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Washington Capitals: Possessing the killer instinct

By Bradley Davis |
Apr 18, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov (92) celebrates his goal with teammates against the Philadelphia Flyers during the third period in game three of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center. The Capitals defeated the Flyers, 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 18, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov (92) celebrates his goal with teammates against the Philadelphia Flyers during the third period in game three of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center. The Capitals defeated the Flyers, 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

At every necessary occasion in the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Washington Capitals have found a way to score a big goal.

The Washington Capitals are known as, more than probably any other team, a bunch of chokers when the big moment hits.

Five times now, the Capitals have blown a 3-1 series lead – the latest coming last year at the hands of the New York Rangers with a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals on the line.

Quite honestly, even when we aren’t talking about the playoffs, it seems that the Capitals have always lacked that killer instinct needed to truly become one of the league’s great teams. Perhaps it was inexperience. Perhaps it just wasn’t the right combination of guys. Whatever way you want to put it, they haven’t been able to get the job done.

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Through three postseason games in the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Philadelphia Flyers, we have seen the emergence of said killer instinct in a way that we never have before.

This is likely in part due to a handful of new players on this roster. Justin Williams, a three-time Stanley Cup champion and proven clutch performer, was signed this past offseason. His former teammate in Los Angeles, Mike Richards, was also brought in midseason.

I usually hate the buzzwords “grit, culture, good leader” or any other one that you want to come up with that likely doesn’t have a huge on-ice impact. However, it doesn’t seem like a coincidence that the Washington Capitals are rolling through the Flyers with those two playing a part, among others. The timing is right in a lot of different ways.

It is worth mentioning that it never really was expected that the Flyers could outmatch the Washington Capitals over a seven game series. Their heroic ascent in a wild card position as the regular season wore down earned them a matchup with the NHL’s best team.

Being one of the top teams in the league isn’t anything new to the Capitals. They’ve been there, done that, and they still have nothing to show for it.

Last year, the Capitals held the lead in a series come game six twice. Both times, the series was evened up in that pivotal game. Though Washington did go on to win one of those series’, it didn’t get them any farther than they had ever been. Something was lacking.

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“If we can learn anything, it’s that we’re still going to have to find that next level of killer instinct,” head coach Barry Trotz told reporters at the end of last season. “If you can knock out a team, you’ve got to find that next level of hardness, killer instinct, whatever.”

Last Thursday night in game one against the Flyers, the Washington Capitals held a 1-0 late in the game. In past years, it wouldn’t have been uncommon for them to let off the gas and play prevent defense, relying on Braden Holtby to backstop them to the win. Instead, the forwards took things into their own hands, as Jay Beagle sniped one past Flyers goaltender Steve Mason with under four minutes remaining to solidify a game one victory.

In game two, the Capitals were heavily outshot throughout the game. Shots were never close. However, the Capitals rode on the back of some exceptional special teams play (and excellent goaltending once again) to take a 2-0 series lead. They managed to score when they had to, to keep the game out of reach.

“We took care of business at home,” Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen said. “That’s a good start. It’s going to get harder, though.”

The Capitals entered a hostile environment for game three for three reasons.

  • Because it’s Philly.
  • A pregame tribute for their late owner, Ed Snider.
  • The Flyers would be desperate for a win to stay in the series.

While chaos ensued for much of the second half of the game, and the Flyers failed to embrace the Broad Street Bully mentality of 40 years ago, the Washington Capitals lowered their heads and destroyed their hosts for a 6-1 victory to take a 3-0 series lead.

The Washington Capitals have been faced with unique situations in each game so far, and each time, they have kept their foot on the gas and did what was needed to be done. However, this series is certainly not over.

There are still 13 wins to go for the Washington Capitals to accomplish what they never have before. However, things that haven’t clicked at this time of year before are finally in full gear – the power play, big goals when they’re necessary, and some depth scoring from a guy like Marcus Johansson.

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A potential series clinching game four is later on tonight. Let’s hope that the killer instinct that we have seen so far carries over once again.

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