Capitals Postgame: Ovechkin Urges Team Not To Panic, Wilson Takes Accountability After His Abuse Of Officials Penalty, Frustration Brewing

WASHINGTON — Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin believes that he and his team did a lot right against the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the continued adversity and woes to open the season led to a loss.

Ovechkin had the lone goal — his 300th career power-play strike — but Washington fell 4-1 with the team failing to otherwise solve Joseph Woll and giving up three goals in the second period.

Still, as his team falls to 1-3-1, the captain stressed the importance of battling through times like these.

“I think right now we are playing in that position where we just couldn’t score, you know? I think we had lots of opportunities. I think we played the right way, but [we're] just in that period of time when we have to fight through it and don’t be panicking, don't be frustrated," Ovechkin said. "It’s just part of the process we just have to play hard and it goes in.”

Here are some more postgame quotes live from the locker room:

Ovechkin on the power-play breaking through but otherwise struggling to score: “Yeah, I think how I said, we just frustrated and I think we have so many good chances tonight, and we just couldn’t score. It’s part of the process.”

Ovechkin on his 300th career power-play goal and what it means to him: "It's 300."

On the disallowed first-period power-play goal: "I've seen a lot of goals scored that way. I don't want to comment too much on it, it is what it is. It's just the way it's going right now, we got to find a way to battle through the adversity and find the momentum-builder to try and push it our way."

On his penalty and the team taking too many trips to the box: "Yeah I think when you give other teams an opportunity to go on the power play, eventually it's gonna end up in the net. A little bit of frustration obviously on my part and can't have it. Unacceptable."

On the offense: "At times, it looks pretty good. At times, we're generating chances. So I think when things start to go the other way, we got to make sure we're still working for each other: little plays, showing up for your teammate, working away from the puck, stuff like that. I think you start trying to push a little bit when you get behind and you're chasing a game, it makes it a lot more difficult. You got to continue to kind of play the right way, but easier said than done. We got to find a way to get a lead, and I think that'll be the recipe for success we can build from there."

On 300 power-play goals for Ovechkin: "It's insane. It's beyond kind of comprehension at times what he does and pretty cool to be able to witness all the milestones he hit and has hit and is going to hit. So it's pretty amazing. That being said, we gotta get some wins here."

On the frustration playing from behind and losing: "Yeah, obviously we lost another one. I think we had a really good start in the first period, a couple good chances and we didn't score. And then in the second, they got like two shots, two goals and then it's just tough to come back after."

On the lack of success on the PK: "I think we just need to clear the puck better, make sure we clear it all the way to the other end. Because anytime it happens that we kind of try to clear it, they either take it or they just kind of catch it on the blue line or whatever. And they just come back, and the chances are going from there."

On Ovechkin's 14 shots and the lack of even-strength success: "It's our whole group. He's leading by example... we don't score again at 5-on-5... It's just the same story night after night after night, so we've got to do something to change that."