Beyond a four-game losing streak in March, the Washington Capitals had no hiccups this season as they hummed to the best record in the National Hockey League for the second-straight year. Caps fans, for the most part, were calm during the regular season. Then Monday happened.
The Caps fell in overtime to the eighth-seeded Toronto Maple Leafs and now face a 2-1 deficit in their first-round series. For Caps Twitter, of course, this was an extinction-level event.
Despite regular season domination in the Ovechkin era, Washington has not been able to get past the second round in the playoffs since the team’s 1998 Stanley Cup Final run. The Caps’ futility in playoff overtime suggests the team does not own the big moments. The continued losing has further scarred an already skeptical fanbase.
#Caps have fallen victim to many 1-goal losses in their last 19 road playoff games pic.twitter.com/nvaXrsR6aZ
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) April 18, 2017
Don’t believe me? Check out a sampling of what has been said.
Washington Capitals seasons be like pic.twitter.com/l172OFVLM1
— Corsi Toast (Andy) (@AWallace39) March 13, 2017
C! A! P! S!
Can the Agony Please Stop!— P- Sean Caps (@SeanCaps8) April 18, 2017
C! A! P! S!
Crippling
Agony in the
Post
Season— Stan Lee Cup (@BarryFlopz) April 18, 2017
Me at the beginning of the season vs me at the end of the season pic.twitter.com/5klryIouwJ
— Corsi Toast (Andy) (@AWallace39) March 13, 2017
"Welcome to the Washington Capitals fanbase, how tough are you." pic.twitter.com/HQHxOK7PZV
— Capitals wyd (@BuraGOATsky65) April 18, 2017
.@Capitals pic.twitter.com/TCodtBsMl0
— nicky spee (@harry__thighles) April 18, 2017
Pray for me ya'll… nothing wrong with me i'm just a Caps fan
— backstrom fan club (@backytime) April 18, 2017
CAPITALS FANS ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED pic.twitter.com/39aDWSEsoo
— Dan Steinberg (@dcsportsbog) April 18, 2017
I've aged 56 years during these playoffs and it's Game 3 of the 1st round.
— Jerlock Holmes (@OVECHKlN) April 18, 2017
For those of you who are new here pic.twitter.com/u92qmZ4drY
— P- Sean Caps (@SeanCaps8) March 31, 2017
@Laughlin18 pic.twitter.com/ymlRXbn7sB
— Adam (@dakta2006) April 18, 2017
The caps in the offseason: This team learned from their playoff mistakes and will be a contender for the cup
The capitals the next season: pic.twitter.com/5akisxUu6E
— Travis Tuthill 15 (@tuthill_travis) April 18, 2017
When it's the postseason and you own the Capitals pic.twitter.com/gmxkD7guKa
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) April 18, 2017
*Opens Twitter* pic.twitter.com/dCpfcNHbeK
— Washington Cap's Ego (@notcapitals) April 18, 2017
"They say death once had a near-Caps experience" pic.twitter.com/K8GH7okbcv
— P- Sean Caps (@SeanCaps8) April 18, 2017
We all had a rough loss last night despite not playing. https://t.co/iZZPNAablx
— ㅤ (@ALEXOVECHKlN) April 18, 2017
I fully identify with Ted at this current moment pic.twitter.com/f1fEQcme5W
— David Malitz (@malitzd) April 18, 2017
— Travis Tuthill 15 (@tuthill_travis) April 18, 2017
Why do I have to like the Capitals
— 🅱️leach Enthusiast (@averagecapsfan) April 18, 2017
The Leafs have poked the bear and the bear just wants to go back to sleep.
— Capitals wyd (@BuraGOATsky65) April 18, 2017
@ianoland pic.twitter.com/72QThVoF74
— Ryan Albarano (@RyanAlbarano) April 18, 2017
— P- Sean Caps (@SeanCaps8) April 19, 2017
Me right now. pic.twitter.com/r6RYAD2hjE
— Taylor Winnik (@TaylorWinnik) April 18, 2017
"You only played Ovechkin for how long?" pic.twitter.com/l6gE0jwY5K
— TJ Yoshie (@tjyoshie77) April 18, 2017
Good morning to everyone except the Washington Capitals players and coaches. Y'all owe us. https://t.co/OP8HS9RKqm
— Jerlock Holmes (@OVECHKlN) April 18, 2017
Thanks to Sean Morrow for collecting the tweets.
