‘We’re Not Happy’: What Capitals Said About Loss To Flames, More Big Injuries

Saturday’s tilt in Calgary is certainly one that the Washington Capitals want to forget. Not only was it a tough 5-2 loss, but the team lost two key pieces in Martin Fehervary and Darcy Kuemper in the defeat.

Here’s what the team had to say about the loss to the Flames, injuries and the standings:

T.J. Oshie

On the struggling offense: “…We’re still a good hockey team, so we have to find a way to use our minds and creativity. Almost like, it’s been a while since summer hockey, but summer hockey, your mind’s always thinking of, ‘How I can be open, how I can get the puck, how I can help my teammate out?’ Sometimes when you get through a string of some tough games, you start thinking more about the systems where you have to be working hard just to work hard.

“We need to get more of that creativity where you see plays developing and you jump in the holes. Guys make those plays when they’re not there, you get the puck to the net, protect the puck, limit our turnovers going across their blue line… [turnovers and breakaways] look bad on the D, but typically that starts with the forwards, where we’re putting the puck.”

On losing Fehervary & Kuemper to injury: “You know, I thought Chucky played pretty solid in there for us. Marty does a lot of work for us back there, so that was tough for there. I haven’t seen them, but I heard they’re both doing great. We’ve had next-man-up mentality for a couple years now, and when you have that, you need everyone going. You need everyone picking up for those holes that the guys that are out. And it seems like when we’re not playing our best, we don’t have that full team effort. Easy to fix, just comes down to getting it done.”

RELATED: Washington Capitals Injury Updates On Darcy Kuemper, Martin Fehervary

Garnet Hathaway

On getting more scoring chances: “You gotta take a couple steps back and take a look at the desperation that we have to play with in order to get pucks through, get second chances, get interior plays. I think we’ll get a lot more goals, a lot more chances, we’re a little stronger on our sticks and we just battle a little more at the right time, right moment. It’s more of that than system-wise. I think it’s just bearing down on those.”

On the team’s mentality with a playoff spot getting more out of reach: “The mindset is we know that. We know these points are huge. It’s early December, but we know how big they are. That one stings, the one in Seattle stung. We’re talking about it, we’re not happy about it and we’re trying to find ways to change it.”

Anthony Mantha

On the team’s inconsistency and place in standings: “it’s been a tough year obviously. We would love to be on a 10-game winning streak. Obviously, that’s not the case. We need to figure it out within our group, and I think we have enough vets to kind of take charge there. Everyone kind of knows how to play, and we just need to execute.”

READ MORE ON WHN: What’s Going On With Anthony Mantha & What’s Fix For Washington Capitals?

On the struggling forecheck: “We’re maybe thinking a little bit too much. When you don’t score as much, you’re maybe hesitant to make the extra pass or something like that. But like i said, it’s a matter of time before it switches and comes our way.”