Thursday night’s 5-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning was just the latest in a string of underwhelming outings for the Washington Capitals, who are now 3-5-2 in their last 10 games. However, Thursday night’s matchup was a bit lopsided, as the Capitals were playing the second game of a back-to-back set, which also required significant travel, against a well-rested Lightning squad on their home ice.
Regardless of the difficult circumstances related to the game, Capitals players were in no mood for excuses following the game. Capitals defenseman Nick Jensen was particularly frank regarding the team’s level of effort following the loss in Tampa.
“I keep saying the same thing, loss after loss. Defense is a priority, “ said Jensen. “I think we get puck watching. I think everyone’s got a little bit more to give. You’re getting off the ice, you shouldn’t even be able to breath, you were working so hard. I think if we had that mentality, I don’t think the results are coming in the way they are. That’s just my thought on it. We just gotta keep finding a way to get better.”
Jensen didn’t call-out any specific players, but it’s clear he is seeing something he doesn’t like. Whether that is an overarching perspective or issues he has with the effort from a few players or just one player, we don’t know and will likely never know.
I think most Caps fans can agree it’s refreshing to hear a player speak his mind, even if it’s in a general sense. We are seeing more and more leadership qualities emerge from Nick Jensen, and that’s a good thing.
The Capitals have just six games remaining in the 2022-23 season, and are still mathematically alive for the postseason. However, the odds of making it to the playoffs have grown extremely long. Some have already placed them at 0%.
They Capitals return to action on Sunday afternoon when they host the New York Rangers at Capital One Arena. Puck drop is set for 1:00PM.
Post-Game Interviews:
Just shut up & collect your check…,maybe that statement would mean something if you said it in front of WHOLE TEAM,in intermission break!! Or on bench during game!! All your coach is doing is go through motions,join rest of the team! Might have ment more 10 games into season not with 10 or less remaining.
Eat your heart out, Shakespeare.
Wish I had a bottle of Thousand Island dressing, to go with that word salad
Good job, Jens! Somebody needs to speak up.
You tell ‘em Nick!
Nice to speak your mind to the press however its another thing to say the same thing in the dressing room in front of the other players. Frankly the HC has been mailing it in since Oct as he knew then he was not getting a new contract. Should have replaced him with Allen in December. None of the other coaches especially the useless Forsythe need to be brought back except Allen. For the remaining 6 games tell the team to do the following: hit someone anywhere, when ever and at all times; shoot from anywhere and often (I want to see 40/45 shots a game not 26 -31), skate like there is no tomorrow, stop worrying about making the perfect pass just make the pass and most of all get out all the frustration of this season in the next 6 games so you can go into the summer thinking about next season not this past one.
Isn’t speaking to the media considered a “louder” voice than behind closed doors? I follow your point but not sure. Interesting situation
“stop worrying about making the perfect pass just make the pass”
Yup. To quote Frank Zappa, that’s the crux of the biscuit. Everybody on this team thinks he’s Adam Oates. There was one play late last night, where Dowd was skating out of the D zone, and dropped a no-look, backhand pass, which was promptly picked off. Didn’t lead to a goal, but for crying out loud, why would your 4th line center be making fancy passes? This is just Looney Toons.
Phil Esposito is the color guy on Lightning Radio (besides being their first owner and GM and being in bronze outside Amalie Arena). Espo scored a few goals in his career and he admits that 90% of them were dirty goals. That was his skill. As the Lightning players keep looking for that perfect pass he’s screaming into his mic “Shoot it! Shoot it! Just shoot it! You can’t score if you don’t shoot it.” and then turns away from his mic to mutter things that we can’t properly hear.
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Wow,skies must be parting…me & hockeydruid finally agree on something!!
One thing I learnt in hockey playing & being with teams in off ice member is it means a hell of a lot more when somebody who doesn’t normally be a “rah-rah” type stands up & says something than when “ regular “ voice does!!
I think this team from Owner down has had TUNNEL VISION about Ovie & Gretzky scoring record as being primary focus of immediate future & not long term goal of being Cup Threat again!
“rah-rah”
04/01/23: In a startling development, the Washington Capitals have announced that they have traded Peter Laviolette and Blaine Forsythe to the Pittsburgh Penguins in return for Mike Sullivan.