The Capitals are facing elimination. We’ll give it our all, he says from the cabin

Washington is battling the best team in the regular season in the first round of the playoffs. The New York Rangers confirm their role as favorites and are one step away from advancing to the next round. There is determination from the Capitals booth and they will definitely fight.

Washington made it to the knockout stages at the last minute. He had to win the last three duels of the regular season to secure promotion. In the end, he made it to the playoffs from the second wild card position and got the worst possible opponent in the first round, the hyped winner of the regular season.

“We just have to keep our heads up and fight. We have been down a lot this year. I like this team a lot, we’ll give it everything and turn it around next game,” roars John Carlson before the fourth game.

However, the Capitals still have a very long and thorny road ahead of them on their way to a potential series tie. In the history of the NHL, turning the series from 0:3 was successful only four times, there were 202 unsuccessful attempts at this rarely seen feat. The last time it happened ten years ago, when the LA Kings beat the San Jose Shakrs in the first round of the Stanley Cup.

“It doesn’t change what we’ve been through the last two months, for the most part coming back from the All-Star break. We’re not trying to win a series. We’re trying to win one hockey game and that’s how we’re going to prepare,” Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said.

Special teams are especially the problem. The Capitals power play looked good in Game 2, but very often they are outscored by the opposition. In the second game, Ovechkin was robbed of the puck by Zibanejad, K’Andre Miller finished the offensive action. Braclay Goodrow fired in the third duel in the weakening. Both goals later proved to be game-winners. The Capitals also don’t excel in their own weakening.

“It’s a bit of a shame because we know exactly what to do, how they’re going to play. We have good ideas and passes, but we still can’t get the puck in the goal,” said Washington captain Alex Ovechkin.

However, Washington’s players have trouble scoring in balance. In each match, they made it through only once, great credit goes to the excellent catcher Igor Šestorkin, but also to the small offensive power of the Capitals. Already in the regular season, they scored an average of 2.6 goals per game, which ranked them 28th in the entire NHL.

“We have a big problem with absolutely everything. Whether it’s shooting or making a few extra passes. You can see it a lot in powerlifting. It’s not for lack of trying. Guys are trying. It’s just that we are very limited offensively in what we can do with the puck,” the coach described.

The fourth game awaits the Capitals on Monday night. “We have to win the first game. Take it after the third, after the substitution, turn the development on our side. Once you win one game, anything can happen, but we have to be better. Score some goals. We have to be good in front of the home fans in the next game,” said forward Tom Wilson.

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