What Went Wrong: Ovechkin's Last Chance?

We have an elimination in the Eastern Conference half of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and it was the Washington Capitals who received the proverbial axe. The Caps were part of a top-heavy East that saw all eight of its playoff teams boast at least 100 points in the standings, which also resulted in the eight teams being sealed months before it was official. The Caps' 100 points was only good enough to nab the 2nd Wild Card spot, which set up a meeting between their former Southeast Division foes, the Florida Panthers, who won the Presidents' Trophy this season.

However, the Capitals managed to take Game One right off the bat, and they also took a 2-1 series lead with a dominant win in Game Three. Game Four saw them lead late, and it definitely looked like the Caps would take that game and put a stranglehold on the Panthers. However, Florida tied the game late, and Carter Verhaeghe won it in OT. Even so, the return to Sunrise saw the Caps take a 3-0 lead, but Florida would comeback with five unanswered goals. This resulted in the Capitals needing another home win to stay alive, and while TJ Oshie managed to force overtime late, it was Verhaeghe (again!) who sealed it for the Panthers.

So the answer to "What Went Wrong?" is simple: blown opportunities. The Capitals couldn't ice Game Four with an empty netter. The result: Panthers tie it late, and win it in OT. The Caps started Game Five up 3-0, but gave up five unanswered. The result: they had to rely on home ice to stay alive rather than clinch the series. And the result of that: their fourth straight series loss since hoisting the Stanley Cup on June 7, 2018. Even worse, they lost to a team who hadn't won a playoff series since 1996. Joe Thornton, currently with the Panthers, wasn't in the league yet! Oddly, the one thing that went right for the Caps was their penalty kill: it was 18-for-18. But honestly, that makes it worse. The Panthers won that series and they enter the 2nd round with no power play goals.

We cannot discuss the Capitals without mentioning the Great Eight himself, Alex Ovechkin. This current season has been centered on Ovechkin's chase for history: the all-time goals record. He racked up another 50-goal season, and has passed many big names on that list this year. At the end of this regular season, Ovechkin reached 780 career goals, putting him 20 away from becoming only the third player to score 800. On the all-time list, Ovechkin trails only Wayne Gretzky (894), and Mr. Hockey himself, Gordie Howe (801). He should pass Howe next season, and if he manages to pick up another 50-goal season, Ovechkin could become the all-time leader within the next three seasons.

Regarding his playoff numbers, Ovechkin only added one more goal to is playoff tally, notching his 72nd career playoff goal in Game Three. He leads active players in that category, though if the Pittsburgh Penguins advance, he could be overtaken by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Ovechkin would add five assists to give him six points in this year's playoffs, tying him with Nicklas Backstrom for 2nd on the team. Oshie's seven points (six of them goals) led the way for the Caps. With this loss, one has to wonder if this is Ovechkin's (and the team's overall) last chance at another Stanley Cup. The great thing about hockey is that players are judged more by their numbers rather than championships. Ovechkin would be highly regarded as one of the greatest of all time even without a Cup, but the one Cup he did win does add more merit to the immense amount he already had.

The Caps should continue to be a perennial playoff team as long as that group remains together. They have an amazing group of scorers, but goaltending continues to be a bit of an issue. Goaltending cost them a year prior; they really haven't had the magic touch in net since Braden Holtby. If they fix that issue, we could see another long run for the Capitals.

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