Caps need a quick rebound

There is still a playoff race on in the Eastern Conference, after all. Even if their chances took a major hit.

Coach Bruce Boudreau gave the Caps a day off on Monday. They return to practice this morning to prepare for Wednesday’s home game against the Calgary Flames. After that, there are weekend games at Verizon Center against Atlanta and Boston and then a critical six-game road trip. With just 12 games left in the regular season, Washington has ground to make up in the standings.

“Obviously it puts a damper on it.” Boudreau said in the aftermath of Sunday’s loss 4-2 to Pittsburgh, where rookie center Nicklas Backstrom knocked the game-winner into his own net. “We still have a goal in mind of how many games we have to win to get into the playoffs. Now we give ourselves less chance of error, that’s all.”

The Caps (32-30-8, 72 points) last made the postseason in 2002-03. After the additions of Backstrom and free-agent signings Tom Poti, Viktor Kozlov and Michael Nylander last summer, many in the organization viewed a postseason berth as the logical next step. They have certainly improved, already surpassing their 70-point total each of the past two years.

“They’re a great team,” said Pittsburgh center Sidney Crosby, who was credited with the game-winning goal. “They’re physical and have tons of skill. They’ve got some solid goaltending there, too. They’re a pretty complete team and playing good hockey.”

The Caps played like a confident, playoff-ready group in wins over Boston and Buffalo early last week. But after two heartbreaking losses will that same presence carry over into the game with Calgary (35-23-10, 80 points) Wednesday night?

“We have no other choice. We can’t sit back and drag our lips,” said Caps forward Brooks Laich. “Bruce came in and talked after the game and said ‘You know what, from now on we’re just going to win.’ It’s as simple as that. I don’t think anybody thinks we’re out of it yet.”