been the better team since the drop of the puck in game 1. But that doesn't matter when you're down 3-1 and must win 3 straight to come back. They seem to play better with their backs against the wall, but 91% of the teams up 3-1 in playoff series go on to win it.

And if that stat holds true in this series, the Caps must make some serious moves in the offseason. George McPhee must be fired; he has yet to win a playoff series as general manager of the Capitals in 11 years (1998 was David Poile's team). The team must find a way to add more grit to the offense and defense. A physical, veteran defenseman must be found, whether via free agency or trade. A playoff-type forward has to be found, and the team should look for a way to trade Jose Theodore and Michael Nylander.

All that can be worried about for a few months in the Caps find a way to come back in this series. But right now, it's not looking good for the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference.