Spencer Carbery on goaltender Clay Stevenson's first NHL start

His message was straightforward and it was that this game wasn't about winning or losing but it was about surviving and moving on.

With Washington rolling out an unconventional 13-forward, 5-defensemen lineup and rookie Clay Stevenson in the net making his NHL debut, the deck was stacked before puck drop.

The Capitals who are already battling injuries and managing energy ahead of the playoffs then approached the game as a necessity than an opportunity.

That one line said it al and showed that Spencer Carbery's priority isn't looking back at a game played under less-than-ideal circumstances and it's zeroing in on what comes next and what comes next is big.

A first-round playoff showdown with the Montreal Canadiens.

While the Capitals did show flashes of fight, including a big push in the second period, the main takeaway was rest, recovery and readiness for the postseason.

Spencer Carbery wasn't interested in overanalyzing what went wrong or right in Pittsburgh and instead made it clear that the team's focus is on preparation.

They need to prepare mentally, physically and tactically for their next challenge that are the Montreal Canadiens.

It wasn't an excuse-filled presser but it was an honest one in a league where every point matters.

Spencer Carbery chose to prioritize the bigger picture over the score sheet and for the Capitals, that picture now shifts to Montreal where the real test begins.