Sniper Dragging His Heels
While much has been made of the Washington Capitals captain's slow start, the truth of the matter is that with 13 points in 12 games, it's not exactly like the fire in Alex Ovechkin's game has gone dormant.
Yes, dealing with lower ice-time totals and learning to become a responsible player have taken away from Ovechkin's former one-dimensional focus on scoring alone, but not as much as people are making it out to be.
The Great 8 is skating 18:40 a night, tops among Caps forwards, and has nearly split goals with assists, posting 6 goals and 7 assists, in the Caps opening dozen games.
Yet, despite the solid numbers and the Capitals boasting the second best winning percentage in the NHL, people are still focusing on Ovechkin's short-coming and not necessarily focusing on unmentioned positives.
One positive, in particular, is that Ovechkin has taken only 4 minor penalties in 12 games. It may only be a sample size, but as people are picking on him for many minor flaws, it's worth noting that the captain is actually making head-way in regards to becoming a more disciplined player.
Now, the reason I have broken down Ovechkin's game through 12 contests is because the one Alex who is escaping the microscope of criticism thus far has been the "other" Alex.
Alex Semin, once again in the final year of recurring one year deals with the Capitals, is off to an absolutely tepid start. Although the gifted shooter managed to pick up 5 points in the opening 5 games of the season, Semin has only registered 2 points in 6 contests since then.
On pace for a career worst 47 points, the sniper is seemingly without confidence these days as he has only 29 shots in 12 games and a shooting percentage that is currently well half of his career average. To note that only 2 goals have come of those 29 shots speaks even further to the lack of finish and drive the enigmatic sniper is playing with.
And this is the reason why there has always been so much concern regarding Semin.
With talent to take over the hockey world, it seems it only befits him to use it as he chooses and not necessarily when the team needs it most.
As such, Semin's untimely play thus far has been recognized by a bench boss who has made his intentions very clear.
In sitting Alex Ovechkin, Bruce Boudreau made headlines across the hockey world, yet to note that Boudreau is skating Semin a mere 17:08 a night on average, barely a ripple.
Truthfully, while 17 minutes isn't a terrible amount of ice-time, especially in a lineup that boasts only 8 players who average above 18, the reality is that Semin should be one of those players garnering more ice-time.
While Ovechkin, Backstrom and Brooks Laich are the only other forwards who sit above Semin in terms of playing time, each are averaging at least a minute of more worth of ice-time per game - a sign that Semin is slowly playing his way out of the Caps elite.
With a -2 hanging over his head and almost twice as many penalty minutes as his fellow Russian sniper, Alex Ovechkin, it has become clear that the one player who has yet to adjust to the way the Capitals are playing hockey this year.
With a poor start now safely under his belt, let the trade rumors fly as with patience wearing thinner than the ice he skates on in DC, another stretch of erratic play may be just the ticket to push George McPhee over the edge in finally cutting ties with three time 30+ goal scorer.
Caps Staring Up at Stars
To the surprise of very few people, the Washington Capitals have gotten out to a very strong start in 2011-12, winning three quarters of their games so far and getting out to a solid lead over their division rivals.
The the surprise of absolutely everyone, the only team that the Caps are chasing right now is the Dallas Stars.
With a .769 winning percentage and 10 victories in only 13 games, the Dallas Stars have been shocking the hockey world by maintaining their hot start. Riding a 3 game winning streak and with 4 wins in their last 5, the strength of the Stars game has been something that most in DC are becoming familiar with; balanced play.
Dallas has been just as efficient as the Caps as only 9 of their skaters are averaging over 18 minutes per game, with both teams top four ice-time getters being defensemen.
This strategy seems to be working no matter what conference you are playing in this year and considering that both the Caps and Stars have been so reliant on their depth, tonight's game should be very interesting as it will be talent that will set one team apart from the other.
In comparing both clubs, the one key item to note will be that the Capitals are currently averaging an entire goal more per game than the Stars.
Dallas, scoring 2.92 goals per night while yielding a stingy 2.38 courtesy of excellent goaltending from Kari Lehtonen, will be in tough tonight as their defense will be in tough against a Washington offense that is clicking right along, averaging 3.92 goals per night while conceding only 2.75.
Washington's discrepancy of 1.17 goals for per night is the largest in the NHL thus far and, though they have allowed a few more goals than they would have liked, with the Stars scoring only .17 goals per game more(2.92) than the Caps are allowing (2.75), the Caps should be right at home in handling business as usual.
While the law of averages says that the Caps should be able to handle the Stars tonight, one final thing everyone should keep in mind is that this Dallas squad has done nothing but surprise fans and opponents alike on a nightly basis.
Washington will need to be ready and cannot afford any late game lapses like they suffered on Saturday night to the Islanders.
The Stars know what they are up against so the Capitals had better be ready.
Game Notes
The Washington Capitals return home from their two-game road trip to face the Dallas Stars tonight at Verizon Center. Washington split its back-to-backs, earning a 5-1 win in Carolina on Friday before dropping a 5-3 contest on Long Island on Saturday. The Capitals are in first place in the Southeast Division and will host the Dallas Stars at Verizon Center for the first time since a 4-3 shootout loss on March 9, 2010. Dallas enters the game atop the Pacific Division with a 10-3-0 record and leads the NHL in wins. The Stars have won three straight including a 5-2 win over Carolina in their last outing on Sunday.
Home sweet home – The Capitals have won their first six home games of the season for the first time in franchise history. Washington has won nine consecutive regular-season games at Verizon Center dating back to March 31 of last season. The Caps had home winning streaks of five (March 1-13) and seven games (10/23-11/17) in 2010-11. The Capitals have the third-most goals scored at home (26) this season despite playing just six home games this season. They have averaged 4.33 goals per game on home ice this season.
Swedish star – Nicklas Backstrom was named the NHL’s “Third Star” of the week for the week ending Nov. 6. Backstrom tallied six points (three goals, three assists) and began the week by notching the game-tying goal with 42 seconds left in regulation and the overtime winner as the Capitals defeated the Anaheim Ducks 5-4 on Nov. 1. Backstrom has recorded four two-point games in a row (3g-5a).
Lethal offense – The Capitals rank second in the NHL in goals per game (3.92) while their 5-on-5 goals for and against ratio (goals for divided by goals against) leads the league (1.41). Washington has not scored less than three goals in any of its last four games.
Eager Eakin – Forward Cody Eakin was recalled from Hershey on Nov. 1 and made his NHL debut that night against Anaheim, becoming the first rookie to appear in a game for Washington this season. He recorded his first NHL goal and his first assist on Nov. 4 in Carolina. Eakin joins ex-Caps Eric Fehr and Joe Motzko as just the third Capital ever to wear No. 50.
Scoring spread – 10 different Capitals found their way onto the scoresheet in Friday night’s game against Carolina, marking the seventh time in 12 games this season that at least half (nine) of Washington’s skaters in a game have recorded at least one point.
A dose of depth – 20 of the 23 skaters that have suited up for the Capitals this season have recorded a point. 17 of those 23 players have scored a goal while 15 players have recorded at least five points so far this season. Nine players have recorded at least three goals.
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