Capitals face up to home ice disadvantage

WASHINGTON — The good news for Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals is they still lead their Eastern Conference final against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The bad news: They host Game 4.

So far, Washington is 7-1 in away games this postseason, closing out each of its first two series on the road. Heading into tonight, the Capitals are 3-4 in their arena. The latest setback was a 4-2 loss to the Lightning on Tuesday, after two victories at Tampa Bay by a combined score of 10-4.

Ovechkin simply shrugged when asked about that discrepancy.

“We don’t think about it,” the three-time MVP said. “We just play our game.”

Others were less dismissive.

“We can take a few things that we’ve done on the road and put it into our home game,” goalie Braden Holtby said. “Just a little simpler play. Just a kind of, like, more gritty style.”

Asked what his club could do to fare better at home, Capitals coach Barry Trotz said: “Just play the way we do on the road. We’re invested there. We’re playing with real good focus. I didn’t think we were as focused as we have been normally on the road. So just pretend you’re on the road. All the buildings are pretty well the same these days.”

Trotz notices a difference in his players’ attitude on home ice, saying: “It’s us against the world when were on the road.”

There is a league-wide trend here: Road teams are 38-34 in these playoffs.

“It’s easier to play on the road,” said Holtby. “It’s always that way on the road. Any team would say that, because you’re not focused on the excitement of your fans and all that. They bring you energy in good ways, but at the same time, you need to stay realistic and play your game.”

During the regular season, Washington was a strong home team. Only five teams in the league had more victories at home than Washington’s 28.

So what is going on in the playoffs?

“I don’t really have an explanation for it, to be honest with you,” defenseman Brooks Orpik said. “I know when we go on the road, I think maybe we feel a bit more relaxed, and when we do make mistakes, maybe we don’t let the groaning affect us or whatnot. I mean, that being said, I think we should be probably mentally stronger to not let that affect us. Just got to try to find a way to win the next one at home, for sure.”