"We have to better," Braden Holtby.

Fans all over the DC area aren't holding their breath anymore for Braden Holtby to tie Martin Brodeur's record of 48 wins in a single season. In fact, most fans are already planning on the Caps early exit from the first round of the playoffs.

Since the Caps clinched the Presidents' Trophy at the end of March, they have lost 4 of their last 5 games.

"We’re playing teams in high gear right now and we’re not there yet,” Barry Trotz said after last nights OT loss to the Penguins. “This has got to be a pretty good wake up call. It has to be.”

Washington has dropped 6 of their last 11 games, going back to March 15th when they clinched a playoff berth.

The once dominating play of the Caps has been picked apart by teams trying to play catch-up, by teams that are more motivated by a post-season appearance.

Last nights loss wasn't necessarily a playoff-type game, but the Penguins are our fiercest rivals and the Capitals just looked flat footed and lazy throughout most of the game.

Granted, they forced the game into overtime after climbing back from a 3-0 deficit, but when the game was on the line, no one seemed to want to take the reigns and lead the way.

The "we have to be better" quote is, at this point, getting very old, and a team that has won 55 games this season should not have to dish out excuses night-after-night leading up the post-season; especially when they have been the Stanley Cup favorites all year.

The Penguins are fire right now, and running into a team like this is reminiscent of past Capitals teams that steamrolled their way into the playoffs, only to fall early.

The Caps, in my deepest hopes and wishes, are simply playing safe and saving themselves for a deep run. Any injury in the next couple games would be detrimental to the chemistry that they've put together this season.

However, playing "safe" wouldn't be the smart thing to do, and most likely this team has hit its peak.

“We’ve got some players that haven’t done much for us in the last little while and they’ll have to figure it out," Trotz said. We’re two games from the playoffs and if you’re not going you’ll probably be out or moved down the lineup. Because it’s the first one to four. You have no time to wait for guys to get going.”

If this team has any shot at beating either the Bruins or the Flyers in the first round, they'd better dig deep and figure it out, or start shoving rabbits feet in their jocks and hope for some much needed puck luck.

“But we’re not going to last very long if we play like we did tonight,” said Braden Holtby. “The work ethic wasn’t there, the execution wasn’t there... hopefully we realize we’re a lot better team than that and we need to work. Things don’t come easy in this league.”

What are you thoughts on the Caps' chances leading up to the playoffs?

Who would you rather see them play - the Flyers or the Bruins?

More to come...

Join the Discussion: » 26 Comments » Post New Comment

» Karl Alzner to play in 500th consecutive game tonight

» Alex Ovechkin gets his 1,000th NHL point

» Ovechkin, Holtby tagged to play in All-star game

» Ovechkin has tied The Rocket for 29th all-time

» Is Braden Holtby as good as he was last year?