The Capitals lost their fifth straight game Sunday afternoon, a high-scoring, often sloppy 8-5 defeat to the Chicago Blackhawks.
This has been an infuriating game. Every time the #Caps get back into the game they do something to give momentum away. Back within one. Backstrom IMMEDIATELY took a penalty.
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) January 20, 2019
After the game, the Caps did something they hadn't done all season: call a players' meeting.
Caps had their first players' meeting of the season after that one.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) January 20, 2019After jumping out to an early season lead in the Metropolitan Division, Washington has now fallen to third in the standings, three points behind Barry Trotz and the Islanders and tied on 59 points with the Blue Jackets (Columbus holds the tie-breaker for second place).
Speaking to Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post, Braden Holtby cited complacency as a major issue, the Caps possibly dealing with the dreaded Stanley Cup hangover.
Strong words from Braden Holtby: "I think right now, our biggest battle is going to be making sure we're not complacent. It's one of those things that's going to be hard, getting over the fact that last year is last year."
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) January 20, 2019Last Wednesday on The Sports Junkies, head coach Todd Reirden explained how player absences had affected his squad, while also pointing to a lack of execution.
"In the research I'd done, there would be a little bit of a drop-off at different times after the Stanley Cup run last year and the successes we had, but I didn't expect it to come through injury and through suspension and through having to use guys maybe a little bit more than you should," said Reirden.
"For the most part, it's come down to the execution by us within our system and doing things better than others (which) has been the difference maker. And at this point, in this rough patch, we haven't been as sharp in those areas and as good with our details of the game that define us and push us over the hump."
Monday before practice, the Caps reportedly held another players' meeting, this one called by the coaching staff.
After Caps had a short players' meeting last night, seems coaches called for another one before practice today. That's why Caps were 30 mins late getting onto the ice.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) January 21, 2019Washington has two games left to build some momentum heading into the NHL All-Star break: Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks, and Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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