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‘Shame on us': Ovechkin says Capitals not ready in loss to Blue Jackets

Alex Ovechkin

Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin holds his head as he lies on the ice after taking a hit while playing the Winnipeg Jets during preseason NHL hockey game in Belleville, Ontario, on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Sean Kilpatrick)

AP

In almost every aspect, the Washington Capitals were far and away the second best team on the ice against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday.

They were outhit 40-18 in a very physical game, outshot 36-27 and, most importantly, outscored 5-1. And Washington’s best player and league leader in goals, Alex Ovechkin, was held off the score sheet entirely, thanks in large to the play of Columbus goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.

“You have to be ready 100 percent. All team today, including me, everybody was not ready. It’s shame on us,” said Ovechkin afterward, as per Katie Carrera of the Washington Post.

“You just can’t let a game get away and be that easy. It’s not right,” added head coach Adam Oates.

With the loss, the Capitals remain fourth in the Metropolitan Division. They had a chance to jump ahead of both the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers and back into second in the division.

The Blue Jackets are sixth in the same division, but only three points back of second-place Philadelphia.

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