The Capitals need to play “playoff-style hockey” to turn things around

RALEIGH, NC – Just one week ago, the Washington Capitals left Boston with one of their most impressive wins of the season: a 2-1 victory over the NHL’s best Bruins.

But since then, Washington has dropped four straight games, all in regulation, most recently a 4-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in the Stadium Series on Saturday night. It was an ugly performance from the visitors, who were eliminated from the playoffs for the first time since mid-December after the Islanders beat Pittsburgh on Friday.

“Tonight, the atmosphere, the outside game and this phase was not the performance we wanted,” head coach Peter Laviolette said.

Washington’s recent slide has come at an inopportune time. With less than two months left in the regular season, the Capitals know they have no time to waste and need to turn things around as soon as possible.

“Our playoff hockey probably starts this next week here,” TJ Oshie said. “Other than that, we’re going to be on the outside looking in. It’s more of a realization that we need everybody to play playoff style if we’re going to climb back into this thing.”

Oshie makes a valid point. The Capitals next three games this week are against a trio of playoff opponents – Detroit, Anaheim and New York (Rangers). First up are the Red Wings, who have been on the rise lately and trail the Capitals by just two points.

In order for the Capitals to turn things around, the group will need to play with more energy, chemistry and confidence than they showed last week.

“We have to get our confidence back,” Tom Wilson said. “We’ve got to get some of our grit back. It’s tough when you lose a couple in a row, but we’re going to regroup here, try to get the team together here and build on that because there’s no time It’s an important time of the year and every point is important. Of course this isn’t be good enough. We have to move on from here.”

Every player who spoke after the Capitals’ loss Saturday night echoed a similar sentiment: The team’s recent play simply isn’t cutting it.

“I think everything, to be honest with you,” Nicklas Backstrom said when asked what should be addressed. “We’re not close to being at our best. We’ve got to find a way to get it back.”

“We’ve got to help each other out a little more, support the puck a little more, want the puck,” Wilson added. “Like I said, it’s just a little off.”

It’s worth noting that the Capitals haven’t been anywhere near full speed over the past week.

Captain Alex Ovechkin has been out of the team since Tuesday following the death of his father. Star defenseman John Carlson has been out before Christmas after catching a puck in the face. Wilson just returned to the lineup Saturday for the first time since Jan. 24, while Nic Dowd remains out.

The Capitals don’t have time to wait to get to full strength before making a push. And even though the group is a little shortened, it is still believed that there is enough talent to turn things around.

“Obviously, we’re missing our No. 1 forward and our No. 1 defenseman,” Oshie said. “But the guys in the lineup are more than capable of getting us wins when they’re in it. We might not dominate every game, but we’re capable of getting wins. We haven’t played well enough to do that.”