Washington is 0-4-2 in its last six games
The Capitals tried to spend a day away from the rink at Kettler Iceplex, where thoughts about a six-game losing streak are ever present. That’s usually a good move for a struggling team searching for answers. But it is also easier said than done.
“The bottom line is whatever you’re going to be doing, you’re going to be thinking about it,” said Washington forward Mike Knuble, whose team suffered a humbling 7-0 loss to the New York Rangers on Sunday. “You can’t really cut yourself off at this point. It’s still going to be in the back of your mind. But we can’t let it go on any further.”
The off day on Monday provided little solace, and on Tuesday the Caps were back at work as they try to end their worst stretch of hockey since coach Bruce Boudreau took over behind the bench on Thanksgiving Day 2007. Washington is 0-4-2 in its last six games and 4-7-2 over the last 13. It has been shut out four times during that stretch, including the embarrassing 7-0 loss in New York. That was the franchise’s worst defeat since an 8-1 pounding by the Pittsburgh Penguins on Jan. 25, 2006 and left Boudreau pondering exactly what’s ailing his team. He wasn’t the only one.
“After the [Rangers] game I was beside myself, didn’t know what to do either,” Caps forward Brooks Laich said. “I thought about it all day [Monday]. The only two things that I can come up with that’s going to get us out of this — one was passion. Play the game like you love the game. Play the game with some fire, some desire, some want, some compete. … And then the second thing is hard work.”
| Troubling data |
| 36 » Fewest points for Caps left wing Alex Ovechkin (12 goals, 24 assists) through the first 32 games of a season since he entered the NHL in 2005-06. |
| 2.81 » Washington’s goals against per game. That ranks 16th in the NHL. Only five teams have allowed more even-strength goals than the Caps’ 61. |
| 41 » Goals allowed over the last 13 games. The Caps have scored just 27 during that stretch. |
| 4 » Times Washington’s powerful offense has been shut out in its last 13 games. It had been shut out three times in its previous 160 contests. |
| 10 » Standings points earned by the Caps since a Nov. 17 home win over Buffalo Sabres. Their lead in Southeast Division is now down to two points. |
| Up next |
| Capitals vs. Anaheim Ducks |
| When » Wednesday, 7 p.m. |
| Where » Verizon Center |
| TV » CSN (HD) |
| Radio » 1500 AM |
| The Skinny » Washington (18-11-3, 39 points) beat Anaheim (16-13-4, 36 points) 5-1 in a game at Verizon Center last Jan. 27. The Ducks are currently tied for third in the Western Conference despite a 10-11-3 start to the season. Anaheim is 6-2-1 over its last nine games. |
That begins Wednesday night with a home game against the Anaheim Ducks. At least during this six-game stretch there is no one issue plaguing the Caps. They have — on different nights — blown a 4-1 third-period lead, watched a game-tying goal in the final seconds get waved off, gone 0-for-8 on the power play, had one of their young goalies struggle and lost a 3-2 game where they actually played well.
“It’s like you’re sticking fingers in the dike, trying to plug these holes,” Knuble said.
A problem on the blueline, at least, is a lack of stability. Defenseman Jeff Schultz is out 4-to-6 weeks with a broken finger he suffered last Monday against Toronto. Mike Green missed the last two games with an illness. And Scott Hannan is a minus-7 with three penalties in his six games since a trade with Colorado.
“I do believe in everybody in this room and that we’re going to get out of it,” Boudreau said. “It’s not — quite frankly — like we have 15 points. We have the fourth-most points in the NHL still and first in our division. … So the world is not doom and gloom to us. The world is ‘Let’s get a break and let’s get through this thing’ and then we’ll turn it around.”
