Lars Eller spoke to reporters for the first time since Wednesday morning out of quarantine. The Capitals ‘third-line center missed Game One of the Capitals’ first round against the New York Islanders, a 4-2 loss, and will return to the lineup for Game Two, subbing in for the injured Nicklas Backstrom.
“I love when these challenges happen,” Eller said of the role in the top-six. ‘I change the way I think about the game or not prepare myself. I think it basically means I will play more minutes than I would otherwise. My mentality is the same: try to go out and play a strong two-way game and make every shift offensive. I have had very good experience in the past with playing with Osh and V. ”
But Eller’s experience of leaving the bubble was not so good. The Danish center had to make a painful decision to limit his possible exposure to COVID-19 and his four-day quarantine away from his teammates in a Hotel X room made him helpless.
“First off, it was not particularly fun to sit in your room for four days, to miss,” Eller said. ‘Can’t be with family or help your team. You are in a kind of no country, and do nothing well. That was hard, but that made it much better to get out. ”
While alone in his hotel room, Eller read books, watched a television, FaceTime’d his family, and worked it out.
“I had a few dumbbells in my room, elastic bands,” Eller said. “(Capitals) strength coach (Mark Nemish) gave me some training, so I did an hour of real work every day. But besides, a lot of watching hockey games and reading, trying not to look at screens all day. It’s hard. Of course a lot of face time with the family back in DC. It was a strange situation. The whole thing is weird. Be in this bubble, go away, come back and then go straight into a playoff game. You need to adapt to the situation, but clearly not the ideal preparation. ”
He added, ‘Not one of us is used to sitting on our couch for so long. We are used to being active, being on the ice and playing games. Like six out of seven days of the week. It does not feel good. You do not feel well after a few days of doing so little. ”
Eller will first leave Toronto on the afternoon of Wednesday, August 5, with a charter flight. He only spent two-and-a-half days at home in DC before flying back. Eller described his time at home with little Alexander as “priceless.”
#Capitals center Lars Eller has returned to Washington this afternoon for the birth of his second child. Upon returning to Toronto, Eller will follow the NHL’s quarantine and test protocol before rejoining the team.
– CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) August 5, 2020
“Alexander was born on August 4. I basically gave up being at birth,” Eller said. ‘That was the only way to be in the hospital. I would have to serve quarantine for more than four days. I did not know if it would be seven or eight, if nine days would be like 10 or two weeks. It would have been much more than four days. ”
“That was a sacrifice I made,” he explained. ‘I still have some time with my family. But yes, not the ideal situation for me. That’s what I did. “
Eller returned to the bubble on the morning of Saturday, August 8th. He was picked up at the airport, taken to the hotel, checked in and taken directly to his new hotel room. He remained there alone for the next four days. Chamber service and NHL test officers visited his room every day. Once Eller had four consecutive negative tests, he was allowed to compete with his teammates again.
“[T]the day of Game One, morning, was the first time out of my room since I came in, ”said Eller. ‘Went for a walk outside. Have some time in the sun. Had a good workout with the aces. Saw the game on the ice rink. Had a good workout this morning and now we are here. ”
Now Eller will turn his attention to a series in which his team is already 1-0 down after a formidable enemy in the New York Islanders, coached by Barry Trotz – the same man who led the Caps to them first Stanley Cup in 2018. Backstrom, the team’s biggest center of all time, will be out due to what appears to be a head injury. Eller produced for the Caps when he had to submit for Nicklas Backstrom or Evgeny Kuznetsov, scoring 17 points (2g, 15a) in 26 games.
“You need to be able to adapt to the situation,” Eller said. ‘We all had to adapt, whether hockey is like most people on this planet. Now it’s just hockey and the game tomorrow. There are no other distractions or worries. ”
