Washington Capitals

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Dejected fans linger in the stands after the Washington Capitals lose to the Boston Bruins in game three, 3-4, of National Hockey League first round playoff hockey at the Verizon Center, Washington, D.C., Monday, April 16, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Washington Capitals defenseman Dennis Wideman (6), third from right, and Washington Capitals defenseman Jeff Schultz (55), second from right, look out on the ice as their teammates head back to the locker room after the Washington Capitals lose to the Boston Bruins in game three, 3-4, of National Hockey League first round playoff hockey at the Verizon Center, Washington, D.C., Monday, April 16, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson (74), right, has words with Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63), left, as Boston Bruins center David Krejci (46), steps in between them, in the third period as the Washington Capitals lose to the Boston Bruins in game three, 3-4, of National Hockey League first round playoff hockey at the Verizon Center, Washington, D.C., Monday, April 16, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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The Boston Bruins celebrate the go-ahead goal by defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) in the third period as the Washington Capitals dropped a 4-3 decision in Game 3 of their first-round Stanley Cup series at Verizon Center, Washington, D.C., Monday, April 16, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Washington Capitals defenseman Karl Alzner (27), second from left, Boston Bruins left wing Milan Lucic (17), third from left, and Washington Capitals left wing Matt Hendricks (26), second from right, have to be separated during a scuffle in the third period as the Washington Capitals lose to the Boston Bruins in game three, 3-4, of National Hockey League first round playoff hockey at the Verizon Center, Washington, D.C., Monday, April 16, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Washington Capitals center Brooks Laich (21) scores on Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas (30) to tie the game, 3-3, in the third period before the Washington Capitals lose to the Boston Bruins in game three, 3-4, of National Hockey League first round playoff hockey at the Verizon Center, Washington, D.C., Monday, April 16, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Washington Capitals left wing Jason Chimera (25), Boston Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk (55), middle right, and Boston Bruins left wing Milan Lucic (17), top right, battle for the puck in the third period as the Washington Capitals lose to the Boston Bruins in game three, 3-4, of National Hockey League first round playoff hockey at the Verizon Center, Washington, D.C., Monday, April 16, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) stands in the goal during a break in action in the third period as the Washington Capitals lose to the Boston Bruins in game three, 3-4, of National Hockey League first round playoff hockey at the Verizon Center, Washington, D.C., Monday, April 16, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Boston Bruins left wing Daniel Paille (20), top, and Washington Capitals defenseman Dennis Wideman (6) battle for the puck in the third period as the Washington Capitals lose to the Boston Bruins in game three, 3-4, of National Hockey League first round playoff hockey at the Verizon Center, Washington, D.C., Monday, April 16, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Washington Capitals center Brooks Laich (21) and Boston Bruins left wing Milan Lucic (17) are called for unsportsmanlike conduct before a face off in the second period as the Washington Capitals take on the Boston Bruins in game three of National Hockey League first round playoff hockey at the Verizon Center, Washington, D.C., Monday, April 16, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), second from left, and Washington Capitals center Brooks Laich (21) third from left, celebrate the first goal of the game by Washington Capitals left wing Alexander Semin (28) in the first period as the Washington Capitals take on the Boston Bruins in game three of National Hockey League first round playoff hockey at the Verizon Center, Washington, D.C., Monday, April 16, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) slams into Boston Bruins defenseman Dennis Seidenberg (44) in the first period as the Washington Capitals take on the Boston Bruins in game three of National Hockey League first round playoff hockey at the Verizon Center, Washington, D.C., Monday, April 16, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Paul Bonsiero, center bottom, waves a red towel as he and other fans cheer before the Washington Capitals take on the Boston Bruins in game three of National Hockey League first round playoff hockey at the Verizon Center, Washington, D.C., Monday, April 16, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Capitals fan Judi Miller of Kensington, Md., center, wears a cut out of President Obama to taunt Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas (30), during warm ups before the Washington Capitals take on the Boston Bruins in game three of National Hockey League first round playoff hockey at the Verizon Center, Washington, D.C., Monday, April 16, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Mike Beck, second from left, jumps up to high five stilt entertainer Mark Lohr, right, before the Washington Capitals take on the Boston Bruins in game three of National Hockey League first round playoff hockey at the Verizon Center, Washington, D.C., Monday, April 16, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), second from left, and Washington Capitals center Brooks Laich (21) right, celebrate the first goal of the game by Washington Capitals left wing Alexander Semin (28) on Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas (30), second from right, in the first period as the Washington Capitals take on the Boston Bruins in game three of National Hockey League first round playoff hockey at the Verizon Center, Washington, D.C., Monday, April 16, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Alex Ovechkin, shown celebrating a goal in the 2008 playoffs, and the Capitals have failed to move past the second round in each of the past four seasons. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green (right) tries to get a stick on the puck after being dropped to the ice by Boston Bruins left wing Benoit Pouliot during the third period of the Capitals' 2-1 victory in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series in Boston on April 14, 2012. (Associated Press)