Caps to Win Series

The series is over. The Caps have this one by the neck. The “spell” that was cast by the Great Henry of Goalie has been broken.

It was just a matter of time until the Capitals finally broke through the jitters, lack of emphasis and the N.Y. Rangers defense. As long as the offense did not wait until the fourth game to get started, the Capitals were going to find a way to win.

Alexander Semin is one of the Russian Five (Ovie, Federov, Semin, Kozlov and Varly the Goalie). His two goals paced the team. Varlamov, the rookie in net, was good enough to earn his first playoff shutout.

If you look at Game 3 from a more objective standpoint, it was the Callahan (NYR) that hit the post that was the turning point in the series. Had he tied the game at one goal each, it could have been over for the Capitals. It did not happen that way, the shot dinged off of the post and the D.C. skaters scored on the ensuing trip down the ice. As dramatic a turnaround as any off-Broadway play, the Caps were up 2-0.

Now the Rangers feel that they let the genie out of the playoff bottle. After watching the lowly Capitals for over 30 years (free playoff hexes for life included in that package), I think that the Capitals win the next three games to win the series four games to two.

Let me know if you think I’m wrong.