The sentiment in the Washington Capitals‘ dressing room was universal: Their energy wasn’t where it needed to be in a 2-1 loss Friday to the Minnesota Wild.
“We knew they were going to play desperate — they need points as we do — but I think the sense of urgency was on their side, not on our side,” Alex Ovechkin said.
“After coming off some emotional games lately I think we didn’t ramp it up enough for this one, for their situation, how they were playing,” Braden Holtby added.
What Holtby referred to was not an excuse, but certainly a believable reason: The Capitals played one of the most intense games of the NHL season Wednesday night against the league-leading Tampa Bay Lightning.