Photo: @Capitals
Head Coach Barry Trotz hinted on Thursday that if Alex Ovechkin didn’t snap out of his funk, line changes were going to be made. It looks like Trotz is holding true to his words.
At practice on Friday in Los Angeles, Trotz shifted players around in an attempt to revive a struggling offense.
Marcus Johansson and Alex Ovechkin switched positions/lines at left wing. In addition, Tom Wilson and Justin Williams have switched positions/lines at right wing. Jakub Vrana is now the right wing on the 4th line.
#Caps lines at today’s practice in LA: 90-19-77, 8-92-43, 10-20-14, 26-83-13. Defense pairs are the same.
— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) March 10, 2017
The demotion of Ovechkin is not a surprise. Ovechkin has not scored an even-strength goal in 16 consecutive games. On Thursday night in San Jose, the bottom six provided both of the Capitals goals (Winnik and Connolly). There were no changes to the defensive pairings at Friday’s practice.
#Capitals lines just made me laugh out loud https://t.co/jL1zHq2AJR
— Alan May (@MayHockeyCSN) March 10, 2017
The Capitals have been struggling offensively since returning from their bye week. The Caps are 5-4-1 in the first ten games back.
Back to work out in the West. #CapsKings tomorrow night. #RockTheRed pic.twitter.com/zCUN79mMi8
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 10, 2017
By Jon Sorensen
Follow @NoVa_Caps
In a way, it’s good that they are being a bit tested right now. A mini-crisis will help them prepare mentally for the playoffs. However, I don’t want it to be such a crisis that they lose 1st place overall.
Seems to me the Ovechkin line isn’t getting enough ice time. Their timing seems to be off. The Kuzy line is the line Trotz likes to play the most, yet that is the line that turns the puck over way too much. Trotz is blind to what is happening with his team and doesn’t appear to know his players very well. Play the Ovechkin, Backstrom, Oshie line more. Put Schmidt back in the line up, his speed and energy is sorely missed.