Alex Ovechkin after 4-1 loss to Rangers: ‘We say too much, go out there and do it’

Jan 19, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Washington Capitals right wing Alex Ovechkin (8) breaks his stick taking a shot defended by New York Rangers defenseman Marc Staal (18) during the third period at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

(Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports)

NEW YORK – With their 4-1 defeat to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night the Capitals have now lost five in a row, their longest losing streak since December 2010, when they dropped eight straight under Bruce Boudreau.

It’s been an ugly stretch, this 4-7-5 run in the past 16 games, with mistakes like the bad penalties and turnovers that popped up once again in New York. (More on those errors and more Monday morning in Five Thoughts.)

In this five-game slide Washington has been outscored 15-7, with Alex Ovechkin accounting for three of those goals. Washington is also just 1 for 13 on the power play and has been shorthanded 18 times during that time.

“You’ve got to get back to the things you did. Play a little simpler, stay out of the box, more shots. That’s what we did good those games, we moved the puck well those games too,” Nicklas Backstrom said when asked how the Capitals can get on track. “We’ve gotta make sure we find a way to play that way every night, it can’t just be once every 10 games. We’ve got to find a way to play good every night. That’s the expectations we should have on ourselves every night.”

It wasn’t that long ago that the Capitals were happy with their overall play, just not the result. But they’ve completely lost their bearings in consecutive losses to Columbus and New York that have seen them outscored 9-2.

“What am I going to say? ‘Wake up everybody’ Or something like that? We say too much, go out there and do it,” Ovechkin said. “We can be good speaker but you have to show it on the ice. Especially me, Nicky, Greenie, Brooksie. We have to lead by example. It’s all about it.”

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