1985: Up 2-0 on Islanders, lose 3-2
1987: Up 3-1 on Islanders, lose 4-3, in 4OT
1992: Up 2-0, and 3-1 on Penguins, lose 4-3
1995: Up 3-1 on Penguins, lose 4-3
1996: Up 2-0 on Penguins, lose 4-3
2003: Up 2-0 on Lightning, lose 4-2
2009: Up 2-0 on Penguins, lose 4-3
2010: Up 3-1 on Montreal, lose 4-3
2013: Up 2-0 on New York, lose 4-3
record in penultimate games in series:
1985: 0-1
1987: 0-1
1988: 1-1
1992: 0-1
1995: 0-1
2008: 0-1
2009: 1-1
2010: 0-1
2012: 1-1
2013: 0-1
2014: 1 win and....
Current Record in Game 7's*: 4-10
Honestly, I don't think anyone can touch us, add the OT heartbreak, and it gets even worse.
Sad fact:
I can't watch Caps playoff hockey because it's gotten to the point where I simply believe defeat is inevitable, especially if I watch (since I saw virtually every game mentioned in these chokes), and as a result, I can't enjoy us taking early 2 games to zero, and 3 games to one leads either. It's torture, love my team, but can't watch them play because of the curse, and the superstitious feeling that my watching makes losing more likely, rather than less. Avoiding watching Game 5, and 6 didn't help (i was in the shower when our goal was disallowed, and they scored the equalizer, turned it off when it went to OT, and I was golfing when we went down 2-0 in the first period, watched long enough to see us down 2-1 at end of 2nd period, then watched Parts Unknown instead).
At this point I just feel completely jinxed whether I watch or not, and feel like I won't and can't enjoy watching playoff hockey unless we're down 2 games to zero, 2 to 1, or 3-2, in which case I feel the curse isn't in effect (but losing is even more likely simply based on odds).
Really frustrating.
Would be incredible for the team to do a full '98, and just go out there and kick the blank out of the Rangers tomorrow night, but that doesn't seem to be this team's tactical approach. Hope and pray the curse will go away, tomorrow and beyond.
*Caps lost to Islanders in 5 back in 1985 when the preliminary playoff round was best of 5.