The Washington Capitals are having a season that many of their fans waited for. Indeed, the team is at the top of the Metropolitan Division with 55 games played, out of which they have won 36, lost 11, and their overtime losses are 8. However, with them heading into the 4 Nations Face-Off break, the team suffered a dramatic loss yesterday afternoon against the Utah Hockey Club.

Well, the Caps lost 4-5 in a shootout at Capital One Arena, and it was something they never wanted. Indeed, it was a home game, and the fans wanted to see them prevail before the 4 Nations Face-Off break. And immediately after the game, their coach shared some valuable insights on their loss but also acknowledged the team’s efforts that were put forth throughout the match.

During the post-game interview, Spencer Carbery was quite candid with his thoughts, stating, “No, it was not according to plan. I didn’t think… And it wasn’t like the first goal wasn’t great. But yeah, we just didn’t start on time. And then we’re down 2-0 early. We sort of… We get that power-play goal to get us back into it. And then we give up another one. So the first two were not… Not very good. So it is what it is.”

Carbery was present at the Capital One Arena, as he was aware of the way his team performed against the Utah Hockey Club. The game didn’t go the way he expected, especially pointing out the first two goals scored by the opponent in the first two minutes of the match. Indeed, Utah’s Josh Doan and Michael Carcone’s goals ignited the first period. And even if the Washington Capitals’ Tom Wilson scored a power-play goal a few minutes later, Utah’s Jack McBain scored for his team, putting pressure on the Caps.

However, with 7:22 remaining, Pierre-Luc Dubois scored for the Caps, and the scoreboard was 2-4 at the end of the first period, completely not in the favor of the home team. Early in the second period, Utah’s Dylan Guenther scored, and there were no goals in the remaining time. However, the Caps did try their best to make a comeback in the third period, with Dylan Strome scoring early and Tom Wilson scoring an equalizer in the final two minutes of the game.

Acknowledging this particular effort from the team, Carbery shared his thoughts, stating, “Once again, our guys deserve credit. We fought back in the third. The third was a really solid period. And to be expected, like we’re going to keep fighting and they’re on a back-to-back. So we control play, and we find a way to get that game tied up. And that’s what we’ll take out of it.”

Indeed, the Washington Capitals did try to turn around the game, and Carbery appreciated it. However, despite their best efforts, the team lost the game in the shootout; they missed three opportunities, and Nick Schmaltz helped Utah score a goal. This wasn’t the way the Caps were expecting to end their final game before the 4 Nations Face-off break, but will this defeat affect them in the long run?

The Washington Capitals’ season for now

The current NHL season has seen a wave of dominance from the Capitals. Indeed, they are at the top of the Metropolitan Division and have kept that position for a long time now. I mean, there’s no comparison between the Caps and the other teams in the division. The Carolina Hurricanes currently hold second place with 70 points. But how much do the Caps have? It’s 80.

Throughout the NHL in the current campaign, the Winnipeg Jets are the only team that is ahead of the Washington Capitals with 81 points, as they have played 56 games, out of which they have won 39, lost 14, and have 3 overtime losses. So are the Caps confirmed for the Stanley Cup playoffs? Absolutely! From the Eastern Conference, the Caps will be one of those teams that will be locking their playoff spot after a few regular season games.

Indeed, they have more than 20 regular season games left in the NHL after the break, and the fans will be waiting for those, as they will be just more than special. Why so? Their captain, Alexander Ovechkin, is chasing Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record, and it might happen during those games. So it’s not only about what the team can do in the remaining matches but also a lot of other expectations from the Caps fans.