from Katie Carrera of Capitals Insider,
Each time the Capitals lose in a particularly unbecoming fashion, it is always interesting to see how Coach Adam Oates handles the next day. In the midst of just his second season at the helm – first true season given last year’s lockout-shortened schedule – how he approaches the potholes in Washington’s game and goes about trying to repair them offers a look at how a new coach is evolving.
He’s remained steadfast in his conviction that yelling isn’t constructive and that the focus should always be finding ways to fix problems with the hope of steadily improving. But after looking at the errors that plagued Washington from the start in Columbus, he emphasized the players’ need to adapt when things, including themselves, aren’t perfect.
“There’s no changes other than decisions by the guys, focus by the guys. Whether they’re mentally tired, physically tired, it can’t happen,” Oates said. “The other team’s in the same exact boat. How you handle that feeling if you don’t have your ‘A’ game, what’s your backup plan? It’s obviously a long night and you’ve got to figure out a way to get the job done.”
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