Monday, March 10, 2008
Out With a Bang
As I've always said: If you're gonna go out,
go out with a bang.
The Capitals must have been listening -- specifically
Nicklas Backstrom. One day after racking up five penalties in little
more than six minutes to blow a lead in Boston, the rookie of the year
candidate (perhaps no longer) perfectly placed a game losing rebound in
the net behind his own goaltender.
Fortunately for Nicklas Backstrom and the future of the
Capitals organization, we're living in America and not
Columbia.
There's really not a whole lot to say about the two most
disastrous Washington losses since the lockout. All we can do is make
sense of it all and figure out what needs to happen in order for
the Capitals to reach the playoffs. Man, it seemed so possible
just a couple weeks ago.
Forget about the 8th seed. Too many variables are
necessary for Washington to leapfrog two teams that each hold a game in
hand over the Capitals, who sit six points back. With two games against
Carolina and a game in hand, the Southeast Division title is still the
most manageable path in. So what might it take?
Let's say the Capitals do the unthinkable and win their
remaining 12 games. Carolina could still stave off Washington with 17
points in their 11 remaining games. But in their 11 most recent
contests, the 'Canes earned exactly 17 points. Not exactly a viable option.
But what if Carolina hits a rough patch and goes .500 (a
record only five NHL teams sit on or below this season) the rest of the
way. The Capitals could make it in with 18 points in their last 12
games. The Caps' best 12 game stretch (Dec. 26-Jan. 21) of the season
saw them rack up 19 points. So while that seems more feasible, remember
this: Carolina MUST play as poorly as the fifth worst team in the
league the rest of the way for this hypothetical to become reality. Not
likely for a club that has gone 15-6-1 over the past eight weeks.
This loss, less than 24 hours after an equally devasting
defeat, could be the spark that ignites a winning streak of historical
proportions -- stranger things have happened. More likely, however, is
this marks the beginning of a lightning quick end to an up and down
season that finished as badly as it began.
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