Washington Capitals Must Make Changes To Have Playoff Success
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
The Washington Capitals forwards have been struggling to score at even strength for the greater part of a month. If the Washington Capitals want to make it to the playoffs and advance in them, the Washington Capitals must make changes to all four forward lines.
These were the Washington Capitals forwards lines at the end of their game against the Predators:
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Alex Ovechkin – Nicklas Backstrom – Curtis Glencross
Marcus Johansson – Evgeny Kuznetsov – Troy Brouwer
Brooks Laich – Eric Fehr – Joel Ward
Jason Chimera – Michael Latta – Tom Wilson
Outside of the third line (more on them and their failures later), none of the lines don’t need that much tweaking. Here are some simple tweaks that could help get the Washington Capitals back on track, organized by line.
Washington Capitals First Line: Total Recall
It’s time to make “the” recall. Yes, that one. It’s time for the Washington Capitals to recall Andre Burakovsky from Hershey. I applaud the Caps for at least letting him get top six minutes in Hershey while the Caps tried to figure out their top six forwards. However, the Caps are no better off now than they were when they sent down Burakovsky. In an ideal world, the Washington Capitals would have a legitimate top line forward so that they could let Burakovsky develop. As we all know, this isn’t an ideal world.
The Ovechkin, Backstrom and Burakovsky forward line has done very well in a little less than 200 minutes of even strength ice time this season.
Stats courtesy of
Obviously, Washington Capitals fans shouldn’t expect the trio to continue to have a 13.76% shooting percentage together. They are more than welcome to sustain that, but even without the inflated shooting percentage, this is a true top line because it creates scoring chances and offense. The only kind of alarming thing is that their CA60 is sort of high. However, they generate a ton of offense, so that’s fine.
Washington Capitals Second Line
Despite his two goal game today, Brouwer has been slumping for the better part of 2015. Until today, Brouwer had scored just three even strength goals since the Winter Classic. He’s not generating scoring chances, and that’s something that the Washington Capitals need to have out of their top six forwards. When he does get them, more often than not he’s been whiffing.
I don’t think that Kuznetsov or Johansson are a part of the problem. Kuznetsov has really looked terrific as of late and Johansson has been very good at creating scoring chances. He’s third among Caps forwards in individual scoring chances in the month of March with 18. Ideally, I’d like the right wing to be Fehr because he’s second on the team in individual scoring chances this month. However, the Caps don’t really have another feasible option at third line center. The next best option would likely be Wilson. With his play recently, he deserves to be a top six forward for the Washington Capitals. Wilson makes positive things happen when he’s given top six minutes, which is more than I can usually say for Brouwer. At worst, Wilson tends to draw penalties. That’s a really good thing.
Washington Capitals Third Line
This is the line that should be changed the most. For the month of March, the third line has largely consisted of either Chimera or Laich at left wing, Fehr at center, and Ward at right wing. Two of the four (Chimera and Ward) have been awful, one has been alright but unimpressive (Laich), and one poor sap (Fehr) has had to carry the third line offensively. Chimera and Ward have the two lowest SCF% (scoring chances for percentage) on the Washington Capitals during the month of march.
To fix the third line, I propose that the Washington Capitals use the two guys who just got kicked out of the top six: Glencross and Brouwer. The two have been quite good at limiting their opponent’s scoring chances during the month of March. They have the third and fourth lowest Corsi Against/60 rates among Capitals forwards in the month of March. Until Jay Beagle comes back, Fehr is by far the best option for third line center. If Beagle comes back, Fehr could be moved up to second line right wing if Wilson falters.
Washington Capitals Fourth Line
Sadly, the Washington Capitals don’t have the depth to be able to run four deep lines in the playoffs, so this will have to do. Laich is more important to the Capitals than Chimera, so he gets the left wing spot. Latta can center this motley crew and hopefully make things happen. Ward can be the right wing. Hopefully this line can get their act together before the playoffs. If they can’t, at least they’ll only be getting fourth line minutes and the other three lines will be better for not having Laich and Ward on them. Beagle will likely replace Latta if he can get healthy.
Changes need to happen. Do the Washington Capitals have it in them to make them?