Each new NHL season brings new unique challenges as locker rooms are suddenly filled with new faces and new personalities.
That's what the Capitals are working to develop now, forward Garnet Hathaway told Brian Mitchell and JP Finlay on 106.7 The Fan this week. Hathaway will be joining 'BMitch & Finlay' each Tuesday throughout the Capitals season, driven by Lindsay Volvo Cars of Alexandria.
Asked if the Caps are starting to figure out their identity, Hathaway replied, "Yeah definitely."
"You know, the turnover in this league is crazy," he continued. "I don't think there's ever been a team that had the exact same locker room the next year, and I think we're really fortunate that we have a great group of guys, a really good core, to bring guys up to speed. But yeah, you find that identity. You find out how personalities match, too, and how guys get along off the ice and then you start building that chemistry on the ice."
The Caps allowed the first goal of the game from the Devils on Monday night before tying it 1-1 to end the first period. Then they went on a four-goal scoring spree in the second and ultimately a 6-3 victory.
"I think we would love to score the first goal on a game and be winning the entire game, even until the end," Hathaway said. "So these comebacks are really nice for two points, but I think that's probably one thing we're looking back at and saying: How can we improve? What's gonna be the next step for us to grow as a team and then kind of mature throughout the year?"
Washington is now 4-3-0 through seven games and faces Dallas (4-2-1) Thursday night.
