So the Tampa Bay Lightning whipped the Washington Capitals in their Eastern Conference semifinal round. I'm not even sure which is the bigger story; the Lightning sweep or the Capitals loss. Yes, I know it's been four years since the Lightning made the playoffs and they had a great season and now they knocked off Ovie & Company in four straight games (not an easy task), but I'm thinking long term ramifications. Where is the bigger impact? I'm thinking the answer lies with the Washington Capitals.
When you look at the Washington Capitals, this is a team that has finished first in their division four years in a row, including winning of the President's Trophy (most points during the regular season) in 2009-2010. But despite their regular season success, the Caps have not been able to translate it into the playoffs, finishing the last four seasons with two first round and two second round eliminations. In short, the Caps have been a playoff disappointment.
So the big question is, did the Caps miss their window of opportunity? Was this the last chance for this group to win the Cup? I think so. Now Ovie may drink from the Cup one day, but it won't be with the Caps. Because their time has come and gone. Why? Well, it's like this. It takes a tremendous amount of resources, effort and committment to put together a championship caliber team. And when that team has an opportunity to win it all and they don't seize the moment, the whole thing tends to crumble. Players pass their prime, while other are traded away. Some players have career seasons, which are never duplicated again. Player personnel change from season to season as does team chemistry, which might be the most important ingredient of all. For the most part, over the long grind of a regular 82-game schedule, talent probably trumps all things. But when it comes to the playoffs, intangibles such as team chemistry can be (and more often than not is) the great equalizer. There have been many teams who won the Cup with inferior talent but I can't think of a single team that ever won it without great team chemistry.
The Caps have been a regular season juggernaut but somehow can't seem to finish in the playoffs. Now, there are some franchises that have established a history of winning (the Devils and Red Wings come to mind) but it's not an easy thing to do. Obviously, drafting well, signing quality free agents and of course making key trades all contribute to a franchise's long and continued success. It also helps to win the Stanley Cup every so often.
For now, the Caps are heading in the right direction, but they really need a Cup win soon or I think the tide will turn. Right now the team is loaded with talent, and until now had a real good vibe. But without the ultimate win, the team risks losing its inertia. Repeated early round losses only underscore to the players themselves just how hard it is to win the darn thing! The mountain becomes a little harder to climb and the will to win dissipates just a little. Soon the repeated early round losses mount and the good vibe begins to erode. Then before you know it, doubt begins to creep into the unconscious mind and players begin to wonder if they have enough horses to win it all. When that happens, it all comes undone.
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