The Capitals are relying on the character of their group as they navigate what seems to be an unlikely playoff push.
With a laugh, Dylan Strome admitted postgame in Buffalo that Brandon Duhaime has a new nickname for the up-and-down Washington Capitals.
"The Cockroach Caps," Strome recited. "Just won't go away."
Washington is coming off an impressive 2-1 win over the Atlantic Division-leading Buffalo Sabres, who had won eight straight games going into Thursday's matchup. With the victory, D.C. is now five points behind the Boston Bruins for the second Wild Card spot.
"One thing I know about the Washington Capitals is we're not going to quit," Charlie Lindgren, who stopped 29 of 30 against Buffalo to help secure the two points, said. "We're going to continue to fight."
The Capitals are 5-5 over the last 10 games and have won two of the last three as they navigate the final stretch of the season without key leaders in John Carlson and Nic Dowd. Though playoffs seem to be a stretch, the room is keeping hope alive and maintaining a positive culture.
"It's a resilient group," coach Spencer Carbery added. "Even though we've had our struggles and our moments through the year that haven't gone as planned, you still can't question the character of our group as a whole. They they genuinely want to do the right things and care and play hard and compete, and they're gamers in there.
"I never get worried that it's just going to be like, 'Okay, now going to the third period, These guys are just going to quit, mail it in.' It will not happen with our group ever. We might still lose the game, but we will not throw in the towel, and it will not look like a group that's just not going to compete. That won't happen, and that's the character of our group."
Now, Washington's attention shifts to the Boston Bruins, who can they can inch closer to in the standings a win on home on Saturday.
It'll by no means be an easy feat, but the Capitals are confident that, as was the case two years ago, they can find a way to get the job done.
"It seems like every time, if we lose, we're basically done," Strome added, noting, "The Cockroch Caps stay alive one more day, I guess."