This has been a outstanding season for the Washington Capitals. At the beginning of the 12 months, most observers thought the Capitals would battle the Pittsburgh Penguins for a Wild Card spot within the playoffs. The Capitals had completed within the No. 8 spot in final 12 months’s playoff construction they usually had been drummed out of the playoffs in 4 straight video games by the Presidents Trophy-winning New York Rangers. They did not appear to be a lot better as they ready for the present season.
That remark turned out to be each lazy and fallacious. The Capitals had put collectively a quick, hard-working workforce. That they had the sport’s best objective scorer who was motivated to move Wayne Gretzky for essentially the most objectives in NHL historical past. Alex Ovechkin was vital, however he has not needed to carry the workforce on his shoulders. Head coach Spencer Carbery has a deep and gifted workforce that’s on the high of the standings within the Metropolitan Division and the league as a complete.
The Capitals turned the primary workforce within the NHL to achieve the 100-point mark with their 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers Thursday night time. Ovechkin opened the scoring with the 888th objective of his profession, that means he’s simply six objectives shy of Gretzky’s profession mark of 894 markers.
The Ovechkin chase in direction of the highest of the goal-scoring mountain must be the primary story all through the ultimate weeks of the common season. Nonetheless, as soon as Sport No. 82 is within the books, the Capitals may have a superb opportunity to make a run at their second Stanley Cup in workforce historical past.
Sharp acquisitions have helped the Capitals climb the ladder
Washington used the offseason to amass a number of gamers which have grow to be mainstays for the workforce. Begin with Pierre-Luc Dubois, and add in Jakob Chychrun, Andrew Mangiapane in addition to goalie Logan Thompson.
Dubois had been a surprising disappointment all through his profession earlier than he got here to the Capitals. Along with being an underperfomer, he appeared to tug his workforce down at essential moments.
He was the No. 3 decide within the 2016 draft, but he struggled to search out his place with the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Winnipeg Jets or the Los Angeles Kings. He had respectable years firstly of his profession with the Blue Jackets — 20 and 28 objectives — however then got here a number of years within the hockey desert.
Dubois appeared to search out some footing in his final two years with the Jets when he scored 28 and 27 objectives, respectively, however that did not hold Winnipeg from buying and selling him to the Kings.
He lasted one 12 months in Los Angeles earlier than he was traded to the Capitals. Dubois has all of the sudden grow to be a 200-foot participant. He has 18 objectives and 42 assists for 60 factors in his first 68 video games, and he additionally has an eye catching plus-31 ranking.
He’s taking part in middle between Ovechkin and Aliaksai Protas, who is maybe essentially the most shocking participant within the league. Protas has scored 29 objectives and 33 assists with a outstanding plus-43 ranking.
Protas is a big man at 6-6 and 225 kilos, and he actually appears to be like the a part of an influence ahead. Nonetheless, previous to this season, he had scored 13 objectives in 3 seasons.
Supporting solid additionally does the job for the Caps
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No. 2 middle Dylan Strome had been one thing of a task participant all through his profession, however he has grow to be a star this season. He leads the Caps in scoring with 22 objectives and 45 assists for 67 factors.
The Caps knew what that they had in Tom Wilson. Nonetheless, as a substitute of marauding up and down the ice, he has grow to be a reputable objective scorer with 30 markers. He nonetheless delivers massive hits when the Caps want bodily play and Wilson has grow to be a fixture as the precise wing subsequent to Strome, whereas Connor McMichael mans the left wing spot.
McMichael has contributed 24 objectives and 28 assists, and it is clear that the Capitals have two strains that may take over in any sport.
Chychrun has grow to be an enormous issue on the blue line with 18 objectives and 25 assists. He all the time had glorious instincts, however now he’s flashing his dominance. Fellow blueliners John Carlson and Rasmus Sandin are additionally strong contributors.
Caps added Anthony Beauvillier at commerce deadline
The Caps have been on a roll all season, and normal supervisor Chris Patrick didn’t must do a lot on the commerce deadline. He traded a second-round decide to the Pittsburgh Penguins for 4th-line winger Anthony Beauvillier.
The 9-year veteran shouldn’t be a particular offensive expertise, however he can go to the entrance of the online and sacrifice his physique to make performs. He has scored 1 objective in his first 5 video games with the Caps.
Beauvillier scored 9 objectives and 5 assists for the Islanders of their 22-game postseason run within the 2020 playoffs. That signifies he has an opportunity to be a contributor in an important video games of the season.
The Caps have expertise, depth, momentum and toughness. They’ve each purpose for confidence and hope as soon as the playoffs get underway.