Mike Hopey

Photo Courtesy of ESPN

The Washington Capitals did all the things they needed to do going into these playoffs. They added veterans like Marco Sturm and Denis Wideman to compliment stars like Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, and Mike Green. Michael Neuvirth even appeared to be a more than solid option between the pipes going into the playoffs.

But after tonight’s 4-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning the Capitals are down to their last strike in the 2011 Playoffs. They now trail the red-hot Bolts three games to none. And Ovi and company are searching for answers with a 24-hour turn around before Game 4.

Washington had their chances on Tuesday night. Tampa certainly wanted to help them out too by taking three straight penalties in the second. Despite their chances the Capitals could never get it going and appeared to have no idea what they needed to do.

At one point in the first, Boudreau had his captain, Ovechkin, serve a bench minor for too many men that made it 4-on-4. It is puzzling to even the most casual hockey fan why you would take a player known for speed, creativity, and scoring and put him in the penalty box during a situation that would benefit him.

The 4-3 loss can not be blamed entirely on what the Caps did, it also comes down to what they could not do. Mainly, stop the Lightnings star players. Stamkos tied the game at three, the winning goal was scored just 24 seconds later by Ryan Malone. Vinny Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis also showed up on the score sheet tonight. Stamkos, St. Louis and Lecavalier now have 18 points in the playoffs.

It was supposed to be easy for the Caps to knock off the offensive challenged NY Rangers, who were missing their best offensive player in Ryan Callahan thanks to a Zdeno Chara slapper off the foot.

But now that Washington has run into a team with a scoring punch and a hot goaltender they are in danger of becoming another Capitals team that fits their most recent modus operandi. Which is to dominate in December and January but disappear in April and May. 

Perhaps they should switch names with the DC basketball team.