Recap

CLEAR! Caps Zap Themselves Back to Life

T.J. Oshie scored in Game 5. (Caps Outsider)

The 2015-2016 season was a momentous effort in so many ways for the Caps.  One notable accomplishment was their phenomenal goal scoring.  For the twelfth time in franchise history, six players scored 20 or more goals in a single season.  In fact, the Caps were the only team in NHL with six 20 goal scorers this year: Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, T.J. Oshie, Justin Williams, Nicklas Backstrom and Jason Chimera.  The last time that happened was during the 2009-2010 season when they last won the President’s Trophy and proceeded to lose to the Montreal Canadians in the first round of the playoffs after being up 3-1 in the series. Washington has overcome a 3-1 deficit to win a playoff series twice in franchise history.  They defeated the New York Rangers in 2009 to win the Eastern Conference quarterfinals and in 1988 they defeated the Philadelphia Flyers in the Patrick Division semifinals.

But this year, with all its personal and team accomplishments, was supposed to be the Caps’ year — our year.  The best chance they ever have ever had to win the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history.  Barry Trotz and Brian MacLellan spent two years strategically acquiring and training the perfect combination of players that could give the team and the fans the championship they longed for so desperately.  And, thankfully after Saturday night’s 3-1 win against the Penguins the Caps are still alive.

“We played a good 60 tonight and we’re ready to play some more,” said Oshie after the game. “We’re going to keep going. It’s just getting fun now.”

Trotz echoed that desire and drive to stay positive and take it one game at a time.

“It was an outstanding effort tonight  We had a lot of good looks, and Holtz was really good,”  said Trotz.  “We are moving forward. Tonight’s game is in the past. Looking forward is the only way to do it. Creating that mind set is key.”

The Caps will travel back to Pittsburg for game 6 on Tuesday, May 10.

Whew!! Let’s Go Caps!

Barbara Banks

Barbara Ann Banks is a freelance writer out of Rockville, MD.

Related Articles

Back to top button