Opinion

Don’t Worry Too Much Yet About the Caps’ Slow Starts

Alex Ovechkin (Caps Outsider)

The Caps have been struggling to start games recently, having allowed the first goal in 12 of the last 14 games. Despite that, the Caps are at 103 points, 19 ahead in the Metropolitan Division with less than 20 games remaining. The Caps are in a great spot for the playoffs and have time to correct the issue down the stretch.

Justin Williams said the slow starts have been the, “Achilles’ heel. Our starts have been terrible.” T.J. Oshie was said, “We just need to be better at the start.”

The slow starts shouldn’t be too difficult to correct before the playoffs begin. While the excessive number of games lately does cause the players some fatigue that may contribute to the slow starts, the players tend to step it up a notch during the playoffs where spotting goals early in games is less likely to happen consistently. Also keeping in mind, the Caps have done almost everything they can in the regular season, having virtually locked up home ice through all rounds of the playoffs, so these games are less meaningful, especially against teams that are more desperate .

The Caps will be less likely to simply “flip the switch” halfway through a playoff game after a falling early, but as for the slow starts as of late, there isn’t much too worry about until this happens in the playoffs.

Brandon Alter

Brandon Alter covers all three teams in the Washington Capitals Organization. He graduated from the University of South Carolina in May of 2021.

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