Do we have it in us?

The Washington Capitals are “one loss away from elimination,” as Gordon Bombay once said. This is the second straight season where this terrible feeling of being eliminated from the playoffs has arisen. Last year it came true, but this year maybe not. I refuse to give up my team and how far they have come this season. Do the Caps really want to throw this golden opportunity away?

The Capitals have nothing to lose tonight heading into game four because in my opinion most fans have given up. Don’t the Caps want to prove the haters wrong in this situation because if not I feel this offseason will be even more painful than the last. The mentality for the next four games is win or go home. None of the Capitals seem like they’d be good golfers, so let’s stick around and make some noise in these playoffs. Last night we had game three in the bag at the end of the second period with a 3-2 lead. Unfortunately a hockey game last three periods and Washington only came ready to play two. In my opinion Alex Ovechkin stepped up last night scoring a goal and having an assist on the Mike Knuble goal, but the rest of the team seemed sluggish in following The Great 8. Ovi was beating defenders to the outside instead of trying to deke through them which I liked to see. Alex Semin and Nicklas Backstrom were invisible last night and did not show any intensity or will to win. I am begging you Nicky B; please find your game in the next ten hours.

Michal Neuvirth played an average game if you ask me. Yes he made some ten bell saves to keep us in the game in third period, but he let in some softies. It wouldn’t surprise me if Bruce gave Semyon Varlamov the start tonight, just to give him a shot. Varly also has a respectable resume against the Lightning and is no stranger to the playoff atmosphere. The defense needs to clear the puck more consistently and Jeff Schultz needs to get the f*** off the ice. He and Mike Green have played carelessly the past three games. Now let’s talk about Dwayne Roloson. It seemed like we finally got in his head a little bit last night, but we couldn’t put the nail in the coffin because of our lack of pressure in the closing period. The man is 41 years old and doesn’t have a very respectable in the second game of back to backs. The Caps must pressure him and the defense because they are going to be tired. We will also be tired, but there is not tomorrow for us, so we have a little edge.

I do not want this to be my last recap or preview for Caps Daily this season. Like I said yesterday the Capitals have to take it one game at a time and we can make history along with the other three teams who have come back from a 3-0 deficit. The Philadelphia Flyers, being the most recent, did it last year to the Boston Bruins and made a run to the Stanley Cup. The Washington Capitals are a better team in my opinion than last year’s Flyers. If USA could beat the Russians in the 1980 Winter Olympic Games and defy all odds than nothing is impossible. I am putting my faith in the captain for tonight and the rest of the playoffs. Ovi stated last night, ‎"It is not over. We won't give up. We're going to win." Enough said if you ask me! Hopefully this isn’t the last time, so Rock the Red!

In Ovi We Trust