For the Washington Capitals, anything less than a victory on Wednesday will mean a failure.
At least that’s how the narrative will play out in the media and with fans. Even, perhaps, among management and ownership.
In the playoffs, it’s become something of a trend. The conference finals are unfamiliar territory, but the disappointment of getting tantalizingly close and imploding is all too familiar.
The Capitals’ old coach, Bruce Boudreau, shed his reputation for being unable to work his way into the third round of the playoffs when his new flock, the Anaheim Ducks, beat the Calgary Flames on Sunday to advance to the Western Conference Final against the Chicago Blackhawks.