Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey said his club was in a somber mood following a crucial defeat to the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday night.
"To be honest, I don't think one word has been said since the game ended in the locker room. Not one word," Morrissey said postgame.
He added: "The reason for the silence is the frustration. Obviously, we can't afford to lose games right now, and that's a game we shouldn't lose. With their schedule and our desperation, they're playing on a back-to-back. It's frustrating."
The loss to the Red Wings - who sit 11th in the East with just 65 points through 71 games - was Winnipeg's third in a row overall. The Jets are now seven points back of the second wild-card spot in the West with 11 contests remaining.
When asked about the mood in the team's locker room, interim head coach Dave Lowry echoed Morrissey's comments and sympathized with his players.
"I would say extreme disappointment. And, obviously, with nothing being said, you can tell how the players feel," Lowry said.
He added: "I understand where the players are, I understand the disappointment. That just shows they care."
The Jets return to the ice Friday against the conference-leading Colorado Avalanche.