Photo: Greg Bartram

After winning two straight games against weak teams, the Capitals returned to their losing ways on Thursday with a 5-2 defeat to Columbus. That means we’re in for another edition of Depressing Postgame Quotes.

Alex Ovechkin, in particular, took a hit against the Blue Jackets. The league’s leading scorer was on the ice for all five Columbus goals, with Ovi’s critics salivating at his minus-five.

“I was today bad out there,” Ovechkin told reporters after the game. “Blame on me. It’s not about Jojo, Carly, or Holts. I can’t play like that.”

“I feel bad for my team because I have to lead by example, but today I was worst guy,” the captain added.

Ovechkin’s defensive play, it should be said, was fine. The goals against fall more on sloppy play by his teammates and boneheaded defense. Offensively though, Ovi was held to just two shots on goal, tied for his lowest total of the season.

Ovi wasn’t the only one with fiery rhetoric after the game. Adam Oates sounded off, blaming the team’s poor start for the loss. He mentioned the word “terrible” eight times in three minutes.

“We were terrible,” the coach said. “It was probably the worst period that I’ve seen the boys play in over a year, the first period. Why, I don’t know.”

“All in all, terrible first 30 minutes of hockey,” continued Oates. “Terrible start.”

With the drubbing, the Caps now stand in 12th place in the Eastern Conference.

“It’s very disappointing,” Oates said losing points to a division opponent. “Very disappointing.”

“We gotta fix it,” he concluded.