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Carbery’s Quotables: ‘Same Old Story’ In Loss To Maple Leafs

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Washington Capitals coach Spencer Carbery speaks to players during a break in play during the third period of the team's NHL preseason hockey game against the Detroit Red Wings, Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — For the Washington Capitals, Tuesday night was another reading of the same old story.

The Toronto Maple Leafs tallied one goal in the first period before collecting three in the second period, leaving the Capitals in the dust with little response.

“It’s the same old story, we’re finding ways to lose hockey games,” head coach Spencer Carbery said postgame. “In the National Hockey League — you can do all the good things you want, structurally there’s a lot of good things that are going on, no question we did — but at the end of the day, if we want to be a good team in this league, you’ve got to find ways to win as opposed to finding ways to lose.”

Ovechkin Scores, But Capitals Fall To Maple Leafs In 4-1 Drubbing

The Capitals could have impacted the game much earlier, after a goal by Nicklas Backstrom was waived off after Alex Ovechkin was called for interference on Maple Leafs goalie Joseph Woll.

“I thought it was gonna stand, to be honest with you,” Carbery said. “I looked at it a bunch and we as a staff, our video coaches had a pretty good beat on it. Like it didn’t look like [Ovechkin], really impacted Woll’s ability to make a save.

“That’s ultimately what the call is, that he impacted, and I thought he got through and he was in the net and then Woll could do whatever he wanted. Didn’t think he moved him very much. If [Ovechkin] runs into him and turns his feet or his pads a different direction it’s a no brainer, but I didn’t think that was the case there.”

The Capitals’ lone score, coming from Alex Ovechkin, was the 38-year-old’s first goal of the season — a welcome score after he failed to find the net in the team’s first four games. Ovechkin also ended the night with 14 shots on goal, including seven in the first period.

“He looked different tonight, even another gear,” Carbery said. “He was attacking all night, he was not deferring at all, so you could tell, especially that first power play, it was coming to the cage today.

“That was part of our game plan, to attack them, try to put them on their heels, so he set the tone there. We just couldn’t find a way to get one earlier, get that game tied to change it, and then they make a few plays and we’re chasing them.”

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Jared Serre covers the Washington Capitals for Washington Hockey Now. He is a graduate of West Virginia University.