They opened the season with three games in four nights, all against playoff teams from last season, including the defending Cup champs. Despite playing without one of their top two centers (Evgeny Kuznetsov) and a top four defenseman (Michal Kempny), the Caps came away with five of a possible six points from that stretch.
"Always disappointing to be ahead in a game like that, and then see us let them back in it," says Caps coach Todd Reirden. "And then ultimately, we get the extra point. Five [points] put of six - if you were looking at it to start the year - would be something that would be above average from what we're looking for. I think we did some good things in these three games, and some stuff to grow on."
On Friday night on Long Island, the Caps were diligent and detailed in protecting a 2-1 third-period lead against the Islanders in spoiling New York's home opener. But on Saturday night at home, a wearier Caps team couldn't hold off the Canes in the third.
"I think mentally we just weren't as sharp as we were [Friday] night," says Caps winger T.J. Oshie, who scored his second goal in as many nights against Carolina. "In the third, we got the pucks and we kept getting them deep. On our foreheck, we protected ourselves with our routes so that our [defensemen] could stay aggressive, and I feel like tonight a couple of times the forwards got caught, so the [defensemen] either couldn't pinch or they did pinch, and there was an odd-man rush.
"That team has got a lot of speed, and when they turn pucks over they send four and sometimes five guys in the zone trying to score. So you've just got to be smarter with the puck. It's early, the first back-to-back, so we made some mistakes tonight that we've got a long time to learn from."