Spencer Carbery: Andrew Cristall ‘took a step back’ against Bruins despite goals in back-to-back preseason games

The Capitals prospect scored with 44 seconds remaining in regulation against the Boston Bruins. Taking a heads up pass from Henrik Rybinski, Cristall sent a slap shot past Bruins goaltender Michael DiPietro, giving him goals in consecutive preseason games.

But after the 4-2 loss to the Bruins, Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery did not have praise for Cristall’s play. The second-year bench boss revealed he was less happy about Cristall’s goal and more concerned about everything else he did.

“I thought he took a step back tonight to be honest with you,” Carbery said. “I thought he was better the first game [against] Philly and felt like tonight was just some some puck plays and decisions and some key moments. You know, you got to take it with a grain of salt because it’s a learning curve for him and to now be an effective player at the NHL and then do it consistently. That’s the challenge for young players and that’s difficult to do.”

On the telecast during the second period, Carbery could be seen talking to Cristall individually shortly after the Canadian winger turned the puck in the defensive zone, trying to make a dazzling stick-handling move with the puck instead of making a safe play up the boards.

With Cristall on the ice, the Bruins scored two 5v5 goals and the Capitals had negative differentials in 5v5 scoring chances (6-2) and high-danger chances (4-0) as the 19-year-old skated on a line with Mike Sgarbossa and Ethen Frank.

The Capitals saw much more success with Cristall on the ice Sunday, where the team saw positive differentials in 5v5 shot attempts (11-8) and scoring chances (5-3). Cristall was on the ice for a 5v5 goal by the Capitals, his own, and the Flyers did not score during one of his shifts.

Cristall is trying to impress Carbery and the rest of Caps brass in camp as he only has two options this season: return to the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets, where he’s in a league of his own, or play in the NHL.

“I’m sure he’ll bounce back,” Carbery said.