Andrey SenchenkoSport correspondentAll materialsEmail to the authorWashington Capitals lost to the Florida Panthers for the fourth time and stopped participating in the Stanley Cup. The Capitals have failed to make it past the first stage of the National League playoffs for the fourth year in a row. The Panthers made it to the second round for the first time since 1996. Washington's streak with the Florida Panthers is absolutely commendable. “Capitals” managed to impose an equal game on the clear favorite of the confrontation and make a serious bid to reach the next round. However, the key factor of the duel was performance skills, and in this component the «capital» gave way to the southerners. The fifth match of the series was decisive, which “Washington” had to win. Instead, the team of Peter Laviolette prematurely believed in their success and frankly ugly spent the final segment of the meeting. The Panthers bounced back 0-3, and Carter Verage almost single-handedly declassed the entire Capitals roster, scoring five goals. Hollywood films. With their fans, the Caps showed the maximum spirit and — as far as it was in the power of the Washington hockey players — concentration from the moment of the starting face-off to the final siren.
