Washington Capitals Players Turn on each other during post-game interviews after loss to Oilers

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Ryan Hall
November 25, 2023 (8:29)

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For the past several weeks, the Oilers have been dreadful, and that is an understatement. The team's wheels appeared to have fallen off after they fired their head coach Jay Woodcroft and assistant Dave Manson.

After the new head coach, Kris Knoblauch, and Oilers legend Paul Coffey became their coaching staff, the team continued to worsen and hit the ice with a thud after losing to the Carolina Hurricanes 6-3.

It was expected they would come out flying during the game against the Washington Capitals, and the Oilers did not disappoint. They beat the Capitals 5-0 in convincing fashion.

While this is only one game, it certainly gave fans a glimpse of a team that needs to find its legs once again.

On the opposite side, Captain Alex Ovechkin of the Capitals, along with their head coach Spencer Carbery, gave an unvarnished, honest opinion on their game or lack of it.

"We didn't play at all," he said bluntly, refusing to mince words after a disastrous 5-0 result. "It's difficult to play against a team of that calibre when they have the puck the entire night. Anytime we get it, it just doesn't connect; we just give it back," head coach Spencer Carbery said.

"Obviously, you do the math; you give Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins the puck all night, three of the best players on the planet, it's gonna be difficult. That's essentially what goes on."

The Capitals certainly expected their effort to be better, but that did not appear to be the case.

"It's frustrating. It's just really disappointing, really... You're gonna lose games in this league; you're not gonna have your best, but to play like that coming off of Thanksgiving before we go on the road, it's a very, very immature game," Carbery said.

"Almost something you would expect from a young team that thinks they're already in California and halfway on the plane before that game even starts. And obviously, you do that against a team that's playing for their lives and feels like their season's on the line? Good luck, it's not even close, and that's what you just witnessed."

It's safe to say that the Capitals are expecting a better effort next game after delivering a dud like this one.

The Oilers will be at home to face the Anaheim Ducks, and game time will be at 9:00 PM Eastern on November 26th.