The Washington Capitals ran power play drills during the fourth day of training camp ahead of Thursday’s second preseason game against the Detroit Red Wings. The first unit is filled with familiar faces: Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, John Carlson, TJ Oshie and Evgeny Kuznetsov.
Capitals running their first power play drills of camp. Their first unit has plenty of familiar faces:
Ovechkin, Backstrom, Kuznetsov, Carlson, Oshie
— Matt Weyrich (@ByMattWeyrich) September 27, 2023
The second unit is a bit more interesting. It consists of Tom Wilson, Andrew Cristall, Connor McMichael, Rasmus Sandin and Ivan Miroshnichenko. Miroschnichenko was in Ovechkin’s spot at the left faceoff circle.
The second unit:
Miroshnichenko, McMichael, Cristall, Sandin, Wilson
— Matt Weyrich (@ByMattWeyrich) September 27, 2023
From 2009 to 2023, the Capitals power play was 21.8%, which was the best in the league during that time frame. Last year it was very inconsistent, in large part due to missing personnel, but there were also structural flaws and execution errors with the formation.
Washington’s power play was 16th in the NHL at 21.2% in 2022-23. Nicklas Backstrom, who is the setup man on the power-play, missed the entire first half of last season, and John Carlson, who is the anchor at the point, missed significant time after taking a puck to the face in late December.
Related: New Faces look to Provide Much Needed Stoking of Capitals Power Play
By Jacob Cheris
There was a lot more puck movement during PPs vs. Buffalo. Encouraging.
Thought so as well
Missed the Buffalo game, was the PP the same setup as past years? By that I mean pass, pass and then shots from the spot Ovie usually mans? Have there been any new wrinkles in practice?
Think this is well said. “Last year it was very inconsistent, in large part due to missing personnel, but there were also structural flaws and execution errors with the formation.” Health and improved system both needed. More scoring options beyond OV which ironically will also free him up to score. OV doesn’t need 10 shots. He only needs a little space to unleash the fury! See what i did there. Haha
So can they teach old dogs new tricks? 🤔
We’re gonna find out in short order
You can teach old dogs new tricks. Now if they learn them is another story.