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The Washington Capitals headed into the 2023 All-Star Game break with a 4-3 overtime victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets, a crucial two-point gain that puts the team 27-20-6 and fourth place in the Metropolitan Division.
Head Coach Peter Laviolette analyzed the state of the team, his approach to overtime, and secondary scoring from players other than the likes of Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and the team’s top players in his weekly appearance on The Sports Junkies.
The Caps’ overtime victory came just 26 seconds into the extra frame, thanks to a goal from Kuznetsov. The 3-on-3 format gives players more room to operate and coaches with the challenge of putting the right players together on the ice.
“It starts first for me, whoever is best in the faceoff circle”, explained the third-year Washington bench boss, “And…it’s all about possession. That faceoff is so important anytime they drop it, that’s automatic possession. If you think about 3-on-3, sometimes you hang onto that puck for a minute, minute and a half…and so the possession is really important. So usually we’ll go to the top faceoff guy, or someone’s doing really well against somebody, we’ll send that guy out on the ice…”
The Capitals’ win on the final day of January came in part, thanks to a two-goal performance from defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk, who recorded his first career multi-goal game, in addition to setting a new career-high in Goals.
“It is good, I think you need contributions from everybody”, Laviolette said, “Some nights the numbers don’t come from that you mention you’re expecting. Maybe more to score, but everybody kind of lives by the same rules the way we play the game, they’re all talented guys. It’s nice to see guys like TvR get a couple goals, Hath’s [Garnet Hathaway] pass has been good, that line has been good, and it’s nice to see them chip in.”
The Capitals’ performance in the final month of 2022 saw the team close the month of December going 11-2-2 (.800), however the club struggled in the month of January, finishing the inaugural month of the New Year with a 6-7-1 record.
“I think the one number that stands out, the one that stands out from December to January, is shooting percentage. We were dropping a lot of goals in the net, and scoring four goals a game. We were pretty tight defensively, that number was low, so when you’re generating offense and your shooting percentage is high and you’re playing good defense, you’re going to win hockey games.”
“That’s probably the one thing that sticks out for me, I thought there’s some games we could have played better in front of our goaltenders defensively, and then just the shooting percentage we’ve got to find ways to get those pucks to drop.”
To hear Laviolette’s full comments, see below:
I hope GMBM extends some guys soon like TVR, Connor S and Sonny M… Gus as well..
I’m onboard with all that you mention. They are also the least expensive guys on the team, which makes you think…🤔
Fehervary and Jensen are bigger priorities IMO. Jensen is a quiet pro like Brian Rafalski and we should make it a point to sign him to another multiyear extension.
I’d keep Gus and let Orlov walk. I’d love if Sheary is resigned too, but with his pedigree, he’ll get a lot of offers and the Caps should probably avoid a long term deal at this point. One would hope that Sheary can help bring Lapierre and McMichael far enough along that Sheary would become more expendable within the next two seasons.
Milano is a great fit, but I’m worried the Caps will have to move him to sweeten an Eller or Mantha deal. He shouldn’t be a high priority, but he brings a lot of speed to the bottom six. I don’t see him as a long term top nine on this team, assuming that at least one forward is brought in for Eller and/or Mantha.
Totally agree and hope for the future of this team that the Gm does NOT become a buyer but rather is a seller this trade period. Honestly there is no need to bring in a player or players when your team is barely hanging onto the 4th spot and neither the Pens or Islanders have made their push yet. I expect both to make a trade or 2 and, especially the Pens, to make a mad dash after the All Star game to get into the playoffs. For me, I see no reason to make the playoffs just to be bounced in the first round and get a lower draft pick in this draft. As this team has 13 UFA/RFA and with the exception of Eller no assets it can afford to trade and lose especially picks. Everyone wants Mantha traded but no one is going to A) take him even up because of his salary and B) take him because of his lack of production. Much better to sign some of the guys on the team now and then after the season let others walk because of salary cost. This team is not a Cup team and to be honest not a playoff winning team at this point. So better to try and sell some assets and start the rebuild NOW. In Signing TVR, Sherry, Strome, Brown and Milano you start to build your base for next season. Sad to say but I believe that orlov who has been great here will be gone as unless Backy retires or Carlson takes a huge pay cut he will no be able to be signed here as I think he will be looking for $8-8.5 M a year on his probably last contract of 5-7 years as he is 31 and the Caps cannot afford that and still stock a team that will be competitive in 3-4 years. Tired of the Gm adn oenwers desire to win today at the expense of tomorrow…..well the bill for doing that has come due; due in the trems of salary cap problems, older players and not a lot in the pipeline.
Lavi mentions going to see his sons play hockey during the All Star break.
Peter III has a contract with the Wheeling Nailers. Peter was born in Wheeler when his father was their coach.
Jack is a student at Florida Gulf Coast University in Estero, 2 miles from Hertz Arena home of the ECHL Everblades and not too far from Laviolette family in Manatee and Sarasota counties. Everblades were affiliated with Nashville until this year.