Despite one point holding a 2-0 series lead, and chances to close it out in Games 6 and 7, the Capitals floundered and lost the series, 5-0, in Game 7 to the New York Rangers.

In 2007-08, the team lost Game 7 in Round One to the Philadelphia Flyers. In 2008-09, the Caps lost Game 7 in Round Two to the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 2009-10, the 8th seeded Montreal Canadiens knocked them out in the first round. They were swept in Round Two by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2010-11. Washington lost to the Rangers in Game 7 of the second round last season. This year makes 5 excruciating exits in a row.

The Capitals just couldn’t capitalize at a time when some of the top Rangers were performing poorly. Brad Richards had an awful showing with only one point in the 7 games. Rick Nash? Just 2 points. Derek Stepan, just 2 points. Captain Callahan? 3 points. Yet, defending Vezina-champ Henrik Lundqvist was on his game to propel the Rangers, posting up shutouts in Games 6 and 7.

What you need to know? Aaron Asham scored the game winning goal with 7 minutes remaining in the first period. It turned out to be the only goal the Rangers would need.

The Caps controlled the pace early in the game, and pushed the pace, but could not solve Lundqvist. Alex Ovechkin played with grit and tenacity, laying out 3 huge hits in the period, one of which sent Ryan McDonough off for facial repairs. It was not enough, as Ovechkin finished the game with just one shot on goal, and ended the series with no points over the final 5 games.

After the Asham goal, the Caps appeared deflated, and could never regain any of their earlier momentum. Between the errant passes and lack of traffic in front of Lundqvist, Taylor Pyatt and Michael Del Zotto scored goals for the Rangers, raising the score to 3-0.

Callahan and Mats Zuccarello added insult to injury, making the game an unreachable 5-0 with goals in the third period, as the listless and lifeless Caps floated around the ice waiting for the game to end. The Rangers are expected to begin their next round against the Boston Bruins on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Washington is relegated to yet another off-season to search for answers as to what went wrong. This is the 4th game 7 that the Caps have lost on home ice in the last 5 seasons. Beyond Ovechkin’s lack of production (2 points), the team also saw struggles from Nicklas Backstrom (3 points), Mike Ribeiro (2 points), and Marcus Johansson (2 points). Another year, another weak playoff performance from the teams top names.

May 13, 2013; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) and Capitals center Mike Ribeiro (9) sit on the bench during a stoppage in play against the New York Rangers in the second period in game seven of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The National Hockey League is ready to start the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The full schedule and matchups will be officially announced later tonight (or early tomorrow, depending) when the two game sevens scheduled tonight are completed.

For the Western Conference, it’s only a waiting game, as all four series have completed.

The San Jose Sharks will face off against the defending Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings.  Game One will be played on Tuesday at 10PM.

Game one for the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings is scheduled for Wednesday May 15th.

The Pittsburgh Penguins know they will be playing the Ottawa Senators in round two of the Eastern Conference playoffs,  the winners of the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals game seven will face off against the winners of the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs game seven.  Both games are scheduled for tonight.

That series will most likely kick off on Wednesday with the Detroit/Chicago series, or on Thursday.

Hopefully you have two televisions that you can watch simultaneously, or be a master of picture in picture television watching – the Boston/Toronto game starts at seven and is being broadcast on CBC, RDS, and CNBC.

The Rangers and Capitals start at 8 on NBCSN, TSN, and RDS2.