Top 3 early Capitals observations
The Washington Capitals are in the midst of a four game road trip. Their record is 4-3-0. After starting the season in the bottom the Metropolitan Division, the Caps have caught steam and now are in fourth place thanks to two straight wins.
Those wins came from a come from behind third period comeback against the Los Angles Kings and a dominant performance on Monday night at the New Jersey Devils.
Here are 3 early observations from the young season as we’re just seven games in:
#3 Alex Ovechkin’s average start
Alex Ovechkin, look if you’ve read my work over the last seven years you know I love the guy, got off to a slower start than we’re all accustomed to. How slow?
The great eight only has three goals in the first seven games of the season. That included two in a comeback win over the Vancouver Canucks and one the other night in New Jersey.
To compare based on the last couple seasons, Ovechkin had eight goals in the first seven games last season. The 2021 COVID shortened season saw the great eight score three goals which is identical to the start he’s off to this season. The season before that saw Ovechkin score five in the first seven games.
Even though Ovechkin got off to a slow start, he’s due to heat up at some point. You may remember he went scoreless in the first three games in 2013’s lockout shortened season. This season is the second time that happened and we all know how the previous season ended. It ended with a Hart Trophy.
My point is, don’t panic yet about Ovechkin’s average start.
#2 Power play improvement
The power play got off to a slow start but recently it’s found their stride. The Caps started the season with back to back losses to the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs. In those games, the Caps went a combined 0 for 9 on the man advantage.
They finally scored their first power play goal of the season in a win against the Montreal Canadiens. Since finally finding the back of the net there was only one game where the Caps went scoreless on the power play.
That game occurred in the Caps third period comeback win over the Los Angles Kings. They went 0 for 3.
In their comeback win against the Vancouver Canucks the Caps went 2 for 3 on the power play. In their loss to the Ottawa Senators by a final of 5-2, those two goals came n the power play. The Caps also connected on a power play goal in their 6-3 win Monday night over the New Jersey Devils from who else but Alex Ovechkin.
Entering Monday’s game the Caps were in the middle of the pack at 16th on the power play. Entering Wednesday’s slate of NHL games, the Caps power play improved to ninth place with a success rate of 25 percent.
#1 No more injuries
This is less of an observation but more wishful thinking. The Capitals cannot afford any more injuries. It was bad enough they began the season without Nicklas Backstrom, Carl Hagelin, and Tom Wilson. Now they’re dealing with a long term absence of Connor Brown who was supposed to take over for Wilson at the first line right wing position.
There is some encouraging news. Although the Caps got off to a slower start than we’re all used to, me and some friends agree that once 43 is back in the lineup, expect the Caps to go on a hot streak.
That hot streak could be similar to the Pittsburgh Penguins start to the season, who by the way are a MUCH older team than the Capitals. That’s why I say the Pens will start to cool off eventually. When that happens, expect the Caps to heat up.
On the ice this morning ahead of Capitals practice: Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson. pic.twitter.com/4jWR2Vloya
— Matt Weyrich (@ByMattWeyrich) October 26, 2022
Anyway the encouraging news came from today’s practice at MedStar Capitals Iceplex before the team flies to Texas. Samantha Pell of The Washington Post reported that Tom Wilson (ACL surgery) and Nicklas Backstrom (hip resurfacing surgery) were skating for the first time since their respective injuries.
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That skate occurred just briefly and they won’t skate again for another few days. They aren’t truly ready to resume full skating yet but this is the first step in the rehab process. Expect Wilson to be back around the holidays.