![]() As usual he was the team’s leading goal scorer, both in the regular season and playoffs, sacrificed his body to block countless shots and laid many crushing hits. If this last playoff run proved anything it was that Alexander Ovechkin has finally become the leader this team has always needed. Next season we’ll need a lot more of that. Feel free to relive Smith-Pelly’s game-five tying goal here. The playoffs require “bottom-six” scoring and the Capitals third and fourth lines really showcased their abilities in the playoffs scoring several beautiful goals. But next season it will be up toreturning players like Smith-Pelly, Kempny and Jakub Vrana to keep this team winning on a regular basis. Winning consistently demands secondary scoring, sure Ovi can pull a win out in a pinch. The Capitals will need the complete package from any player looking to fill the hole he left in their roster. Besides blocking big shots and being positionally sound Beagle had one of the best faceoff win percentages in the league, which is key to clearing the zone. And if they continue to average over three penalt ies per game, like they did last season, they’ll need someone just as good as him. With the services of Jay Beagle gone, the Capitals will be looking for someone to step up and fill his top spot on the penalty kill. Washington needs to keep this in its playbook in order to build on their success next season. The team implemented what is commonly referred to as a “trap” or 1-1-3 to hockey fanatics, a strategic positioning that forechecks teams into dumping the puck or even worse coughing it up in the middle of the ice. ![]() And amazingly it worked against a young Columbus roster, a veteran Pittsburg bench, a lighting quick Tampa Bay team and finally a frustrated new franchise in Vegas. Their plan was to suffocate the attacking team in the neutral zone and slow down some of the fastest teams in the league. This post-season, like many before it, the Capitals came equipped with a new plan to conquer the playoffs. However, the team still lost Philipp Grubauer and Jay Beagle to a couple of cup hungry franchises in Vancouver and Colorado.īut there are a few things besides personnel changes that will decide the Capitals fate next season: A good number of returning players for a team that just won the Stanley Cup. So far they have re-signed a number of key players during off-season including, Tom Wilson, John Carlson, Michal Kempny, Devante Smith-Pelly and most recently veteran defenseman Brooks Orpik. Oshie began a chant Washington fans had never heard before: ‘Back-to-Back’! Now as October draws near players and fans begin to turn their attention to another season and chance to deliver on that chant.Īnd while the Cup makes its rounds around the world the Capitals’ front office is busy making moves too. On the National Mall, still riding the high off his team’s victory over the Las Vegas Golden Knights, T.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |