Capitals Collapse, Forced To Face Reality After 3-2 OT Game 4 Loss to Penguins

The Washington Capitals’ locker room was filled with a somber atmosphere on Wednesday night in Pittsburgh.

Capitals Collapse, Forced To Face Reality After 3-2 OT Game 4 Loss

For weeks and even months, the now-frustrated players had firmly believed their style of play would be enough to survive the postseason.

The Capitals are now forced to confront their present reality following their 3-2 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 4 of their second-round, best-of-seven playoff series, which pushed them one step closer to elimination after three straight losses. The Penguins now lead the series 3-1.

“Those are always tough,” coach Barry Trotz said. “That’s why it’s sudden death. That’s what it feels like.”

This is only the second time all season that the Capitals have lost three consecutive games. In order to bounce back and advance to the Eastern Conference Final, they’ll have to beat the Penguins, a team that hasn’t lost consecutive games since mid-January, three times within the next week.

“It’s not going to be easy,” center Nicklas Backstrom said, clearly agitated. “We knew that going into this series, too, but going into this next game, we have to look forward and make sure we regroup here.”

Even while missing both top defenseman Kris Letang, who was suspended one game for a forceful hit against Capitals forward Marcus Johansson in the first period of Game 3 on Monday, and second-line winger Eric Fehr from their lineup, the Penguins were able to secure the victory.

Jay Beagle opened scoring for Washington at 2:58 in the first period, giving the Capitals a 1-0 lead. Pittsburgh then turned the game around and gained a 2-1 lead thanks to a goal from Trevor Daley at 9:16 in the first, followed by a goal from Matt Cullen 3:07 into the second.

The Capitals then tied the game and forced overtime thanks to a goal from John Carlson at 16:19 of the second.

Then, just 2:34 into overtime, the Capitals committed a turnover in their own zone, one that defenseman Mike Weber was just not able to clear. A shot by Conor Sheary from the left point bounced off the back of Weber’s stick blade and floated across the slot, and his lunge instead sent the puck directly to Patric Hornqvist, who swooped in and flicked it into an open net, stunning Washington goalie Braden Holtby.

“It’s what probably any defenseman would have done in any situation,” defenseman Karl Alzner said. “The puck’s rolling around, you turn and try to poke it out of the danger zone and it just so happens a guy is flying in there. Didn’t matter who it was in that situation. Probably would have done the exact same thing.”

The Capitals were unable to get past the first round last year, the same stage they have not been able to advance past since 1998.

Game 5 is set for Saturday in Washington.

“We can’t really be looking too far ahead now,” defenseman Taylor Chorney said. “We’ve just got to make sure we’re in full desperation mode from the drop of the puck next game.”

Photo: PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 02: Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals reacts after being scored on by Tom Kuhnhackl #34 of the Pittsburgh Penguins (not pictured) in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Consol Energy Center on May 2, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)