Capitals vs. Rangers: May the Best Team Win?

Nick Perretti

If there is one lesson we can learn from this series so far, its that no matter which team is the best on the ice, it doesn't necessarily mean it will  translate into a win.
 
The Capitals last night were outplayed for the better part of 3 periods.  In the first period the Rangers looked alive: they had a strong forecheck, managed to keep the puck in the offensive zone and didn't give up a ridiculous amount of shots on goal.  Going into the first intermission, they were down 2-0.   Make sense?   No, but has this series so far?
 
In Game 1, if you were to tell me the Capitals would rally from 2-goals-down, tying the game 3-3, going into the third period on homeice, I would almost guarantee a Caps victory.  In Game 2, if you were to tell me the Capitals would only give up 1 goal on homeice, with a rookie goaltender making his seventh career start, definitely a Caps win.  In Game 4,  if you were to tell me the Capitals would have 6 powerplay opportunities and would not capitalize, I would say surely you jest.
 
Going into the second period of Game 5, Matt Bradley had more goals in the series than Alex Ovechkin--I'm sure experts saw that coming.  These same experts probably knew Simeon Varlamov would log 238 minutes, only allow 3 goals and sustain a .969 save percentage throughout the series.
 
Experts and fans alike can't predict the future when it comes to the NHL playoffs.  In the playoffs anything can happen and we are seeing this in a game-by-game basis.  What does Game 6 have in store?  At this junction, who knows?  Obviously not me, obviously not the experts.