Ward's Overtime Goal Caps Off Series

Photo Credit: Brian Babineau/Getty Images

Despite being among the Stanley Cup favorites the past four seasons, the Washington Capitals could not seem to garner success in the playoffs. This season, the Capitals got off to a slow start, and it cost head coach Bruce Boudreau his job. The Capitals improved some, but inconsistency plagued the team. There was doubt late in the season that this team would even make the playoffs. They put together a late run and made it in as the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. Their reward was that they drew the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins.

The Capitals refused to be intimidated. For once, they were the underdogs and didn't have the pressure of the highest of expectations. The Capitals seemed to use this to their advantage. Every time the Bruins would get a win, the Capitals had a response. But then in Game 6, the Bruins staved off elimination by winning in overtime. This meant it all came down to a must-win Game 7. Would the Capitals have another response to the Bruins? Goaltender Tim Thomas and the Bruins owned Game 7s last season and hoped to do the same this year. Matt Hendricks opened up the scoring in the first, giving the Caps a 1-0 lead. In the second period, Tyler Seguin found the equalizer for the Bruins on a nice physical hustle play. The two sides had opportunities the rest of the way, but this one was headed for overtime.

This didn't really come as a surprise because this is the fourth out of seven games in the series that went to overtime. Early in overtime, the Bruins tried to dump the puck in, but the play was broken up by the Capitals. Former Bruin Mike Knuble gained control and ripped a shot. Thomas made the nice save, but gave up the rebound. Joel Ward was right there to put the backhanded winner in the net. Just like that, the Capitals actually won a playoff series, and the defending champions were ousted. Maybe for once, the Capitals have saved their best play for the playoffs. It is still too early to tell, but this series win alone was nice when you consider the ups and downs this team has gone through this season.