MONTREAL -- The Montreal Canadiens dressing room remained closed to the media for a long time after their 5-0 loss to the Washington Capitals on Saturday night. Hisashi Iwakuma Jersey . And when it opened, every player was at his stall. Thats a sure sign that a team is in a slump and is searching for answers. "Its embarrassing to be at home and play the way we did," said defenceman Josh Gorges. "We have nobody to blame except ourselves and we have to be a lot more resilient moving forward." The Canadiens (27-20-5) have lost four in a row and five of six, allowing Eastern Conference rivals to move closer to the playoff spot they held by a comfortable margin until recently. The slump has rumours flying of trades and has some questioning whether coach Michel Therriens job is safe, although Gorges doesnt see a need for a change. "I cannot see one guy that has lost faith in anyone in this organization," he said. "Thats not who we are. "Collectively, were just in a rut and were finding ways to beat ourselves. Tonight, once we got down, mentally we didnt have that resiliency. But in no way, shape or form are we quitting on anybody." The Canadiens half-effort, in which they were outshot 27-3 at one point in the second frame before closing the gap to 34-21, was just what the struggling Capitals (23-21-8) needed. Alex Ovechkin returned from missing two gamjes with a lower body injury to start a four-goal second period as the Capitals ended a seven-game winless run. The Caps had scored only eight goals in their seven previous games. "Its a big win, a good win for the boys," said Ovechkin. "It brings some confidence back. "This building is an exciting place. Its good." John Erskine, Jay Beagle and John Carlson also scored in the middle period and Casey Wellman, who was recalled Saturday from AHL Hershey, scored on a feed from Ovechkin on a 2 on 1 counterattack 8:38 into the third period. Erskine, Beagle and Wellman each got his first of the season, while Ovechkin got his league-leading 36th. Carlsons goal at 10:31 of the middle period chased goalie Carey Price in favour of backup Peter Budaj. It was a sixth straight game in which Montreal allowed four or more goals. Caps goalie Braden Holtby improved his record against Montreal to 5-0-0 with two shutouts. The Canadiens talked among themselves about the rut they are in after the game, but it was management that ordered every player to stay in the room to face the media. They had been booed mercilessly by the 21,273 Bell Centre fans, who also gave a mock cheer when they were held without a shot on goal until Daniel Briere got only their fourth of the game at 12:25 of the second period. "Its probably the biggest cheer I ever got for making a save," said Holtby. "People should be frustrated," said Montreal defenceman P.K. Subban. "Im frustrated. Everybodys frustrated in here. "But thats life. Thats part of the sport. Its how you respond. I think we have the right attitude in here. We just have to work through it." Therrien said every team goes through bad patches in a season and its up to them to play their way out of it. "That the players had a meeting shows they want to fix the problem," he said. "I have confidence we will bounce back from this." Price said the meeting should help. "We need to tackle this problem as a team," he said. "Doing things individually is what got us to this point. So this was a good step. "At this point, our support isnt good enough. We have to battle better for our teammates. You have to count on the guy beside you. Right now were not doing that." The Canadiens seemed to go to pieces once Washington got the lead. Ovechkin fed Troy Brouwer on a power play for a shot that was disallowed when video review found it entered the net a fraction of a second after the first period ended. The man advantage had just ended when Ovechkin produced magic in the second period when Jason Chimeras rebound looked to be floating past the net. He tapped the puck twice in the air to keep it from getting away, then he lifted it into an open side for his 36th of the season. "It was kind of a tough angle, but its in and well take it," said Ovechkin. Less than two minutes later, Erskine saw his sliding pass go through a surprised Prices legs after Subban lifted Brooks Laichs stick in front of the net. Beagle scored on a set-up from Tom Wilson at 6:21 and Carlson added one on a long shot Price didnt see. The Capitals have won seven in a row at the Bell Centre since March, 2011 and are 9-1-1 in their last 11 visits. Notes -- There was a standing ovation in a pre-game ceremony for Anthony Calvillo. The CFLs all-time passing leader retired this week from the Montreal Alouettes. . . There was also a moments silence for victims of the Ile-Verte fire. . . Montreal defenceman Raphael Diaz was scratched for a fourth game. . . While Ovechkin returned, centre Mikhail Grabovski sat out with a lower body injury. . . Adam Oates coached his 100th Capitals game. Cheap Seattle Mariners Jerseys .The Hanwha Eagles said the team was impressed with Morgans contact ability and base-running skills.The 34-year-old debuted with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2007 and hit . Jay Buhner Jersey . -- The Detroit Lions made it crystal clear to Golden Tate that he was their top target in free agency. http://www.cheapmarinersjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-robinson-cano-jersey .com) - St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko, Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk and Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury have been selected as the NHLs top players for last week.TORONTO -- The CFL Players Association says disgruntled receiver Chris Williams is now a free agent following an Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruling. On Thursday, the court issued a ruling quashing an arbitrators decision in June that Williamss contract with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats was binding even though the club violated the CFLs collective bargaining agreement with the CFLPA. "It is the position of the CFLPA that Chris Williams is now a free agent and able to sign a contract in the NFL or another CFL club," the union said in a statement. Dan Vertlieb, Williams agent, didnt immediately respond to an email request for comment from The Canadian Press. Williams, 25, the CFLs top special-teams player last season, went to arbitration asking to be released from the final year of his contract with Hamilton to reportedly pursue NFL offers. In June, arbitrator E.E. Palmer found the Ticats violated the CBA by negotiating with an unregistered agent but said the penalty was a fine and not the termination of the contract. However, the Ticats werent fined because the CFLPA did not request one be imposed. Palmer also found Hamilton had picked up the option on Williamss contract last October in accordance to the CBA but didnt use the exact language surrounding the renewal as laid out in the agreement. But he also ruled that wasnt enough to null the agreement. Both the Ticats and CFL said theyll appeal Thursdays ruling. The CFL informed all NFL teams on that Williams remains the property of the Tiger-Cats. "We plan to appeal todays decision in the Chris Williams case to the Court of Appeal," the CFL said in a statement. "Until that appeal is exhausted, our position is that Williams remains under contract to the Tiger-Cats." Added the Ticats: "Our position remains that Williams is under a legal and binding contract with the Tiger-Cats. We have faith that the outcome of our appeal will validate that position. We plan no further comment at this time as the matter remains before the courts." Williamss bitter contract dispute with the Ticats has spilled over into the start of the regular season as the star receiver has yet to report to the CFL club. The CFLPA contends the arbitrators decision was "quashed and set aside on the grounds that the letter purporting to exercisee Chris Williamss option was not clear and was not capable of being construed as a clear communication of an intention to exercise the option. Guillermo Heredia Jersey. " Williams signed a deal with Hamilton in 2011 that was negotiated by an agent not registered with the CFL Players Association. Williams reportedly contends he wasnt made fully aware of the conditions pertaining to his rookie contract and that Hamilton didnt offer him the one-year plus an option deal but rather just the two-year plus an option. "There is no clear and unequivocal language along the lines, The Hamilton Tiger-Cats exercises its option to require you to play for another year for this club," Justice Gladys Pardu said in her ruling Thursday. "The language used in the less is not capable of being construed as a clear communication of an intention to exercise the option and the arbitrators conclusion that it was clear was unreasonable. "The subjective intentions of the Tiger-Cats are no substitute for clarity in expressing the intention to exercise the option. On this ground, the arbitrators decision must be quashed." The court also ruled the Ticats must pay court costs of $8,500. Williams was reportedly scheduled to earn base salary of $48,000 this season. That pales in comparison to both the NFLs minimum salary, which is US$405,000 this year, or the roughly US$90,000 players south of the border can earn annually on the practice roster. Williams had a Ticats-record 17 TDs last season, including a CFL record six on kick returns. The five-foot-eight, 175-pound Williams was named the CFLs top rookie in 2011 after registering 70 receptions for 1,064 yards and six TDs. He also had 12 kickoff returns for 252 yards and a touchdown while returning 12 punts for 81 yards. Williams was even better last season, with 83 catches for 1,298 yards and 11 TDs. He also led the CFL in punt returns with 78 for 1,117 yards and five touchdowns while adding five missed field goal returns for 256 yards and a TD. Williams played his college football at New Mexico State and joined the NFLs Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2009 but was released with an injury settlement prior to the start of the season. He signed with the Cleveland Browns later in the year and spent time on the practice roster before being let go. ' ' '