PITTSBURGH — The game had ended just minutes before, but the captain had already left the dressing room. Not very far, and with the intent to return, but Claude Giroux needed to find some space, in this case a storage area, to collect himself, maybe curse himself, out of view of the group of veterans and impressionable young players he is charged with leading.
He arched backward. He leaned forward and grabbed both knees. He looked up to see a stampede of reporters heading past him toward the Flyers dressing room and so he headed back there too.