2023 has not been a happy new year for the Washington Capitals, as they have posted an underwhelming record of 7-9-1 since January 1. One of the reasons has been the dearth of goals among the team’s forwards.
Among the 14 forwards on the Capitals’ current roster, eight of them have not scored a goal in the last five consecutive games in which they have played. Two more forwards have not scored a goal in their last four games.
The longest goal-less streak belongs to Lars Eller who has not scored a goal in 17 games, last scoring on December 27.
The next longest goal-less streak is Anthony Mantha, who has not scored a goal since New Year’s Eve, with no goals in his last 11 appearances. Mantha’s extended slump has prompted Coach Peter Laviolette to healthy scratch him for four more games, plus he missed one more game due to illness.
Nicolas Aube-Kubel has not scored in his last nine consecutive games, scoring his last goal on January 6. Dylan Strome and Sonny Milano last scored on January 19 and their scoring drought is now seven games. Coincidentally, Strome and Milano recently signed contract extensions with the team and were benched for a good portion of their loss against San Jose.
Conor Sheary currently has a five-game scoreless streak. He last scored on January 24 but had a 12-game scoring drought prior to that game.
Below is a table of the team’s forwards, the date of their most recent goal, and the length of their scoring drought.
| Player | Last Goal | Drought | |
| Alex Ovechkin | 1/26/2023 | 4 | |
| Evgeny Kuznetsov | 2/12/2023 | 0 | |
| Dylan Strome | 1/19/2023 | 7 | |
| Conor Sheary | 1/24/2023 | 5 | 12 game drought before that |
| Marcus Johansson | 1/26/2023 | 4 | |
| Anthony Mantha | 12/31/2022 | 11 | Scratched for 5 other games |
| Sonny Milano | 1/19/2023 | 7 | 5 game drought before that |
| Nic Dowd | 1/3/2023 | 5 | Last game 1/16/2022 |
| T.J. Oshie | 1/21/2023 | 5 | |
| Garnet Hathaway | 2/11/2023 | 1 | |
| Lars Eller | 12/27/2022 | 17 | |
| Nicolas Aube-Kubel | 1/6/2023 | 9 | |
| Nicklas Backstrom | 2/11/2023 | 1 | |
| Tom Wilson | 1/19/2023 | 2 | Last game 1/24/2022 |
It’s hard to win games when you don’t score. Making the playoffs will be difficult unless most of the team’s forwards can regain their scoring touch.
By Diane Doyle
17 games no goal for Lars I ain’t surprised
Droughts or scoring streaks happen. They especially happen with injuries and line changes all the time. However many of the players on this list are older players and the league has lots of tape on them so easy to stop if you have the right and good defenders. Perfect example is yesterday on the PP when the Sharks devoted one man to Ovie and then played 3 on 4 and the Caps still could not score. It is hard to change tactics when the coach does not encourage it; that is the only thing I can think of as Im sure the coach has to see the same thing yet does nothing. Maybe its not so much the players but the lack of or over coaching in some areas and the total lack of coaching on the PP.
We’re at a time where nearly every forward is in a scoring slump at the same time, as over half of them.
Which is an indication of a team issue, not a player issue.
I don’t see why Eller wouldn’t be dealt. In fact, a bit perplexed it hasn’t happened yet.
They’re probably waiting for Dowd to come back.
I think Mac has done a good job of GM over the years. However, I advocated an aggressive approach earlier this year when some players were available given the cap. Johnny Godreau signed with Columbus for 8.6 million a year. Would you rather have Godreau for $8.6 or Carlson for $8.6??!! Patrick Laine might have been available in a trade. Mantha for Laine. Laine was not scoring at the time.
I doubt Columbus would have done that trade based on the players’ past performance.
Most of the droughts have increased, except for Backstrom and Kuzy. Strome finally broke his drought! The other guys, not so much.