(Frank Franklin II/Associated Press)
BOSTON – With the Washington Capitals’ postseason place secure so soon, it was natural they struggle to stave off complacency. Their competition are teams either fighting to get into the playoffs or battling for a good position once they get there, understandably more desperate.
The 18 games since the all-star break have been a mixed bag of good performances and sloppy ones, while some concerning habits – like the team’s slow starts – have persisted. There’s also been personnel turnover with trades shipping Brooks Laich out and bringing Mike Weber and Daniel Winnik in.