The Capitals gave up one goal Monday night in their 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. The victory clinched the President’s Trophy, but Barry Trotz wasn’t happy. He wanted a shutout.
“What I liked about us is that we didn’t give [the Blue Jackets] much,” Trotz said. “Their goal, I thought this could have have been a team shutout. I didn’t think Holts was worked too hard.”
Trotz was referring to Cam Atkinson’s 27th goal of the season that came late in the first period. The Blue Jackets forward scored after Dmitry Orlov turned the puck over in the defensive zone.
“We threw one pizza in the middle and it ended up in the back of our net,” Trotz said of the play, without naming Orlov. “That can’t happen. Those things are disastrous come playoff time.”
Orlov, who has been the team’s best defenseman in terms of possession, has struggled mightily since being paired with Brooks Orpik. Orlov’s woes started against the Pittsburgh Penguins when he was on the ice for four of the Pens’ six goals. Saturday night, Orlov had a turnover behind the net, which led to a St. Louis Blues goal.
When asked if he was frustrated, Trotz teased a possible scratch for the Russian defenseman during the Caps’ next game Wednesday against the Flyers.
“I don’t have any [patience],” Trotz said. “We will possibly make changes next game. I’m not guaranteeing that, but we possibly will.”
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