New-look Capitals searching for identity, answers as struggles continue
VANCOUVER — After a summer of change that saw no fewer than five key players wave goodbye, the new-look Washington Capitals continue to search for their identity — whatever that is.
Winners of back-to-back Presidents’ Trophies, the Capitals sit with a pedestrian 4-5-1 record, including a recent 1-3-1 run, as the first month of the season nears a close.
The latest setback came in Thursday’s 6-2 road loss to the Vancouver Canucks where they trailed 3-0 after the first period against a rebuilding franchise that has surprised early on, but nonetheless was coming off a five-game road trip.
“We are not the same team,” Washington head coach Barry Trotz said following the defeat at Rogers Arena. “There’s a lot of people missing, so this group has to find what is going to work.