Friday, May 04, 2018

Washington Capitals: Game 5 -- Don't Get Fooled Again



I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again

-- Pete Townshend

Well, here we are.  Again.  The Washington Capitals, tied with their postseason opponent, heading into a Game 5 on home ice that could be the key to moving on to the third round for just the third time in franchise history, or going home.  Again.  Another “two-and-through.”

On Saturday night, the Caps will host a Game 5 after splitting the first four games of a seven-game playoff series for the tenth time in franchise history.  The worst you can say about their history is that they are not very good at this.  The best thing you can say is, they’re getting better.


That getting better part is a chronological quirk, of course, since a lot of players have come and gone since the first instance of this scenario back in 1986.  But there is the recent history to think about.  In the Rock the Red era, the Caps have gone from losing Game 5 at home and then Game 7 on home ice in 2009, through winning a Game 5 only to lose a Game 7 on home ice in 2013, to winning both a Game 5 and a Game 7 on home ice in 2015, to finally winning a Game 5 on home ice and closing out a series in Game 6 last year and against Columbus in Round 1 this postseason.

Perhaps there is something to “getting better at this” as far as the core group is concerned.  But every season – every postseason – is different.  The Caps will be trying to ensure that it is more of the same, extending their streak of series wins when tied after four games and home ice advantage to four.  They will hope it is different in that they finally vanquish this opponent.  And Caps fans who might be thinking that this year’s team really is something different will be hoping they don’t get fooled again.

Photo: AP/Nick Wass

Note: This has been edited to include this year's first-round series against the Columbus Blue Jackets.