Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs ended with a huge thud for the Capitals as Montreal dictated the pace of the game to defeat Washington 3-2 in overtime. The game didn't showcase what went right for the Canadians as much as what Washington failed to learn from previous years playoff experience.
The Capitals had proven they were the most talented team in the NHL by winning the Presidents Trophy by ending the season with the league high 121 points. They also proved they could win together and had confidence in one another during the season during their 14 game winning streak. They've been able to turn the switch to score in a flury when pushed to win a game. Regardless of wanting to stay healthy for the playoffs, the final games of the season aren't just about avoiding injuries but sending a message to the rest of the league by dominating games leading up to the start of the playoffs.
The team has total confidence in each other, but still appears to have some self-doubt as evidnece by they're win streak vs. the Penguins this season. The Caps seem to judge themselves by the Penguins rather than feel their equal or better and look for a style to dominate their opponent. Once a team has a style to dominate opponents the wins follow and so does the aura and psychological advantage.
Game 1 versus Montreal created an opportunity to flex the Presidents Trophy muscle and add a psychological element they haven't used before. Most of the great teams of the decade would begin to play playoff hockey in the final games of the season sending a message to the rest of the league that even with some of the starters playing reduced minutes they could still dominate their opponents. It's an advantage the Caps haven't really become accustomed to using yet.
Many of Mike Tyson's matches were over before the fight began as many were intimidated and prepared to lose before entering the ring. It's similar to teams overly concerned about Lawrence Taylor and the Giants defense in the 80s. Taking it a step further the Caps had a chance to show that defeating them in a seven game series was unthinkable. Now the Canadians have found much like Rocky vs. Drago that the Caps "are not a machine". This is a real series now.
The Caps find themselves on different sides of playoff hockey from who they are now to where they were in the 1980s. This series against the Canadians really boasts a matchup of Caps teams past and present. The Caps used to be a hard working team with some skill that relied on defense that must play near perfect hockey to defeat the vastly more superior and talented teams like the Super Mario led teams. Now the Capitals are the more talented team that even playing poorly could break a team's heart with a late game winning goal out of no where, but what's missing is the dominating performance of constant aggression that drains the will out of their opponents that they'd be lucky to win one game but cast doubt as to how they're opponent would be able to win four games. The Caps didn't force Montreal to play near perfect hockey like a Villanova vs. Georgetown game and thus have given Montreal more inspired hope.
The Capitals allowed Montreal to dictate pace and tempo of the game taking away the fluid skating and passing the Caps like to employ to a quick strike offense. It takes a mind set and focus to adapt to do what's necessary for winning while still being aggressive and dominating.
The Caps didn't appear willing to committ 100% to defeating the trap with a slower tempo with back passing or indirect passing off the boards. Instead the Caps were content to flip the puck out of the zone to aleviate the pressure temporarily only to have the Canadians ramp the pressure right back up.
The trap is the equivilent to the Bill Parcells defense with LT and the two deep zone. It's attacking style but at the same time forces the opponent to methodically move the ball down the field. With the trap the Caps must be more focused and committed to moving the puck up ices with precise passing and no turnovers to gain the zone and apply pressure.
Look for the Caps to start fast in game two and with a lot more intesity. If the Caps strike quickly the team's confidence could soar high enough to believe that the patience needed to defeat the trap can still be aggressive and yield goals. If the Caps energy tapers off or the early goal doesn't materialize, look for another close game.
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