Tom Wilson, Capitals Take Accountability & Discuss Lack Of Offense, Seek Fix Amid Back-To-Back Losses: 'It's On Us'

"Those pucks gotta be in the back of the net," Wilson said of a few missed opportunities for him and the Capitals offense.

Just a week ago, it seemed as though the Washington Capitals had figured everything out. However, after a five-game winning streak came crashing down, they've since taken a step back, and amid back-to-back losses, find themselves closer to where they started: unable to score and failing to collect points — and they aren't denying it.

"At the end of the day, it's on us," Connor McMichael said, as he and more took accountability following a 2-1 loss to the last-place San Jose Sharks on Monday.

Monday's loss put even more of a spotlight on the team's woes up front, as the Capitals are struggling more than ever to score goals, at both even strength and, more glaringly, on the power play.

Washington had 34 shots on San Jose and was only able to solve Mackenzie Blackwood thanks to an errant rebound that went off a defender and in. Other than that, missed opportunities, posts and crossbars and wide shots proved costly.

To make matters worse, the power play, despite managing quite a few high-danger chances against the Sharks, failed to convert on three opportunities and is now 0-for-31 over the last 11 games.

Two of those chances on Monday were lay-ups Tom Wilson, who took accountability for missing out on those chances and being just one step behind with the offense lacking.

"It happens quick. Those pucks gotta be in the back of the net. Those are two big moments; if those go in, it's a different game, so I take responsibility for that," Wilson said. "You gotta find a way to capitalize out there on the power play. guys are snapping it around and made good plays just gotta put that in the back of the net.”

Technically speaking, the team has failed to convert over the last hour — and counting — of power-play ice time.

"It's a broken record," head coach Spencer Carbery said.

Carbery's words resonated as the players felt the same way. It was another instance the Capitals have gotten too familiar with this season, one where they come up just short in a tight game where the "deserve to win" meter is in their favor.

"I felt like we did a lot of good things and a couple pucks that just go their way," Wilson noted. "It’s tough to swallow when you feel you probably played good enough to win. But we gotta get it done.”

"There’s been a lot of games to the year that have been one-goal games and we just can’t seem to find the back of the net," McMichael added.

Ultimately, what did Washington in was a late power-play goal for the Sharks, as the Capitals' penalty kill surrendered a critical goal for the third consecutive game after going 10 games without giving up a PPG.

"It's tough in the third period when you're killing," Wilson pointed out, adding, "That's hockey."

Still, despite two consecutive losses, Washington isn't losing hope, and the team also believes that a lot of good can come from Monday's showing, especially when it comes to 5-on-4.

"I think we had really good movement," McMichael said of the power play. "I don’t think we were trying to be too cute. We were getting pucks on net and recovering them. We just kept it simple, and it seemed to work out.”

“Guys are working together, retrieving pucks, working hard, trusting our reads. Kuzy made a lot of good plays, Johnny, everyone was making a lot of good plays. If we got a shot on net we’d go back and reload it and do it again," Wilson explained. "If we keep doing that, it’ll go in for the most part, it felt better. But like I said, I gotta put those in the back of the net.”