WASHINGTON — Despite Alex Ovechkin moving within five goals of Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record, coach Spencer Carbery said that the Washington Capitals need to see a lot more from the top-6 going forward.

Ovechkin got just 10 shifts through the first 40 minutes of Sunday's 8-5 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, skating a team-low 7:43 minutes over that span, including under three minutes overall in the second.

Carbery explained it was the result of numerous defensive zone starts and the team having to kill penalties, while also saying that Ovechkin's line needed a change after a lackluster start.

The Capitals captain picked it up in the third period after he moved to a line with Pierre-Luc Dubois, scoring his 890th career goal while ending the night with three points. He ultimately finished the night with 16:55 minutes of ice time.

However, the Capitals bench boss said that the team needs more from its top two lines amid a three-game losing skid.

"We were fighting to stay in that game. I didn't like any of our top-6 again tonight, those two lines over the last two games, we've been okay, but no production from them," Carbery said. "They get the late goal in Winnipeg, but it just hasn't looked great. Their underlying numbers haven't been great the last two games from our top-6."

Washington will be back in action on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins and could see a new-look lineup with nine games to go and Ethen Frank drawing back in down the stretch, as well as the potential addition of Ryan Leonard.

That said, Carbery wants to see D.C. return to its identity, especially with the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs right around the corner.

"We get what we deserve tonight. I don't know if it's a mental block with our group, there's just something that when they see a team like this, they want to play their style of game and it goes south on us," Carbery said. "That's not who we are, and it's disappointing."