Weird wake-up call

Caps’ Laich thought season was over

WASHINGTON – Hard to blame Capitals forward Brooks Laich – or anyone who played in Washington’s three-overtime loss to the New York Rangers – for wanting to catch up on sleep.

While dozing, Laich wound up having quite a nightmare.

“I woke up, and for some reason, I thought the season was over. I had a deep sleep – I had a long deep sleep – and I thought the season was over,” Laich recounted Friday. “And then it refreshed in my mind that we only lost one hockey game, that it’s 2-1. We’re still in a good position.”

Yes, Brooks, a team needs to win four games to end a series, so there’s more hockey to be played between the Capitals and Rangers, starting with Game 4 at Washington on Saturday (12:30 p.m., CBC,NBC,RDS). Top-seeded New York holds that 2-1 lead Laich reminded himself about, thanks to a 2-1 victory in Wednesday’s extra-long contest.

“Your morale is certainly a notch up after winning a game of that length, rather than losing,” Rangers centre John Mitchell said.

“That is important for our team.”

Rangers coach John Tortorella used fewer players for more minutes apiece than Washington coach Dale Hunter, who spread ice time out more evenly among a larger group in Game 3.

Tortorella bristled Friday at a question about his team rebounding physically from the fatigue, saying: “We’re not tired. ... This isn’t a tired team. Like I said yesterday, we have no chance if we ...” He cut himself off there, then added: “I’ll just leave it at that. We’re fine.”

Both teams practised for about 45 minutes Friday.

The Capitals, meanwhile, are hoping to continue a pattern: They haven’t lost two consecutive games in more than a month.

But nine of the Capitals’ 10 playoff games have been decided by one goal.

Five have gone to overtime.