I am not defending "slow starts", I am just pointing out that it seems really superficial to say (or imply) that things were great in Games 1-3 and then suddenly the Caps dropped the ball in Game 4. IMO they played pretty much the same way in all these games (and with the same flaws), the difference was special teams and bounces.
In the end, when slow starts become a pattern, it's hard to expect it to change. Whether the issues are structural or psychological, it seems so entrenched that it's more of a "that's who they are" situation, rather than "they can't be bothered to fix it".
I mean, these things are relative, too -- instead of saying "Caps are slow starters", one could say "Caps are great finishers"
And they are, more or less, based on 3rd period stats.
Anyway, whatever... at this point I am just not expecting the Caps to come out and be able to jump on another team. Part of it is Trotz's more conservative style, too, IMO.