But there were lessons in each of those losses, including the most recent one, a 2-0 defeat in the second round against the Pittsburgh Penguins last season. After winning 5-2 in Game 6 in Pittsburgh, Washington started strong at home in Game 7, but couldn't put the puck past goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury early and faded late.
Forward Jay Beagle remembered Tuesday how that loss broke the Capitals' "hockey spirit" because they believed it was finally their season to win the Stanley Cup. That disappointment lingered into the start of this season, but they've grown from it and are on the verge of a breakthrough against the Lightning, if they handle this Game 7 better.
"You just don't have to [get] frustrated because something happens not your way," Ovechkin said. "You have to stay the same course and play the right way. It doesn't matter what happened until the last second. We just have to continue to play like that, like we played last night."
Washington played its most complete game of the season in a 3-0 home victory in Game 6 on Monday. Although Ovechkin didn't have a point, he was among the Capitals best players, setting the physical tone with four hits and leading the way with his effort at both ends of the ice.
"Game 6 is one of the better ones I've seen him play," defenseman Matt Niskanen said. "Really, a machine out there. Just knocking people around, was dangerous, hard to handle. We'll try to bring those same type of efforts tomorrow."