SPORTS INSIDER – Capitals break losing streak with shutout win; Wizards unable to surpass .500 Mark
January 28, 2014
Ceci Ferrara
Sports Writer
Sports Insider
After 13 days and seven losses, the Capitals are winners once more.
With star Alex Ovechkin back in the line-up (He sat out the previous two games with a groin injury.), the Capitals rediscovered their offense in a big way, shutting out the Montreal Canadiens 5-0 on Saturday night. Ovechkin’s presence was felt almost immediately, as he scored his league leading 36th goal just 1:46 into the second period.
“We needed that,” Capitals coach Adam Oates told reporters. “I was a little worried; we had a good first period and didn’t get anything out of it. We had some good chances, and I was thinking, ‘Here we go again.’ But the power play got us going. The second period was a little bit fluky, but it was our turn to get a break.”
Ovechkin’s teammates followed suit, scoring three more goals in the second period for a 4-0 lead. And while the Caps were on fire offensively, goalie Braden Holtby defended well. He contributed 21 saves in what marked his second shutout of the season and ninth of his career.
A wrist shot by Casey Wellman in the third period finished off the Capitals 5-goal shutout. They scored more in Saturday night’s win than they had in several of the preceding games, entering the game with just three goals in their last four games. It was the Capitals’ first win since January 12th.
The victory was just what the Capitals needed to stop their seven-game skid. With a 23-21-8 record, the Caps are still 13th in the Eastern Conference. However, if they can keep the positive momentum going, they may be able to land one of the final playoff spots. Their next chance to move up in the standings will be at home against the Carolina Hurricanes (23-19-9) on Tuesday night.
Wizards
While the Wizards have definitely been better this season than in recent memory, that doesn’t automatically mean they’ve been good.
In the past two weeks, they have been somewhat of a dichotomy. Though they’ve had impressive wins against teams like Miami and Chicago, they’ve also struggled against losing teams like the Jazz and Pistons.
At 21-22, the Wizards have not been able to move their record past .500. Their latest loss came on Saturday against Utah (15-29), a team which on paper, they should be able to beat easily. Washington did have a 13-point lead in the second quarter, but ended trailing at halftime. In the second half, the Jazz outscored the Wizards 53-48 en route to a 104-101 win.
It was not a resounding defeat, but for a team that was able to put up 114 points against the defending champion Heat, it seemed like a lackluster effort. Wizards coach Randy Wittman believes his team is more focused on playing against a team’s record, rather than viewing them all as equal opponents.
“That’s our problem. This is a tough game. Can’t think that way,” Wittman said. “You’ve got to go out every night, thinking this is going to be the hardest game you’re ever going to play.”
The Wizards’ next opponent will be the 27-18 Golden State Warriors, whom they will face on the road on Tuesday night. If they are able to surpass the .500 mark in the coming week, it will be the first time the team has done so since October 31, 2009.
While Wittman’s team wants to hit that goal, shooting guard Bradley Beal agrees that that it shouldn’t be their primary focus. “Of course we want to do that,” he said after Saturday’s loss. “But we need to focus on what it takes to win, and we’ve got to have that heart and passion each night to be able to do so.”
