The End: Lightning 5, Caps 3

Tonight's 5-3 game four loss by the Washington Capitals to the Tampa Bay Lightning put the end to a tumultuous season -- one that started with bright hopes and included an eight-game losing streak and a call for major changes, and a strong run to conclude the regular season. The Caps defeated the New York Rangers in five games in the first round and got nearly a week off before facing the rival Lightning.

But, after getting swept by the East's No. 5 seed, more questions than ever surround the red, white and blue -- starting with the future of their head coach and many players.

To get to this point, the Caps put forth another sub-par effort against a team that simply wanted it more and outworked them at every juncture. The Lightning got two goals from Sean Bergenheim (both in the second period), power play tallies from Marc-Andre Bergeron and Ryan Malone, and a strike by Martin St Louis at 16:52 of the third that put the finishing touches on the game and the series. (John Erksine, John Carlson and Marco Sturm scored for the Caps.)

While the Caps worked harder tonight (in stretches, especially in the third) than they had all series, the Lightning had more depth, better goaltending, superior defense, and the edge pretty much everywhere else.

It was an ugly end to a nasty series that should significantly alter the franchise's future. While there will be plenty of time for that discussion, the Caps are left shaking their heads after another disappointing postseason -- and premature exit.