Capitals Locker Room: What Strome & Team Had To Say After Winning Biggest Game Of Season To Bolster Playoff Hopes

Here's what Dylan Strome, Nic Dowd and Connor McMichael had to say following the Capitals' 4-3 overtime win.

WASHINGTON — In the biggest game of the season, the Washington Capitals found a way — again.

It's been a theme for the scrappy squad filled with veterans and rising stars, and on Tuesday, they came together once again for a 4-3 overtime win over the Detroit Red Wings to extend their lead over the second Wild Card spot and bolster their playoff odds.

Here's what Dylan Strome, Nic Dowd and Connor McMichael had to say following the 4-3 overtime win.

On the playoff-like atmosphere: "I've never played in playoff hockey besides the bubble, but you know the bubble. That's probably as close as I've played to playoff hockey. A lot of Red Wings fans in the crowd, a lot of Caps fans were really loud. It was a great game back and forth."

On being in the playoff race: "It's special, for sure. Growing up being from Toronto, always very fortunate to be on a really good team growing up in minor hockey and then in the OHL we had four really good teams and really good years, always made it to the conference finals or finals. Obviously it hasn't worked out in the NHL so far for getting to the playoffs, but it feels like hopefully this is the year. We're right there. We control our destiny, for sure, and we just got to keep going. It's a lot of fun to play. Everyone wants to thrive in the big games and play games that really matter. It feels like that right now, and we're trying our best."

On the Capitals finding a way to win: "I don't know. I think Chuck has given us an opportunity to win a lot of hockey games where we've had slow starts. Specifically tonight, I thought he gave us an opportunity to stay in that game. It's so hard to come back on teams when you get down one or two or three goals. I think you saw that early in the season from us. So when he can keep that game 0-0, if we didn't have the start that we wanted, which I think we didn't tonight, it gives us an opportunity to climb back in. I think our goaltending's been good, and I think our special teams have been really good."

On Dylan Strome's performance: "I think he's been one of our best players, so I think that says it all. I think if you're going to come and play and be consistent nightly and be relied upon to be offensive and you're producing and you're doing a good job at it, I think that speaks for much he cares about the situation that we're in."

On the mindset going into overtime: “Win the game, I think we gave up one late there. We didn’t wanna play on our heels at all, we wanted to attack and I think that’s what we did. We had the puck most of overtime and we were able to control that and Johnny and Stromer connected on a great play there.”

On playing in big games down the stretch: “Yeah it’s unreal, it’s exciting. I feel like you have a little bit of nerves but once you’re out there you’re just playing your game, you can feel the emotion and the energy from the crowd and both teams especially tonight, battling for a playoff spot, there was tons of emotion, tons of effort from both teams so that was a fun one to win for sure.”