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Takeaways From The Capitals 5-0 Defeat To Edmonton Oilers

By Jon Sorensen·
Photo: X/@Capitals

The Washington Capitals wanted to conclude their four-game homestand on a high note before hitting the road for their western road swing. However, it looked like the Caps were still burning off the calories from their Thanksgiving festivities in their 5-0 defeat against the Edmonton Oilers. They were slow and a step behind the entire game and did not look ready to play.

Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery did not hold back in his postgame press conference.

“It’s just really disappointing. We’ve done a lot of good things and I’m sure we’ll talk about that but it’s just disappointing. You’re not gonna have your best games, but to play like that, coming off of Thanksgiving before we go on the road, to me it’s a very very immature game, from almost something you would expect from a young team that thinks they’re already in California and halfway on the plane before that game even starts,” Carbery said. “Obviously you do that against a team that’s playing for their lives, and feel like their season is on the line, good luck.”

Washington’s five-game win streak is now over. As that was not bad enough, bad enough in Friday’s contest, T.J. Oshie went down with an upper-body injury in the second period and did not return. Carbery said after the game that he will not travel to California. 

The Caps fall to 10-5-2 on the campaign and the Oilers improve to 6-12-1. 

Here is what stood out. 

GAME RECAP: Oil Spill On Black Friday: Capitals Suffer 5-0 Shutout Against Oilers; T.J. Oshie Leaves With Upper-Body Injury

Slow Start; Passes Not Connecting

Similar to how Wednesday’s affair against the Buffalo Sabres played out, the Capitals got off to another slow start, trailing 2-0. Washington did have some good looks in the first four or so minutes of the first period, but after that it was all Oilers. 

For about the last four minutes of the opening frame, Edmonton was cycling the puck in the offensive zone and the Caps failed to clear the puck on numerous occasions. 

“It’s difficult to play against a team of that caliber when they have the puck the entire night,” Carbery said. “Anytime we get it, it just doesn’t connect, and we just give it back. So obviously, you do the math, [and] you give Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins the puck all night, three of the best players on the planet, it’s going to be difficult and that’s essentially what goes on.”

The Caps had a tough time executing passes up the rush for the rest of the period and it carried for the remainder of the hockey game. They struggled with their zone entries and struggled to execute crisp passes in the neutral zone. 

Undisciplined; PK Struggles

Washington had a difficult time staying out of the penalty box and could not contain the high-octane Oilers power play, which is ranked eighth in the league at 25%. The last three goals that the Capitals allowed were on the man-advantage. 

The Caps’ penalty kill had been outstanding prior to Friday afternoon, killing off 25-of-26 power plays in the last 11 games, and having staved off 23 straight heading prior to the Buffalo game, it looked like it was back to square one. 

But it wasn’t just the fact that Washington had a difficult time staying out of the penalty box. It was the fact that the penalties the Capitals took were unnecessary. Tom Wilson was called for roughing after punching Mattias Janmark’s face twice.

Evan Bouchard made it 3-0 on that penalty. Then after the play, John Carlson was called for “abuse of officials” after clearing the puck the length of the ice in frustration after the Bouchard tally.

Leon Draisaitl extended the lead to 4-0 and after Nic Dowd took a delay of game minor, Draisaitl tallied again to close matters. Washington simply could not contain the fast puck movement and the interchanges on the Oilers’ man-advantage.

“I think it became a special teams game and we didn’t win that side of it,” Tom Wilson said. “They got their touches on the power play, and they made it count. We’ll review this one, get rid of it and get back to where we left off.”

Disastrous Defensive Zone Puck Management; Flat Footed 

The Capitals defensive zone play was atrocious all game long. Breakouts were far from clean and the Caps failed to simplify their game and were attempting too many stretch passes.

“We didn’t play at all. We give them lots of space. Obviously [their] top players when they control the puck, it’s dangerous,” Alex Ovechkin said. “In the first period especially. We make costly turnovers and make mistakes and we’re down 2-0.”

Edmonton started to turn up the jets at around the mid-way point of the first period. The Capitals could not keep Edmonton’s speed at bay and got beat to every puck. 

The Oilers had eight high-danger chances in the first period alone and had 21 shot attempts at even-strength. Meanwhile, the visitors had 14 scoring chances after the first 20. 

“Those kinds of games happen,” Ovechkin added. “It shows when we think about not the right play, not the right situation out there. Make stupid decisions, bad passes, turnovers and it cost us the game.”

Notable Numbers and Observations

  • Charlie Lindgren was doing everything he possibly could. 
  • It is not worth writing about the power play. It is still very bad. 0-for-5 and now 0-for-28 over the last 10 games. Everything needs a full reset
  • It was a physical affair from the get go. The Capitals led in the hit category 21-12. Tom Wilson led the way with six hits. 
  • The Capitals were 43.4% in the faceoff circle and the Oilers were 56.6%.
  • Washington had 13 blocks and Edmonton had 9. 
  • The Caps were outshot 21-6 in the first period. 
  • The Oilers were 3-for-4 on the man-advantage and had seven shot attempts

Up Next

The Capitals will begin their western road trip against the San Jose Sharks on Monday, Nov. 27 at 10:30 p.m. EST. 

By Jacob Cheris