The Washington Capitals suffered a devastating 2-1 loss in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference Semifinal series with the New York Rangers.
With the Capitals eliminated before reaching the conference finals yet again, the reaction has been mixed over whether the season has been a success or not.
Greg Wyshynski of Puck Daddy takes a look at the roller coaster of a season that the Capitals had, and had this to say.
"But in this oddest of odd years for the Capitals - the summer additions, the high expectations, the underwhelming play, Bruce Boudreau's firing, Dale Hunter's lack of impact and then sudden impact in the playoffs - the end result was an appearance in Game 7 of the conference semifinal. It's not where it should have ended based on preseason aspirations, but it's an achievement given what they've become."
In a post-game column for the Washington Post, Thomas Boswell says that this loss has given the Capitals a "new identity".
The Caps reasserted, even in their 2-1 loss at the hands of superb goalie Henrik Lundqvist, that they have found a new playing style - a new team identity really - under rookie Coach Dale Hunter that can keep their Window of Opportunity as a serious Stanley Cup contender open for years.
The Capitals will now embark on the offseason, looking to build on their playoff performance in 2012.
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