Only two Capitals appeared in the Stanley Cup playoffs last season, so the anticipation ramped up Wednesday morning, hours before Game 1 against the New York Islanders. The Caps buzzed through a crisp skate, starting two minutes earlier than scheduled and ending after less than half an hour. They ripped off their equipment and answered one last batch of anticipatory questions.
The wait hadn’t been long since the regular season ended, only one off day and two practices. The wait for the postseason, however, felt like an eternity.
“Been a long time since we been in this position,” captain Alex Ovechkin said, “so it’s nice to be back.