3 ways the Capitals can bounce back in 2022

Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Connor McMichael, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: James Carey Lauder-USA TODAY Sports
Connor McMichael, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: James Carey Lauder-USA TODAY Sports /

#2 Tweak the power play

If the Caps want to bounce back in 2022 their special teams has to improve, specifically their power play which is ranked 28th in the league with a success rate of just 15.6 percent. Yes even with a team with a guy like Alex Ovechkin, the power play is still bad.

Ovechkin is doing just fine on the power play, leading his team in goals and being just one goal away from the all time PPGs record. John Carlson is doing pretty good too quarterbacking the top unit with three goals on the man advantage.

Here are what the units look like via Daily Face Off with subtractions on the guys who currently have COVID and are in protocol:

1st unit: Tom Wilson, Lars Eller, Alex Ovechkin, John Carlson

2nd unit: Conor Sheary, Aliaksei Protas, Alex Ovechkin, Dmitry Orlov

That leaves two openings, one on each unit. Hmmm I wonder who can slide there. I’m looking at Connor McMichael at the top unit. Why not? Let the kid shine. Second unit for me would be Garnet Hathaway for some physicality and an offensive punch. At least those were the things I would do if I was to tweak the units.