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  4. title => "There are no moral victories, but Caps see a defensive effort they can build on in Tuesday's loss"
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  6. article_body => "<p>The Capitals probably deserved a better result on Tuesday than a 2-0 loss at the hands of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Coming into that game, the Leafs were averaging 5.20 goals per game and had scored no fewer than three in any of their five games to start the season. Yet, a Capitals team fresh off an 8-2 loss against the Philadelphia Flyers managed to hold Toronto\u2019s offense to only one goal, the second coming only after Braden Holtby had been pulled for the extra attacker.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere's a lot of improvements from our game in Philadelphia, that's for sure,\u201d Barry Trotz said following the game.<\/p>\n<p>Aside from a flurry of chances from Toronto early in the first, the game was largely even between the two sides until Connor Brown put the Leafs up 1-0 in the third period.<\/p>\n<p><em>RELATED: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/capitals\/how-evgeny-kuznetsov-could-have-changed-tuesdays-outcome\" target=\"_blank\">EVGENY KUZNETSOV COULD HAVE CHANGED TUESDAY'S GAME, HERE'S HOW<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Despite their effort, however, do not take this game as proof that Washington has solved all of its blue line issues. Tuesday was just merely a step in the right direction.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe did some things better [Tuesday],\u201d Braden Holtby said. \u201cThe outcome could have been a little worse if luck wasn't on our side today on a few plays. We've got to keep a realistic mindset on that too.&nbsp; But we did a lot of good things&nbsp;[Tuesday]. Our defense did a really good job at handling their speed and their size.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Surprisingly, it was not the defense that cost Washington the game, but the offense. When the Caps needed a goal, they simply could not generate one against goalie Frederik Andersen.<\/p>\n<p>Yes, the team needs to find more of a balance and get a full 60-minute effort on both ends of the ice, but there was also hope in the locker room on Tuesday that if they continue to improve in their own zone, it will ultimately lead to more offense in the other end.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEverything is developed from the defensive zone,\u201d Holtby said. \u201cThat's the way we've always had success scoring goals. If you're taking risks offensively, that's not a consistent way to play. You might win some games, but you're not going to win games consistently. That's what our foundation of our team is&nbsp;built&nbsp;around, our breakout, especially on our goal line and that what creates a lot of our offense.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>MORE CAPITALS: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/capitals\/tarik-el-bashirs-three-stars-caps-vs-maple-leafs\" target=\"_blank\">WHO STOOD OUT IN TUESDAY'S DEFENSIVE BATTLE?<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>What the first seven games of the season has shown is that the Capitals\u2019 fate rests on its blue line. Yes, they need more depth scoring from their third and fourth line, but this team\u2019s weakness is its defense. How they respond to their early struggles will determine the fate of the season.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe'd be kidding ourselves if we're not going to have some growing pains along the way,\u201d Holtby said of the team.&nbsp;\u201cIt's just how we handle&nbsp;them&nbsp;and&nbsp;what we do with them. How do we fight through them and get better?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Tuesday\u2019s game may have ended in a loss, but it was an effort the defense can build around. That is the silver lining. If they do build on this game, the Capitals still have a playoff caliber roster. If they do not, well, there is no telling how far Washington can sink.<\/p>\n"
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Capitals

Capitals

The Capitals probably deserved a better result on Tuesday than a 2-0 loss at the hands of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Coming into that game, the Leafs were averaging 5.20 goals per game and had scored no fewer than three in any of their five games to start the season. Yet, a Capitals team fresh off an 8-2 loss against the Philadelphia Flyers managed to hold Toronto’s offense to only one goal, the second coming only after Braden Holtby had been pulled for the extra attacker.

“There's a lot of improvements from our game in Philadelphia, that's for sure,” Barry Trotz said following the game.

Aside from a flurry of chances from Toronto early in the first, the game was largely even between the two sides until Connor Brown put the Leafs up 1-0 in the third period.

RELATED: EVGENY KUZNETSOV COULD HAVE CHANGED TUESDAY'S GAME, HERE'S HOW

Despite their effort, however, do not take this game as proof that Washington has solved all of its blue line issues. Tuesday was just merely a step in the right direction.

“We did some things better [Tuesday],” Braden Holtby said. “The outcome could have been a little worse if luck wasn't on our side today on a few plays. We've got to keep a realistic mindset on that too.  But we did a lot of good things [Tuesday]. Our defense did a really good job at handling their speed and their size.”

 

Surprisingly, it was not the defense that cost Washington the game, but the offense. When the Caps needed a goal, they simply could not generate one against goalie Frederik Andersen.

Yes, the team needs to find more of a balance and get a full 60-minute effort on both ends of the ice, but there was also hope in the locker room on Tuesday that if they continue to improve in their own zone, it will ultimately lead to more offense in the other end.

“Everything is developed from the defensive zone,” Holtby said. “That's the way we've always had success scoring goals. If you're taking risks offensively, that's not a consistent way to play. You might win some games, but you're not going to win games consistently. That's what our foundation of our team is built around, our breakout, especially on our goal line and that what creates a lot of our offense.”

MORE CAPITALS: WHO STOOD OUT IN TUESDAY'S DEFENSIVE BATTLE?

What the first seven games of the season has shown is that the Capitals’ fate rests on its blue line. Yes, they need more depth scoring from their third and fourth line, but this team’s weakness is its defense. How they respond to their early struggles will determine the fate of the season.

“We'd be kidding ourselves if we're not going to have some growing pains along the way,” Holtby said of the team. “It's just how we handle them and what we do with them. How do we fight through them and get better?”

Tuesday’s game may have ended in a loss, but it was an effort the defense can build around. That is the silver lining. If they do build on this game, the Capitals still have a playoff caliber roster. If they do not, well, there is no telling how far Washington can sink.