Alex Ovechkin calls Capitals’ 0-2 start a ‘wake-up call’ originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
For the first time in a decade, the Capitals have lost back-to-back games to begin a season.
Washington has enjoyed fast starts almost every year since Alex Ovechkin established himself among the NHL’s elite. Last season, the Capitals put together an eight-game point streak to begin the year with Ovechkin scoring nine goals in those contests.
They’re only two games in, but the Capitals have gotten off to a very different start to 2022-23. They fell to the Boston Bruins 5-2 in their opener Wednesday before the Toronto Maple Leafs nabbed a 3-2 victory Thursday night. Ovechkin was held scoreless in both games.
“Just I think execution and maybe afraid to get simple play and get one extra shot to find the dirty goal,” Ovechkin said of the Capitals’ 0-2 start after their loss in Toronto on Thursday. “But we just have to fight through it, obviously that’s the start we don’t want to have, two losses in a row, but it’s a wake-up call. We have to get better and play well in the next one.”
The Capitals’ biggest problems have come on special teams. They finished Thursday’s game 0-for-9 on the young season in power-play chances while their opponents had converted on two of their six opportunities. In addition to Ovechkin, others stars such as Evgeny Kuznetsov, T.J. Oshie and John Carlson posted bagels on the goal ledger as well.
While their new goalie tandem has settled in fairly well, the Capitals are still getting used to some new skaters. Offseason additions Dylan Strome and Connor Brown have both logged special teams minutes while skating in the top six. Forward prospect Aliaksei Protas is getting an extended look as second-line winger, too.
Neither Tom Wilson nor Nicklas Backstrom is going to come running out of the tunnel anytime soon, so the Capitals will have to figure out how to fit their new players into their system.
“We have to work through it,” Ovechkin said. “It’s only our third game together. Obviously, we have some chances but we have to talk, we have to watch the video and figure out what we have to do out there.”
The good news is after facing two formidable teams in the Bruins and Maple Leafs, the Capitals will play seven of their next 11 games against opponents that didn’t make the playoffs last year. First up are the Montreal Canadiens, whose point total of 55 was the lowest in the NHL. The Capitals will host them in D.C. on Saturday night.
