NHL Playoffs: 4 Key Takeaways for the Washington Capitals After Game 3 Loss

Just how epic was Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals between the New York Rangers and the Washington Capitals? 

It was the first triple-overtime game since Matt Carkner scored at 7:06 of the third overtime to lift the Ottawa Senators past the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 5 of the 2010 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, a game Ottawa had to win to stay alive.

It was the 20th longest game in NHL playoff history. That might not sound that important but consider all the playoff games that have been played so far in NHL history, and it suddenly sounds rather impressive.

It was the fourth time in Capitals history that they have gone to at least three overtimes in the playoffs.

They are now zero for four in those games.

For the Rangers, this was the seventh time in franchise history they had gone to at least three overtimes. They have now won three such contests.

For Ranger's coach John Tortorella, it had to feel a bit like deja vu because he was behind the bench when the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Capitals in triple overtime back in 2003.

And those are just some of the subplots behind one of the better games in recent NHL playoff history.

The game itself was a game within a game with so many twists and turns and moments where, as you watched, you were sure the "this is it moment" had arrived—only for an amazing save or a stunning missed opportunity to take place, prolonging the drama and, to a great extent, the agony.

After a while, you had to wonder if it would ever end and how the end would come about.

If there was any silver lining for the Caps, it was that when sudden death came, it did not come courtesy of a turn around slapper from the blue line or a wrist shot that somehow got through multiple players to end a marathon.

No, Marian Gaborik's overtime winner was a clean goal, the result of a perfect pass from Brad Richards.

Of course, Troy Brouwer had a similar opportunity on his stick in the first overtime—and blew it in a way not really seen since Esa Tikkanen missed a gaping net in Game 2 of the 1998 Stanley Cup Finals.

OK, maybe not that bad—but close.

So for the Capitals, what can they take away from such a heartbreaking loss?

I found four things.

1. The Capitals Actually Played Their Best Game of the Series

Without question, this is a loss that will sting about as badly as being stung by a box jellyfish.

But the Caps have no reason to hang their heads over the Game 3 defeat.

From an offensive standpoint, they were more effective than they have been all series long. For long stretches of the game, the Caps really took it to New York, controlled the flow of the game and had the No. 1 seed in the East on their heels and in a lot of trouble.

Despite the 2-1 final score, the series no longer feels like the Bruins series. It is much more wide open than the Boston series ever really was, and in many ways, it resembles the past two Caps vs. Rangers series with a notable exception—the Rangers can now skate with the Caps and match firepower with them.

This is not to to say that the Caps can just abandon the tight defensive style of hockey that has served them well so far. That would be a big mistake.

At the same time, I did not see many things I would change as far as strategy is concerned.

The Caps need to get more people in front of Henrik Lundqvist, so he does not have a clear line of sight. But beyond that, the Caps are getting good, sustained offensive pressure, and despite opening things up a bit, the defense is still holding up very well.

For instance, the Caps out-shot the Rangers in regulation 29-27, and they held the shot advantage in the second overtime. So they played a solid offensive game from start to finish, until the third overtime when they seemed to run out of gas a bit.

Let it not be forgotten how well the Caps penalty kill did in Game 3, including killing off two penalties in the overtime periods.

It would, however, be nice to see the Caps' power play get going and start to make a difference.

So while it is easy to look at Game 3 as a "glass is half-empty scenario," there are reasons to look at it differently.

The Capitals played their best game of the series, and if nothing else, that should give them some confidence heading into Game 4.

2. The Capitals Must Develop a Case of Amnesia

Though the Capitals did just play their best game of the series, it does not take away from the fact that this loss is a difficult one to swallow for numerous reasons.

Part of it is because the Caps did play their best game of the series—and it was not good enough.

Then there are the missed opportunities that could have, and probably should have, won this game for the Caps.

The missed 3-on-1 in the second period.

Troy Brouwer's blown opportunity in the first overtime.

Alex Ovechkin clanging a shot off the post in overtime. The shot was so close that even the guy in charge of the horn and about half the people in attendance thought the game had ended.

For the Caps though, it is not just the missed chances to win Game 3 that they must wipe from their memories if they hope to succeed.

They must also escape the franchise's dubious history when they have lost a game that went at least three overtimes.

Two of those losses (1987 to the Islanders and 2003 to the Lightning) ended the season for the Caps.

The loss in Game 4 of the opening round of the 1996 playoffs against the Penguins (the fifth longest game in NHL history) tied the series at two games apiece, but the Caps never recovered and lost the series in six games.

This is the type of history the Caps will have to completely forget if they are going to have any chance in Game 4 or, for that matter, the rest of the series.

It will not be easy, but Washington showed its resilience against Boston when it won Game 7 in Boston, despite a heartbreaking loss in overtime of Game 6.

More of the same will be required if the Capitals are to put many of the ghosts of the past to rest and draw even in this series.

3. Braden Holtby Is Still for Real

Any concerns that the Capitals or their fans may have had about Braden Holtby after Game 1 should be summarily dismissed at this point in time.

While Holtby may have been somewhat shaky in Game 1, he has now turned in two consecutive solid performances.

Never was that been truer than in Game 3 when Holtby turned aside 47 of 49 shots he faced.

If you look at the goals he surrendered, you can hardly fault him on the goal by Ryan Callahan. Callahan was in the right place, at the right time, to bang home a shot that looks like it deflected off two Caps players.

Gaborik's goal was a great shot that came off of an even better set up.

But the rest of the game, Holtby was in the zone. Several of the saves he made showed how this kid still has nerves of steel and ice water in his veins.

Specifically, I remember the save he made on Brian Boyle near the end of the first period, his save on Derek Stepan in the last 10 seconds of regulation and the amazing save he made on Brandon Prust early in the third overtime.

If you take a look at those three saves and watch the body of work Braden Holtby turned in against New York in Game 2, it sure looks like the questions about Holtby that might have existed after Game 1 have been answered.

While the Caps have many things with which to concern themselves prior to Game 4, the stability of their rookie goalie is not one of them.

4. Henrik Lundqvist Is Playing at the Top of His Game

Instead of concerning themselves with their own goalie, the Caps need to be very concerned with how well Henrik Lundqvist is playing.

The Vezina trophy finalist is playing as well as he has ever played against the Caps in the playoffs.

Yes, the post bailed him out on Ovechkin's shot in overtime.

But if not for the great play he made when the Caps had a 3-on-1 in the second period, the game might not have ever gotten to that point.

Make no mistake, Lundqvist won Game 3 for the Rangers with his play. As good as Holtby was, Lundqvist was even better, stopping 45 of the 46 shots he faced.

It was not just his saves though. He had great movement in the net and was tracking everything, except John Carlson's goal, very well. It was Lundqvist's excellent positioning that was a major factor in Troy Brouwer completely missing the net in the first overtime.

With Lundqvist playing as well as he is, the Caps will have to find a way to put a few more pucks past him. Obviously, one goal against a team like the Rangers won't be enough. In Game 1 and Game 3, the Caps only scored once. Not surprisingly, they lost both times.

In the past, the Caps have had success with shots over Lundqvist's glove hand, such as Sergei Fedorov's series winning goal in 2009.

Perhaps it is time to try and put a few more shots toward the glove hand of Lundqvist.

Another thing to try is to get more traffic in front of Lundqvist. When you review the saves he made in Game 3, he was rarely screened on the shot, and there were very few opportunities where guys in red waited in front of the net to get a rebound.

When King Henry is playing like he is, the odds of getting a shot by him, if he has a clear line of sight, are not good.

It is a mystery the Capitals have to solve on Saturday if they want to even the series up before heading to New York.