THW's Capitals News

THW's Capitals news for 03/21/2021

March 21, 2021

The latest Capitals stories from The Hockey Writers.

 

03/21/2021 edition:

By Ted Starkey on Mar 21, 2021 09:37 am

While Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin has been a model of consistency over the season totals of his career, during a season itself, he has proven to be a very streaky goal scorer. Back on Feb. 27, Ovechkin was having, by his standards, a slow year, with just six goals in a campaign more notable by a four-game absence due to COVID protocol in January than his on-ice performance. (from ‘Alex Ovechkin returns, scores overtime winner as Capitals beat Bruins, 4-3,’ Washington Post, 01/30/2021)

But with the Capitals locked in a tight race in the MassMutual East Division with some tough competition, the Russian has found his stride in the last three weeks and he now recorded eight goals in Washington’s last 11 games. Ovechkin has seven goals in the team’s last eight games, including the only two his team scored Friday night against the New York Rangers, earning his 115th game-winning goal in the process — fourth all-time in NHL history.

Washington had a fairly listless offensive display overall in the win Friday, as the Rangers limited the Capitals’ offensive opportunities for most of the contest leaving the team frustrated. However, Ovechkin took over the game in the third period after taking a tough hit from Ryan Lindgren in the second, fueling a frantic finish that saw the Caps’ captain crashing the net and delivering two goals in the game’s last seven minutes for a 2-1 win that helped put his club in sole possession of first place in the division. The team then fell back into a first-place tie with the New York Islanders following a 3-1 loss in a rematch with New York Saturday.

Friday’s pair of goals weren’t the usual one-timer from the office for Ovechkin, but him going to the top of the crease and knocking in loose pucks. After the hit from Lindgren, he hit another gear and took the team on his back, not unlike a game against the Montreal Canadiens back in 2008 where he broke his nose and then delivered a four-goal performance in an overtime victory.

“Sometimes you have to get those really gritty ones,” Ovechkin said afterwards on Friday. “It’s still the same whether it’s a goal from my spot or whatever. It’s most important goal, and I’ll take it.”

Dionne Next in Ovechkin’s Sights

The performance was the latest highlight in a memorable week for Ovechkin, who passed Phil Esposito with his 718th career goal Tuesday night against the Islanders. He has a good chance to pass Marcel Dionne for fifth place in NHL history before the short season is done, as he trails him by 11 goals with 25 games left in the regular season.

Washington won seven in a row before Saturday’s setback, all without the suspended Tom Wilson, and five of those without Lars Eller. Needing offense with Wilson and Eller out, Ovechkin has delivered.

“Right now for us it doesn’t matter how many games we win. I think it’s very important to collect the points,” Ovechkin told reporters after Friday’s win. “Obviously I try to get involved.”

Ovechkin’s game has changed over the years, as he no longer has the end-to-end rushes that marked the early years of his career, but now using his potent shot to light the lamp.

Despite his slow start to this season, he is now on a 43-goal pace over an 82 game season. In the 27 games he has skated this year, and he also has 11 helpers — already just eight shy of what he had in 68 games last season.

Despite having turned 35 this past September with a new contract coming up, Ovechkin, now sixth in the NHL’s all-time goal-scoring list, appears to be heating up at the right time for the Capitals.

As Stretch Drive Looms, New Contract May Arrive

This is shaping up to be an intriguing stretch for the Capitals, as the Boston Bruins, Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers have all shown some signs of vulnerability the last few weeks, with varying flaws that they will try to correct before the April 12 trade deadline.

For the most part, Washington has shown it has been able to consistently earn points as the team has been largely healthy, as Friday’s win gave the Capitals 12 wins in 15 games, and at least a point in all but two. Certainly the team has been able to score goals throughout the season, as they are one of just six teams to score 100 goals in the campaign, and averaging 3.4 goals per contest.

The defense and goaltending have been good in this stretch with Ilya Samsonov taking some of the load and delivering some good saves in tight games this month.

As Ovechkin brings his drive to the Capitals offense, it appears sooner rather than later he will sign a contract that will keep him in the nation’s capital as he looks to try and catch Wayne Gretzky for the NHL’s goal-scoring title, as well as hopefully delivering another Stanley Cup banner to the Capital One Arena rafters.

It seems more likely Ovechkin will sign before the regular season ends, with a four- or five-year deal north of his current cap hit of $9.5 million — likely in the $11 to $12 million range. The captain has shown little desire to skate elsewhere in the NHL, and his wish to play in the KHL at the end of his playing days seems to be years off with him still being a very productive NHL player.

With Ovechkin now beginning to heat up as Washington looks to secure a playoff spot in the MassMutual East Division and prepare for what should be an interesting finish to the regular season, as he chases down history while his team looks to make a deep run this spring.

By Aidan Fischer on Mar 20, 2021 05:41 pm

The Washington Capitals are firing on all cylinders. Now halfway through the abbreviated 2020-21 season, their current seven-game winning streak has lifted them near the top of the league standings. The absences of Tom Wilson and Lars Eller have not been a problem; everyone is pulling their weight, similarly to when the team was severely undermanned early on in the season. But with Wilson’s suspension now over and Eller getting healthier, Peter Laviolette will have to decide who the odd man out will be once they’re good to go. These are the players on the chopping block, from least to most likely.

Carl Hagelin & Garnet Hathaway

The Hagelin, Hathaway, and Nic Dowd line has been a rock for the Capitals this season. All three of them have played in every single game, and even with total reconfiguration of the lines throughout the campaign, the trio has remained intact. Each one of them is utilized on the penalty kill, and relied upon in high-stress defensive situations as well. They are regarded as, oxymoronically, one of the top fourth lines in the NHL, which is an essential component of postseason success, so breaking them up doesn’t make much sense at the moment.

Daniel Sprong

Sprong has been a healthy scratch in 11 of Washington’s 29 games, only appearing when lineup regulars have been unfit to play. However, in his limited ice time, his name has consistently appeared on the scoresheet. Only five Capitals have more goals than the Netherlands native, and he has dented the twine three times in his last five games. His 28.6 shooting percentage is third best among NHL forwards with at least 18 games played.

He has fit in seamlessly with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Jakub Vrana, and keeping him there would give the Capitals tremendous depth down the lineup. With the roll that he’s on now, he’s making it very hard on coach Laviolette to scratch him again.

Richard Panik & Conor Sheary

Laviolette has dressed 11 forwards the past couple games, with Panik and Sheary as the odd pair. This is a sign that these two are on the bottom of the totem pole and have little room for error. Sheary was a healthy scratch twice early in the season, but eventually started racking up some points and earned himself time on the top line for a short span. Panik, on the other hand, has struggled to find offensive success despite appearing in every game. His three goals are tied for fewest among forwards, and his minus-4 is tied for third worst on the team.

Sprong, Sheary, and Panik are all very similar players. They don’t see a lot of special teams time, and there are certainly other forwards that the coaches would rather have out there in defensive situations. They each have offensive upside with their production typically coming in waves. Sheary had a span of three goals in five games in February, but has only scored once since. Sprong is currently in the midst of a hot streak, which could have bought him more time in the lineup. Due to Panik’s lack of production, he could draw the short straw once the Capitals get their full roster back.

It is not a death sentence for whoever Laviolette decides to scratch when the time comes. The players in question will be under a microscope down the road, and the odd man out will be waiting eagerly for his chance to get back in. It is certainly not a bad problem for the Capitals to have.

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