Caps know score, so they ‘caved’

This probably isn’t the type of activity the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority would promote, but the Washington Capitals kept to themselves during their stay for the Stanley Cup Final.

No strolling the Strip. No late-night soirees at clubs. No stays at the craps tables. Instead, Capitals coach Barry Trotz said his team “Caved.”

“Alltheguysareatthe hotel,” Trotz said Wednesday prior to Game 2 against the Golden Knights at T-mobile Arena.. “It’s sort of funny. They’ve basically caved it for thelastthreedays.there’sno tans, there’s nothing.

“This city is so different from any other. We have a really strong leadership group, which I’ve spoken about all year. As a group of men, they have a bond and have formed a pact that we’re not here for pleasure. You won’t see anybody gambling, you won’t see anybody out or in the sun for eight hours at a time or anything like that. The guys have caved it up. I heard they’re playing Mario Kart and a bunch of different things.”

Center Jay Beagle said the playersknowwhytheywere here.

“It’s why we play the game, togettothefinals,”hesaid. “We’re going to stay focused. There’s no need to go out. We have a great group of leaders and we’re having a lot of fun together. We have a lounge where we all hang out and if you want to call it ‘Caving Up’ I guess that’s fine.”

Trotz said: “We can always come back to Vegas. Vegas is going to be here for a long time. This opportunity may never come around again. I think that’s the message that went out to everybody.”