Lapierre Postgame WASHINGTON — For the Washington Capitals, Saturday was a big step in the right direction. The team carried over its momentum from a big win over the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 4-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks to close things out a home before a big test on a Western Canada road swing. "We know we got our work cut out for us, and we're playing a lot of good teams on this trip," John Carlson said matter-of-factly. Here's what the players had to say, live from the locker room. HENDRIX LAPIERRE Lapierre Postgame On his hot streak: “Honestly just a couple of good bounces so far. I try to be in the good areas too, like in the goalie’s paint or whatever, just get some rebounds or some tips or whatever that might be. But yeah I think just with my confidence and my speed and stuff, I can create things and right now I’m getting the good bounces because I’m being in the good areas. So just keep it going, I guess.” On his chemistry with Alex Ovechkin: "It helps for sure. I think we’ve been, like, okay, but I think we can be even better. We’ve been scoring and stuff, but I know we can have another gear, me, O and Pro, so big road trip coming and five really important games so hopefully, we’ll have a really good game to start and then we can kinda focus after that.” JOHN CARLSON Carlson Postgame On keeping momentum going: "Momentum's a thing, but I think reassurance of game plan, reassurance of individual players and their roles and what they're asked. And that goes back to when the deadline's over, you know where you're at and you know what we need to do to get into the playoffs. I think there's a little bit more of an easier focus for everybody on where they kind of are right now." On the team's goal-scoring of late: "Everywhere. No. 1, the power play's been good as of late, so that obviously buoys a lot and helps a lot. We have some big goals in there, just like tonight. I think that third goal is huge in that game. It's coming from everywhere. I think a lot of different guys are scoring, a lot of lines are contributing every night and that's the type of team that we have right now and that's what we need." ALIAKSEI PROTAS Protas Postgame On weight being lifted off after trade deadline: "For sure, it's tough when you don't know what's going to happen. For sure, it's tough for everybody, especially the guys who appear in those rumors and stuff. For sure, for them, I feel, like, bad. Now, for sure you know you're staying here and we've got a big stretch ahead and that's great, so the guys know that. For sure, it's going to calm us down a little bit and for sure we're going to miss those guys. Kuzy was one of the biggest parts of that group, for sure, the last 10 years. Mo, we had great chemistry with him. Eddy was a hell of a teammate. It was just tough to see all those guys go. It's hard."
