If Tampa loses, yes..
The Rangers weren't going to lose in 5, and not winning game 5 is what did the Pens in last year when they were up 3-1 on the Rangers.
Also, Holtby hasn't been very good in big games like this and Lundqvist's record when facing elimination speaks for itself. Caps should definitely be worried, as the Rangers don't lose game 7's.
Lastly, Ovi is helping the whole lazy Russian stereotype as he has completely disappeared after game 2. No wonder he has never made it past the second round..
If you're ever up 3-1 or 3-0 and blow it then it's definitely a choke job. Not being able to win 1 in those last 3 or 4 games is inexcusable.
Losing series after being up 3-0 is always a choke. 3-1 when you only have 1 home game out of the remaining 3 games. I dunno if that's nearly as bad.
It's not that he is lazy. He works hard and all, but he doesn't make the smartest decisions on the ice. He lacks that extra creativity which would allow him to break through when his usual tricks don't work.
Today was a good example of that. He was hustling all over the ice, but he didn't make the right decisions with the puck.
If Tampa loses, yes..
The Rangers weren't going to lose in 5, and not winning game 5 is what did the Pens in last year when they were up 3-1 on the Rangers.
Also, Holtby hasn't been very good in big games like this and Lundqvist's record when facing elimination speaks for itself. Caps should definitely be worried, as the Rangers don't lose game 7's.
Lastly, Ovi is helping the whole lazy Russian stereotype as he has completely disappeared after game 2. No wonder he has never made it past the second round..
Honestly, it's hard to say..
The Habs and Rangers were in the ECF last year and finished #1 and #2 overall in the regular season, and have the two best goalies in the league. If they Bolts and Caps lose it will be somewhat of a choke but not as much of a choke as if the Ducks blew a 3-1 series lead against the Flames.
Probably
In all fairness to Tampa, that series should really be 3-2 Habs right now. The regs gave them game 1. They won game 3 on a fluke goal. They got murdered in game 4. Humbled in game 5. Say they split one of the 2 fluke games...
Pretty much. If the Rangers don't make the ECF despite the Presidents' it is a choke. But it is also a choke if that team comes back from 3-1? They are suppose to win this series...
Bolts are a younger team so I think mistakes can be more readily forgiven. For the Caps and Ovechkin in particular not to get the job done after so many years and the best chance yet... I dunno man.
In all fairness to Tampa, that series should really be 3-2 Habs right now. The regs gave them game 1. They won game 3 on a fluke goal. They got murdered in game 4. Humbled in game 5. Say they split one of the 2 fluke games...
TB will win this. For the Caps, it sounds like it will be one of these mild choke jobs we see every year.
They had the chance (thrice!) but failed against a superior team.
Caps wouldn't be a choke.