Written By Lisa Wallace at CBC.ca
The Ottawa Senators saw first hand why the Washington Capitals are the best team in the league.
The Capitals clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a 4-2 victory over the Senators Tuesday night.
“It’s huge,” said Alex Ovechkin. “I think we deserve how we play all year to clinch it. Right now, 10 games left, I think we just have to play more simple and be ready for the playoffs.”
Washington jumped out to a 3-0 lead by the 14-minute mark of the first period and, despite a valiant effort, the Senators were no match for the league-leading Capitals (52-15-5).
“We didn’t really give ourselves a chance to win this game even though we battled back and got one late again, but that’s not how you win games in this league,” said Senators captain Erik Karlsson. “They showed that they were a better team than us and it’s as simple as that.”
The loss comes on the heels of a promise for change from owner Eugene Melnyk, who earlier in the day called the season, “just a total roller coaster of hope and despair.”
While players said Melnyk’s comments weren’t a distraction prior to the game, one can’t help but think it impacted the players, especially considering Melnyk’s criticism of head coach Dave Cameron.
“I don’t think anyone was personally called out,” said Karlsson. “I haven’t seen the full comments, but I think it’s an overall. Even with those comments made I think he includes himself in there. He’s an owner that cares and he knows that he needs to do something different and step it up too. I don’t think it was directed to any specific person at all whether it was players, coaches or management.”
Mike Richards, Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie, with an empty net, scored for the Capitals as Braden Holtby stopped 28 shots.
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