The Capitals finished the preseason schedule exactly the way they began it two weeks ago.
But even after another one-goal loss — this time 2-1 to the Ottawa Senators at Verizon Center on Sunday — there are enough positives to take to Atlanta this week for Friday’s regular-season opener: A deeper roster that should prevent a replay of last winter’s collapse after injuries and illness hit. A puck-possession team that won’t have to play dump-and-chase hockey all the time. A vastly improved penalty-kill unit.
“The other team’s havinga hard time containing our forwards. They’re scrambling because of our speed,” said defenseman Brian Pothier, whose team finished 3-3-1 in seven preseason games. “Our puck possession is causing them to take penalties they didn’t want to take. And when we get the power play a bit better we’ll capitalize.”
The power play is still a question mark heading into the season. The Capitals were 0-for-5 on the power play against Ottawa. They finished the preseason converting just five of 48 chances. That won’t cut it during the regular season after adding free agents Tom Poti, Viktor Kozlov and Michael Nylander. On the other hand, the Caps did kill off all but six of their opponents’ 40 power-play chances.
Kozlov had the lone goal against Ottawa, deflecting a first-period shot by forward Alexander Ovechkin at the 5 minute, 49-second mark. The Senators responded just 26 seconds later on a goal by forward Patrick Eaves. Forward Nick Foligno added the game winner for Ottawa at 11:43.
“Five-hundred at the end of [the preseason] isn’t playoff material,” said Caps coach Glen Hanlon. “But we’re heading in the right direction.”
