#CapsHawks Postgame Notebook: Consistently Inconsistent

Washington surrendered more than three goals in a contest 11 times in its first 50 games this season, but it has now done so five times in its last eight games in the wake of Saturday's 7-1 trouncing at the hands of the Blackhawks in Chicago.

In 2016-17, the Caps surrendered more than three goals just 15 times all season, the lowest number of such games in a single season in franchise history, excluding lockout-shortened seasons. Last season's total includes seven occurrences in the team's last 22 games, so Washington has now been dented for more than three goals against in 23 of its last 80 regular season games.

After going 11-10-1 in their first 21 games of the season, the Caps posted a 16-3-2 mark over their next 22 contests. They've now won only six of their last 15 games (6-5-4), as ongoing concerns about the team's lack of consistency are coming to the fore once again.

"I have a lot of ideas on that," says Caps coach Barry Trotz. "And I think I have to keep them within our coaching group. We haven't been as consistent as we need to be, but at the same time, we've been more consistent than a lot of teams or we wouldn't be where we are.

"We've got to look at that. We've got a lot of inconsistencies. It's a tough, game, it's a humbling game, and we got humbled tonight. Tonight, we got exposed in every area of our game."

The Caps turned in a strong performance over the full 60 minutes in Thursday's 5-2 win over the Wild in Minnesota, but were soundly whipped in every aspect of the game by a beleaguered Chicago team that went into Saturday night's game with an eight-game losing streak (0-7-1) and had also lost seven straight on home ice (0-6-1).

"Inconsistency is a good word," says Caps defenseman Brooks Orpik. "I'm not really sure why. It definitely seems like once we straighten some things out, the we kind of take two steps back and [start] making the same mistakes and digging the same hole. That, and anytime you give up the first goal, chasing the game in this league is a tough way to play."

Sawbuck - Washington's lone goal of the game came at 10:03 of the first period, a Tom Wilson tip-in of Matt Niskanen's right point drive. The goal was Wilson's 10th of the season - extending a career high - and his third in the last two games.

The goal also adds to Wilson's career high point total this season; he also has 17 assists for 27 points.

Mentors' Trip - Another of the Caps' annual Mentors' Trips is now in the books, with the Caps now owning a 13-6 record in Mentors' Trip games over the last decade.

Blank Sheet - For the first time in his 979-game NHL career, Caps captain Alex Ovechkin went through a game without teeing up a single shot attempt.

Getting Well - A number of Chicago's key contributors have been scuffling of late, as you'd expect from a team lugging an eight-game losing streak. But several of them started the healing at Washington's expense in Saturday's game.

Jonathan Toews started the scoring in the first period with his second goal in his last 17 games; he later added a pair of assists. Patrick Kane had a goal and an assist to end a five-game drought without a point, his longest since March, 2009. Brandon Saad scored for the second straight game for the Hawks, and he added an assist to give him a total of two goals and four points in his last 18 games. Nick Schmaltz had a goal to end a five-game scoring dry spell. Artem Anisimov scored his 15th goal of the season on a Chicago power play, just his second goal in his last 19 games. And Ryan Hartman netted his first goal in 19 games.

Centers Of Attention - Going into Sunday's game, the Caps and Hawks each had a trio of centers with double-digit goal totals. Although Anisimov lined up on the wing in Saturday's game, he is a center by trade. Including him, all four Chicago pivots found the back of the net on Saturday against Washington: Toews, Schmaltz, Anisimov and Hartman.

Down On The Farm - The AHL Hershey Bears earned a 3-0 road win over the Belleville Senators on Saturday night at Yardmen Arena. Bears goalie Pheonix Copley made 28 saves to record his fist shutout of 2017-18. Copley improved to 9-12-5 on the season.

Hershey supported Copley's efforts with a goal in each period. Connor Hobbs supplied the Bears with all the offense they'd need on this night, scoring his second goal of the season at 4:03 of the first, with help from Dustin Gazley and Nathan Walker.

Wayne Simpson made it a 2-0 game at 8:21 of the second with help from Tyler Graovac and Matthias Bau, and Tyler Lewington closed out the scoring with an unassisted strike on a vacant Belleville net with 1:12 remaining. The goal was Lewington's second of the season.

Hershey is back in action on Monday afternoon in Toronto when they face the Marlies. The 21-25-3-4 Bears are in seventh place in the AHL's Atlantic Division standings, and they now own a modest three-game winning streak.

By The Numbers - Niskanen led the Caps with 24:52 in ice time … Lars Eller and T.J. Oshie each had three shots on net to lead the Caps … Niskanen, Dmitry Orlov and John Carlson each had six shot attempts, and that trio accounted for nearly half (18 of 40) of all Washington shot attempts in the game. Only four of those 18 attempts resulted in a shot on net, and all six of Orlov's bids were blocked … Wilson led the Caps with six hits … Brooks Orpik led Washington with five blocked shots … Evgeny Kuznetsov won 10 of 16 face-offs (63%).