Spencer Carbery on Capitals’ endless losses to Stars: ‘They play a few games, we don’t. And that’s the difference.’

The Washington Capitals saw their franchise-best 10-game winning streak end on Monday after falling to the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Arena 3-1.

After taking a 1-0 lead thanks to Dylan Strome’s third goal in the last four games, the Capitals couldn’t solve Jake Oettinger (25 saves) any further and saw the Stars chip away despite great goaltending in their own end by Charlie Lindgren.

After the game, Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery cited Oettinger, who is undefeated in five games against the Capitals, and the Stars’ lackluster but decisive edge on special teams — the Capitals went 0-for-4 with the extra man, while Dallas was 1-for-2 — as the most important decision makers in the game.

Roope Hintz scored twice, while defenseman Lian Bichsel scored the game-winning goal in the second period, a shot from the point that went wide but hit Rasmus Sandin’s hand and in.

The night was an otherwise good showing from the Capitals, both outscoring the Stars 26 to 24 and outscoring them five-on-five, 52 to 36.

Here’s what Carbery told reporters:

Spencer Carbery: I thought Oettinger was the big (difference), probably 1A. Special teams, probably 1B. And then it’s probably 1C that they get a few lucky breaks, but then they capitalize. Like the power play, a couple of their top players make a good play shooting the net. The same with the third goal. They face us and of course have to execute and shoot it past our goalkeeper. So credit to their top guys for taking advantage of those spots. But I liked a lot of the things we did tonight, especially five-on-five.

I don’t mind our process at all tonight against a really good team. I thought we did enough to win the game, obviously the powerplay, we needed more of that tonight, but I felt we had some good looks at 1-0. Like Mikey has it there in the slot that hits the crossbar so you push it to 2-0. You know we look good. You have to give (Oettinger) credit. This is a world-class goalkeeper and there is a reason why he is one of the best in the world. But we have to, in those places, find a way to break through and finish in those areas.

When these games are this close against good teams, they play a few games, we don’t. And that’s the difference in games. I hate to oversimplify it because there’s a lot that happened in 60 minutes. But it’s kind of the same. So that goal, the first goal, that penalty we take, we just make a little mistake. We take a high-sticking penalty and now you know the game is 1-1. So it’s a fine line when you play in these games against really good teams where it’s pretty even on both sides. I felt like we carried, probably going back through the five-on-five chances, I bet we outscored them at five-on-five. But one or two players here or there makes the difference.

The Capitals will be back in action on Tuesday night, completing their back-to-back set of games against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center.