How?

It seems a lot of people are asking how the Capitals lost this last game, including the Capitals themselves. A lot of people are saying they don't know.

I'm no expert, just a fan, but I'll say this: Speed.

Re-watch the game, Capitals, watch how fast the Canadians went to the puck. Remember how fast the Canadians closed in on you?

Now watch how fast you shoot the puck on one-timers. Takes a second, doesn't it? Watch how their forwards sped past your defensemen, and how you so rarely seemed to get past theirs.

Now watch the Red Wings dominant game 7 against Phoenix, watch how fast they move the puck, how fast they pass, how fast they get to the corners, and how fast they get to the defense.

Now, I'll say this: Capitals, we know you're one of the fastest teams in the league. We've seen it. And there were moments when Ovechkin was that fast - when he played his heart out and broke his stick.

But were you really pursuing the puck?

If there's one thing I've learned watching Hockey, it's that. To win, to catch the cup, you must first chase the puck.

Tonight is Everything - Canadians at Capitals

I have been thinking about starting this blog for a while. I thought about starting it tonight, after the game is won. If the game is won.

That's actually an if.

The Presidents' Trophy-Winning Washington Capitals, untouchable in the regular season, could go down to the Montreal Canadians in game seven. Yes, the 8th-seeded Canadians, who scored 103 less goals in the season than the Capitals. It's not like their season defense was that much better either - in fact, they had only a %.7 higher save percentage, and allowed .11 more goals in per game, on average.

Yet Halak has been Halak, and their less-praised defense has run with all the tightness of rivets on a submarine.

And this means a lot to hockey - to Ovechkin, to the Capitals, and to the sport.

Because Ovechkin leading the Capitals to victory in his first year as captain (likely his first year of twelve or more) is dynasty-establishing stuff.

Because if Halak wins the game (and if it is won, it will be won by him) will signal to everyone that a great goalie beats a great offense.

Because if the Capitals offense wings the game (and they don't need Ovechkin to score to do so) it will signal to everyone that a great offense triumphs over a great defense.

Because, seriously, if you as a manager can win games with one huge salary, over those with six huge salaries, which will you choose?

If this game is lost, it will mean something to the fandom too. It will mean that the energetic, up-and-coming team may not be all that. Though the Capitals and Ovechkin may not shed fans if they loose - they will not gain fans they would have gained with a win.

If the Captials loose, this post will hardly be read.

This post will not matter.

This blog will not matter, at least until next playoffs.

The thought and time I put into this post, the sleepless night last night, will be for nothing.

Like I said, I thought about not posting until tonight, until victory.

But I'm putting my mouth where my hope is.

Because I'm not sure. But I hope.

And hope is special, and it's a special kind of hope. It's hope for youth and energy, hockey that's a little rough around the edges, but makes you sit back and go "wow". It's hope for the creativity born of energy, it is hope that energy will lead a team, rather than desperation. Because, for all his flailing, Ovechkin doesn't play desperate hockey. Ovechkin plays determined hockey, and I want more determined hockey.

So I join with the hopes of hundreds of years of fans. Hopes that my sort of hockey will be vindicated.

Knowing it may not.