from Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post,

Adversity is not the problem. We are left to wonder, as what’s sure to be another nausea-inducing second-round series against Pittsburgh begins: How do these Capitals handle prosperity?

Here’s the early answer, with the Penguins in town, essentially skating around wearing their championship rings over their gloves: like a toddler handles a toaster in the bathtub. On Thursday night, the Capitals led 2-0 in the third period. They lost 3-2 in regulation. They took a gift and asked, politely, if there was a receipt enclosed. They would like to return it, thanks very much.

Through what prism should we view this? So many from which to choose. Start with these playoffs, which are only seven games old. The Capitals had a two-goal lead in the first game of the series against Columbus that opened this postseason. They lost. They had a two-goal lead in the second game of that same series. They lost.

And it happened again, against the hated Penguins? There must be commonality.

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Extended game highlights are below.