Generally speaking, when any eighth-seeded team makes the Presidents’ Trophy winners sweat, it’s a moral victory of sorts, but not for the 2021-22 Washington Capitals. The Caps, who had underachieved in the standings this season due to injuries and no real pressure down the stretch, had the Panthers beat three games in a row, but couldn’t keep them beat. Instead, they fell in the series 4-2, where a killer instinct – one that that Panthers clearly possess – would’ve had them win the series 4-1.
A one-goal lead in the last few minutes, a 3-0 lead in the second period, and a one-goal third-period lead, and later, momentum with a late-game tying goal at home is statistically enough to win each time, but Florida had other plans, dashing the hopes of the Capitals and their fans in what has become all-too familiar, and even predictable.