Capitals have history of blowing 3-1 series leads

WASHINGTON - The Washington Capitals lead the Stanley Cup Final three games to one. In other cities, you maybe stock up on champagne. Lay the groundwork for a sick day at the office. Scout parking along the parade route.

But this is Washington and these are the Capitals and two-game leads can feel about as comfortable as a parka in summertime.

While teams holding a 3-1 lead historically have a 32-1 advantage in the finals, including 31 straight, the Caps are a franchise that's still haunted by playoff phantoms from years ago.

There were the Islanders (1980s), the Penguins (1990s, 2000s and beyond), the Rangers and the Canadiens, too. All trailed Washington 3-1 in the playoffs, and all came back to spoil the Caps' Cup hopes.

For years, Washington couldn't shake the nightmarish visions. Players would shrug off the calamitous history, and fans inevitably were left in tears.

But now the Caps lead another series 3-1, courtesy of Monday's 6-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. It was one of the Caps' most lopsided efforts of these playoffs, and they find themselves teetering on the most exhilarating precipice in sports, one win away from a championship.

This is a team that already has vanquished every pesky demon it's faced — tangible ones such as the Penguins, incomprehensible ones such as the second-round of the playoffs and perennial ones, such as the expectations and disappointments that are sprinkled like ash throughout the team's history book.

"We're trying to write our own story here," forward T.J. Oshie said. "It seems like the rest of the city is onboard with that. We're going to go about our business. We haven't dwelled much on the past."

They've certainly exhibited that in these playoffs. Where past teams have wilted, the Caps have dug deeper. While teams of yore struggled to fight their way off the ropes, this one has counterpunched. The result is a wholly unfamiliar position — not to mention a foreign sensation that feels faintly like optimism — for the Caps and their fans.

"Obviously, we know the fourth one is the hardest to win," center Nicklas Backstrom said, "but we are just going to refocus here and fly to Vegas and make sure we play our best hockey."