NHL Playoffs 2011: After Another Early Exit for the Caps, Changes Are Likely

The Washington Capitals entered Wednesday night’s Game 4 in desperation mode.  By the time the third period had rolled around, they were in the midst of self-destructing. 

The Capitals have been considered a Stanley Cup contender for the last three or four seasons depending on whom you ask.  But what remains indisputable is the fact that they’ve only won two playoff series since 1998. 

Last season, the top-seeded Caps lost a gut-wrenching quarterfinal series against the Montreal Canadiens in Game 7 on home ice. 

Afterwards, the team vowed it would learn from their mistakes, and even issued training camp T-shirts with the slogan “stay angry” on the back. 

Coach Bruce Boudreau installed a defense-first system that was supposed to better prepare the team for the postseason—even if it forced the Caps’ offensive stars to sacrifice their individual point totals for the greater good of the team. 

What has it all added up to? 

Ultimately, the season has amounted to another disappointing playoff series loss for the Capitals and another summer of wondering what could have been.  The issue is that this result isn’t good enough, not when considering the amount of talent that sits in the Capitals’ locker room. 

Washington boasts three of the most talented forwards in the game and at least two elite offensive defensemen.  In addition, they have a host of skilled, hardworking forwards and a handful of solid defensemen. 

What has it all added up to?  Four Southeast Division banners, a President’s Trophy and a massive haul of individual awards for Alex Ovechkin. 

This loss to Tampa Bay hurts because it was a sweep.  The Caps didn’t put up much of a fight against a team they’re much stronger than—at least on paper. 

Many will call for a change behind the bench, which is unfortunate because Bruce Boudreau is one of the most beloved coaches in professional hockey.  Boudreau took the Caps from the cellar-dwelling team they’d become and helped them become an elite team—at least in the regular season. 

However, what else can General Manager George McPhee do?  Boudreau was given a free pass when the Capitals imploded against Montreal last year, and again when the Caps lost eight straight this year. 

Boudreau is clearly loved by his players, but that’s not the problem.  The issue remains that the team is unable to adapt their style of play to counter that of their opponent. 

In last season’s playoffs, the Capitals' offense and power play was shut down by Montreal.  The same thing occurred against Tampa Bay this year.  The Caps continue to fall short in the playoffs.  At some point, majority owner Ted Leonsis will have to draw a line in the sand and make significant changes. 

But where?

As far as the front office goes, George McPhee can look himself in the mirror knowing he’s put a quality hockey team on the ice.  McPhee has made great moves at each deadline, and the scouting department continues to stock the Capitals’ cupboard with top-end prospects—even when they pick late in the draft. 

The change that likely needs to be made may not be a popular one.

Boudreau has guided the Capitals into uncharted territory, as they’ve become arguably the most watchable team in hockey over the course of the last four seasons.  Unfortunately, with the amount of talent he has to work with, anything less than at least a berth in the Conference Finals is, quite frankly, unacceptable. 

After the series ended on Wednesday, both Boudreau and Ovechkin displayed their utter disbelief regarding the sweep during their postgame interviews.  They obviously both expect better, but is that enough?

At no point during Game 3 or Game 4 did the Capitals seem poised to mount one of their patented comebacks. Rarely did they seem in control of their own destiny. 

Sure, they had some flaky calls.  And yeah, Tampa Bay got away with some penalties.  But the Capitals got two very fortunate bounces that turned into goals in Game 4. 

No, this game was decided by which team showed up intending on winning and which team showed up afraid to lose. 

Every hockey fan in Washington, and beyond really, should be grateful for what Bruce Boudreau has done during his time in the nation’s capital.  He brought a team back from the dead and seemed so close to taking them to the promise land. 

Again, though, this is professional sports. Coaches who don’t get what’s expected out of their teams don’t last forever.

In San Jose, Ron Wilson guided the Sharks to four consecutive seasons that ended in either the semifinals or Conference Finals, and he was fired. 

In Pittsburgh, Michel Therrien was given the hook just months after taking the Penguins to the Stanley Cup Finals. 

I’m not suggesting that Bruce Boudreau is incapable of bringing a Stanley Cup to Washington, because he most certainly is.  I’m merely suggesting that, with the current group of players and their track record in the playoffs, a change behind the bench might make sense.  

This playoff loss will hurt the most for Capitals fans because they believed that this team was the one.  They could feel it, that this was the squad that would vanquish the demons of the Caps’ previous postseasons. 

These great expectations have become so real because they’re plausible.  If Washington didn’t have the players to contend for a Stanley Cup, the management and fans wouldn’t demand—or even expect—that they be reached. 

If Washington is serious about winning a Stanley Cup, or even contending, a change needs to be made.

Considering that young, talented teams such as Washington’s don’t come along often, one has to believe the change will take place behind the bench—even if it’s the hardest move to make. 

That’s the price a sublimely talented team like the Capitals will likely have to pay for another disappointing postseason.