Can Caps Turn the Series Around?

Washington Capitals Hockey

After watching the Capitals lose the second game in a row at home, you have to wonder if the Capitals have it in them to turn this series around. There are precedents where teams have lost the first two games of the series and game back and won the series but it doesn't happen very often, and the odds are that the Rangers will win the series and could do it in four games. That's the beauty and the heartbreak of the playoffs; you can have a fantastic regular season, but you run into a hot team, or you're not at the top of your game when the series starts and lose a couple of close games, wham, the series and your season is over before it even gets started. The problem is as much psychological as anything. It's not like the Capitals have been badly outplayed. Both games were one goal games, and they put a barrage of shots on Lundquist. Still, having played sports myself, there comes times when it seems like no matter what you do, you're not going to win against a particular team. On the bright side, after giving up a goal early on in the game, Varlimov played very well only giving up one goal himself. Should the Capitals play him in game 3? I think they should. What else can the Capitals do differently. Well, for one thing they need to get in Lundquist's face more. While they don't necessarily want to take penalties, at this point, it's probably a risk worth taking to try and get him off his game. If Brashear is able to play, they should also throw him in there, and get some physical stuff going. They really need to get some people in front of the net, and other than Laich, there doesn't seem to be a lot of Capitals willing to pay the price. They really need to let it all hang out and play like a desperate team, because the reality is, they are. Lose the next one, and the series is done. While the odds are against the Capitals pulling out the series, they have been a resilient bunch throughout the season and as a fan, I'm hoping that they show it again in Game 3.

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