At one point this season, the Washington Capitals were considered to be the hottest team in the NHL. Alex Ovechkin had people in D.C. talking Stanley Cup.

Yet, in the post-season the Capitals have been ice cold and the only talk surrounding Ovechkin was when, or if, he was going to get a goal. Ovechkin delivered on one count in game 4 by scoring his first goal of the series, but the Rangers still won the game 2-1. New York now leads 3-1 and will look to wrap up the series this Sunday in the Nation's Capital.

Chris Drury scored the game winning goal for New York, and Henrik Lundqvist was fantastic in the net, as he has been all series.
The young team from D.C. looks flustered and demoralized. Previously favored to win this series, they now are facing a near insurmountable hole.

A lot of talent and high expectations, have left the Capitals facing first round humiliation if they cannot mount a comeback in this series.
There’s still at least one more game to play, but the question is out whether or not Washington has already lost the series mentally.

Sean Avery is in the Capitals heads. Avery again was the cause of some on-ice altercations last night. He was given a penalty after elbowing a Capitals player in the face during the second period. Although the elbow looked accidental enough, Avery did not back away from the backlash. Instead, as he often does, he encouraged it. The “Avery Rule” was invented after Avery continuously posted up in front of the Capitals net last season.

Avery is the type of player everyone else in the league hates, unless he’s on their team. Even then, he is barley tolerable. But he has been a major difference maker in this series. The man has a presence. If Avery can keep his feet on the ground and head on his shoulders, his toughness combined with the leadership of Drury and Markus Naslund could send the Rangers deep into the post-season. Don’t be surprised to see a Rangers and a Boston Bruins series on the horizon.