They were clearly the better team and they amped it up to another level. They parlayed their momentum from round 1 quite efficiently while we never seemed to be able to step it up and catch them in terms of energy and production. Little things seemed to bother us this series. We weren’t resilient and we didn’t get over obstacles placed in our way. We are all accountable on this performance starting with me.

Their role players outplayed our role players.

Their highest paid players outplayed our highest paid players.

In fact, their role players outplayed our highest paid players.

Their goaltending was better.

Their special teams were better.

They adhered to their coaches’ system better than we adhered to our coaches’ system.

The wheels fell off for us. No doubt about that.

They deserve their success. They won and we lost. They move on. We ponder what to do next to improve our performance in the playoffs.

I was happy with our regular season performance. We won the East again.

I was happy with our first round performance winning a series in five games.

I am stunned that we were swept in round 2.

I am surprised that around the league such close games are turning into big leads for other teams as well.

In times like these people are emotional; angry; and demand change. I understand.

The best course of action for us though is to let a few days pass; be very analytic about what needs to be improved; articulate that plan; and then execute upon it.

Clearly we know we have to improve to build a franchise that is as good as our fan base.

I appreciate your emails. I appreciate all of the advice we are being given by media and bloggers. I understand that we are what our record says we are.

Thank you for your support during this grind of a season.

Thank you for caring so much. I am so very sorry we let you all down.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and for being so vocal and passionate. I received more than 60 emails over night. Some with good vibes; some with angst; some with anger; and some with perspective.

I appreciate it.

I empathize.

I understand.

We have a game to play this evening, a unique back-to-back game. A win is a must have deliverable for us under very difficult circumstances.

I, too, am disappointed that we lost two leads last night. Every game is close and we didn’t close out that game and take a win and the momentum back in the series. I am sorry.

We have a lot of work to do.

It is best that we focus on the game tonight. Keep sending good vibes our way. We need the help. Go Caps!

Every team that is situated in the second round of the playoffs is a really good team.

Check out each team’s regular season record, a very small margin of games won separates each team.

Check out OT games this playoff season. There have been 18 of them.

We have played in three – winning two and losing one.

Road teams do well in OT, too. Don’t ask me why. They have won 11 of the 18 games.

Many games go to OT with last minute or late period goals, five of them to be exact.

Many teams have lost their first two games at home: Boston in round 1; and Philly and now us in round 2.

I am on my way to Tampa. Please wish us well. Every moment of the game and every shift as we have seen matters.

It is all too close to call. These are noble fights with evenly matched teams.

We are hopeful but realistic of what we have to do, one game at a time. It is not a cliché here. It is the truth.

Game is at 6:30 pm tonight as a heads up. Go Caps!

They scored on their power play.

We didn’t.

They are playing great this playoff season on their penalty kill. They have been very proficient in both rounds of the playoffs. We haven’t been as good.

Special teams have been the big difference in both games so far.

We knocked in a goal for them off of one of our players skates a second night in a row. They got a great break and took advantage. We didn’t. We made a bad line change in OT and the puck is in the back of our net.

We lose in OT.

We are down 2-0 in the series.

We have lost home ice advantage.

We can’t lick our wounds. We have to go to Tampa and forget the past two games. Play with desperation.

And focus.

That is all we can do.

Go Caps! Thank you.

Embrace whatever comes our way.

Enjoy the moment.

Have fun.

Be loud. Wear red. Express joy.

Take the high road in all.

Be prepared for the roller coaster.

There are no favorites.

Every team is now 0-0.

There is no relevant history.

It is all real time; all in the moment.

Hope we have good fortune and luck.

The games are too close to call all around the NHL.

We have worked hard to be here as has the other side.

Kudos to both teams. May the best team win. Drop the puck. Go Caps! Thank you.

Click here for a pixel fest and analysis galore.

We know who we are playing now.

Starting Friday night at home.

The staff can coach and show film of what works and what doesn’t. We can practice with focus.

Amazing set of circumstances in the playoffs: Home teams losing Game 7′s — not scoring on the power play — losing 3-1 leads — sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

Tampa is red hot with lots of momentum; a very talented team; and great ownership and management. This will be a true challenge. We will need your help as fans. Be loud and proud.

Enclosed is a bunch of pixels. I don’t need to contribute to the monster feeding. Looking forward to Round 2. This is a lot of fun. Go Caps!