When the Washington Capitals' season ended in 2010 with a stunning first-round loss to the Montreal Canadiens, general manager George McPhee faced the question. After Bruce Boudreau's run-and-gun Caps dominated the NHL for most of the regular season, it was all over in seven games. No Stanley Cup, no nothing. If the best team in franchise history can't win it all, how soon until the "window of opportunity" closes on Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and the Capitals?
Geno and the Swedes were hockey's biggest winners in Vegas.
Geno and the Swedes were hockey's biggest winners in Vegas.
Recalling a victory by his Anaheim Ducks in January, coach Bruce Boudreau noted: "We did it in Caps fashion." In other words, an improbable comeback.
NHL players past and present who have been through coach firings explained that an initial spark is usually automatic. Tuesday night featured little of that spark, as the Caps lost Dale Hunter's coaching debut 2-1 to the St. Louis Blues at Verizon Center.
Jaroslav Halak shrugged off his shaky start to the season, making 29 saves as the St. Louis Blues won coach Ken Hitchcock's debut with a 3-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night.
Tim Thomas came out of playoff hibernation and played better than any goalie this season. Now, he'll try to be just as sharp in the postseason for the Boston Bruins.
Alex Steen had a goal and an assist, Jaroslav Halak stopped 30 shots and the St. Louis Blues won their fifth straight game, holding off the Phoenix Coyotes 4-3 on Friday night.
Semyon Varlamov won his fourth straight start in net since recovering from a groin injury and the Washington Capitals got back at the goalie who knocked them out of the playoffs last spring with a 4-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night.
