Capitals Powerplay on Four Game Goal-Less Streak After Loss to Flames

Caps powerplay on 4-game goal-less streak after loss to Flames originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

The Capitals’ powerplay began the year on, admittedly, an unsustainable pace. 

They scored three goals on six opportunities against the Rangers as, even without Nicklas Backstrom, the unit looked like it wouldn’t miss much of a beat to begin the year.

But over the last four games, things have come to a screeching halt. 

In a 4-3 overtime loss to the Flames on Saturday afternoon at Capital One Arena, the powerplay was once again held scoreless for the fourth straight game which has left the unit searching for answers. 

“There's things that we can do better, there's things that we're working on,” coach Peter Laviolette said. “This power play group has a lot of history. I think losing a guy like Nick Backstrom, that factors into it a little bit, but we've still got talented players on the ice and guys that can make plays and make things happen. There were a couple chances, but that's a chance for a power play to make a difference in a game.”

The Capitals are now 0-for-14 with the man-advantage in their last four games, which brings their year total to 3-for-20 (15 percent). They’ve also allowed two shorthanded goals this season, which means they’ve only outscored their opponents 3-2 while on the powerplay. 

There will be natural ups and downs throughout the year which makes, in some ways, the process matter even if the results aren’t always there to back it up.

“To be honest with you, I think today wasn't that bad,” center Evgeny Kuznetsov said. “We doing lot of good things. We fighting for the puck, we trying and shooting. It's not that we just lacking, we don't execute. We did have a bad game last game. We had the meeting, we talk and we try to put some effort, more effort fight for this puck. It's just not going in for now.”

The Capitals managed just three shots on the powerplay against the Flames, as their penalty kill outscored their man-advantage and nearly was even in shots on goal.

“But we have to still work and still believe in each other,” Kuznetsov said. “It's always easy to look for the excuses and find the guy, you know, that guy sucks, like that. But we play as one unit. Sometimes you need those type of games to get better. Personally, I like those moments. That's how we can get better. That's how we can learn. That's how we get close to each other.”

Those chances to learn will be plentiful in the next few games, too, as they’ll face the Senators, Red Wings and Coyotes to end the month. Against teams certainly capable of going down early, the Capitals will look to get back on track.

“I think through the course of the year, you're going to ask me about the penalty kill or you're going to ask me about a slow start or goals being scored late in the game,” Laviolette said. “There's always ebbs and flows to a season so right now we've got to continue to work to get through it.”

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