Kings 4, Caps 1
Is this actually the low point of the season for the Caps? Still hard to top the eight-game losing streak in December. But Washington is at least close to matching its frustration level from two months ago after a 4-1 loss to the Kings at home on Saturday afternoon. Check out the details in our game story here.
Mike Green missed a game after taking a puck to the head last Sunday, but he just wasn’t very good in his return to the lineup. He and defensive partner Jeff Schultz were both on the ice for three Los Angeles goals on Saturday afternoon. Green was also whistled for a roughing penalty. With the Caps trailing 2-1 in the third period, meanwhile, Kings forward Anze Kopitar schooled Schultz on the right wing. That breakdown led to a goal for Michal Handzus.
Alex Semin had played just once since Jan. 8. But if he looked rusty on Tuesday against the Sharks not really sure how to describe his play today. Neither he nor Brooks Laich played after Jaret Stoll’s goal at 13:56 of the third period. He was allowed to stand next to goalie Semyon Varlamov and take three whacks at a puck in the crease before finally jamming one home for a 4-1 lead. That was it for Bruce Boudreau, who exploded at his team on the bench. Might have been his best rant since the infamous 7-0 loss at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 12 – memorably captured by HBO for its “Penguins-Caps 24/7: Road to the NHL Winter Classic” program.
Mike Knuble was visibly frustrated after the game. Matt Hendricks said the team held a players-only meeting and Boudreau later confirmed that. The locker room was closed to the media for at least 12 minutes after the game. Give Hendricks credit for this description of that meeting’s tone: “Encouragement,” he said. That’s one way of putting it.
Knuble acknowledged that it’s possible the competition just ramped up on the Caps this week – San Jose and Los Angeles were considered legitimate Stanley Cup contenders before the season, after all. But he also said it’s getting far to late in the season to think a team can just turn on its playoff switch.
“I don’t know what we’re waiting for,” Knuble said. “There’s a lot to play for – as players, as a team. Every game is important. Those are huge points we left on the table the last two games.”
It’s hard for me to say this is all about effort. The Caps blocked 25 shots. Hendricks was credited with seven hits and D.J. King had another four and a fight in limited minutes. As shaky as he looked at times, Green had three blocks and three hits. To me that looked more like a team that couldn’t extend its early lead and then just deflated once the Kings went on top. It was certainly a here-we-go-again scenario. Whatever the case they need to solve their issues soon. This road trip will be unforgiving and Knuble pointed out the Caps could be in serious trouble if they play poorly out west. We’ll see how they respond.
“Sometimes some players get free passes,” Boudreau said. “And we can’t afford any free passes right now.”
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