Different year, same story.

The Washington Capitals entered the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs with an apparent powerhouse of a team, having finished first overall in the NHL standings for the second year in a row and finally looking to get over the hump when it matters most.

Now, in the wake of a string of several all-too-short postseason runs, they find themselves down 2-1 at the hands of the upstart Toronto Maple Leafs.

Cue the question marks surrounding a team that hasn't advanced past the second round during Alex Ovechkin's heyday, and rightfully so, admits defenseman Matt Niskanen.

"Until we change the narrative, that's going to be the question," Niskanen said, per Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post.

This series, of course, is far from over, but even if the Capitals do come back and advance, a likely second-round date with the Pittsburgh Penguins won't make things any easier.

For now, the Maple Leafs are giving the Capitals more than they can handle, and an opening-round loss to the last team to clinch a playoff spot would be simply disastrous.

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