On Tuesday, Washington Capitals center Connor McMichael spoke to the media following morning skate ahead of their tilt against the Winnipeg Jets at Capital One Arena (7 PM ET, NBC Sports Washington, ESPN+). He discussed the Capitals’ current slump and how he feels about his own play in his rookie season.

“Our team’s getting a little stretched out when we have the puck…we’re not playing as fast as we’re used to,” McMichael said on the Capitals’ inconsistencies in games as of late. “I think it’s an easy fix. It’s something that nobody’s too concerned about I think. We know that we’re able to get back on track here soon.”

“I think it’s just one of those things where teams are going through rough stretches,” he said on why the Capitals aren’t playing fast enough, adding, “Things aren’t going your way…[as] I said, it’s something no one’s overly concerned about. It’s something that we know what we have to do to take care of it and we’re going to look to do that tonight.”

On his own play, McMichael believes you “have highs and lows” throughout a rookie season. “I feel for the most part I’ve been playing well, creating chances…I’m looking to keep rolling.” In 36 games played, he has picked up ten points, which include five goals.

He noted that it’s been a “weird” season with all the COVID-19 testing and “guys going in and out of the lineup every night” due to league protocol, but the team is “doing our best to manage that.”

McMichael also mentioned that it was “a bit of an adjustment” from playing winger to center, knowing they are “two fully different positions.” “The first couple [of] games were a little different…now that I’ve had a few games under my belt, I’m fine there…I think I’m getting used to it more and more as each game goes by.”

By Della Young