19 v 90

Nobody can doubt the chemistry that has appeared between Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Ovechkin over the past 3+ years. Since Backstrom came into the league, they have played the majority of the time together. In that time Backstrom has recorded 86 goals and 227 assists, while Ovechkin has recorded 199 goals and 206 assists. With Backstrom recently missing his first NHL game, Ovechkin has been forced to work entirely with out his Swedish running mate. With one Swede out, Bruce elected to give rookie Swede Marcus Johansson the opportunity to play with the captain. The young kid is clearly making the most of this chance.

In the four games that Johansson has played with Ovechkin he has recorded at least a point in each game with 2 goals and 3 assists. Ovechkin, meanwhile, has similar numbers with 3 goals and 2 assists. Although this may be on a small scale, it is worth noting that this is a much better pace than either of these two have been on for the earlier parts of the season. Could there be a possibility of Backstrom playing second fiddle to the rookie Swede?

The Breakdown

• Faceoffs: Johansson's is improving in the dot but his 43.1% is just not good enough to be a first line center. Advantage: Backstrom
• Skating: Both Backstrom and Johansson possess great skating ability. Johansson brings much more speed to the first line. Advantage: Johansson
• Intelligence: This is pretty much a no-contest. Backstrom has been in the league 3 years longer than Johansson so advantage: Backstrom
• Intangibles: This is a bit difficult because it is such a vague term. The chemistry that Backstrom has with Ovechkin is something that Johansson can't pick up overnight. However that chemistry has has very little success this season. The newness of MoJo and Ovie is something that has been showing success. Maybe it is Johansson's speed or the fact that their gameplan was for Backstrom but I have to say advantage: Johansson.

How much of a copout is that? A 2-2 tie. If Arnott comes back healthy and you choose MoJo over Backstrom, then you would think Arnott moves to the third line. I am not really for taking Arnott away from Semin. But I can't see that being sufficient reasoning to give Backstrom the #1 center back. I wouldn't totally be against having them both play the top line, if they can prove their grittiness. Personally I am not looking forward to having to rework our line so close to playoff time.

Dredging the Island

At around the 18:00 minute mark of the 3rd period, with the Caps trailing 1-0, my step father sent me a text. It was a satirical remark about the "offensive juggernaut that is the Capitals." Of course Jason Arnott would feed Brooks Laich a minute later sending the Capitals to OT where Ovechkin would eventually seal it with a beauty of a goal.

I do not see much reason to worry about the near loss last night. When you add 3 brand new guys to the lineup you expect to take a step back. Jason Arnott clearly is developing some great chemistry with Laich and Semin, which came to fruition in the game tying goal.

Sturm also seemed to blend well on the top line. He got sent in on a nice breakaway midway through the first and they had some of the best cycles the first line has seen in a while, even if no goals came from it.

As good as Sturm and Arnott were, Wideman was just about that bad. He frequently set up on the wrong side of Erskine, and had quite a few stretch passes lead to scoring chances for the Islanders. Her should count himself luck it was Carlson and not him that gave the Islanders their goal.

The game might have lacked intensity for 59:00. It might have put a few fans to sleep, but these games are just continual proof that this team possesses the ability to grind games out. That is why I think this team is better suited for the playoffs than last year's.

The Overhaul

Going into the week before the 2011 NHL Trade Deadline, Caps fans looked at the team in 1 of 2 ways. Either they thought the roster was just fine and it was simply an change of attitude that was needed, or they thought that the Caps were missing something. I guess I fell in the latter of the two categories but was quite surprised of the 3 moves that the Caps pulled off in the past week.

Marco Sturm could turn out to be quite the steal though I'm less inclined to think that. When he has been healthy he has been able to chip in a goal every 3-4 games. Unfortunately health has been a big question mark for him. He has only played 17 games this year due to a nagging knee injury. If he can battle through that then he has a good amount of experience to add to the second line. I would have to say he is a rental for sure but he should still be good for around 6/7 goals if he can stay healthy.

Waiving DJ King is something that makes me a little angry. This is only because it just makes losing Della-Rovere so much worse.

The Arnott/Steckel trade could end up being as great as the Fedorov/Ruth deal a few years back. Arnott definitley gives us the 2C we have been looking for with a ton of playoff experience and success. While I do not expect him to have the same effect on Semin as Fedorov, I do expect for him to clear up space for Semin to do what he does best.

It does suck to see a heart and soul guy like Steckel go, especially since he was arguably the greatest faceoff man in the league. Unfortunately that was really all he brought to the Caps. Although we will always have Game 6 OT and the Winter Classic to remember him fondly.

The Wideman deal I feel is really flying under the radar. As much as fans have been crying for a defenseman since last year, I honestly though GMGM would stand pat on the blueline, having acquired Hannan earlier this year. This was a move than was made simply out of the possibility that both Green and Poti could not return this year. The Caps have said that Green will miss a few weeks but head injuries are a funny thing. Unless we see something crazy from Poti, this move has at least signaled the end of his time in DC.

Here are my line combination predictions. The first set are with current injuries in mind, the second set are if the team is at full strength. Remember that with Backstrom's current injury he has been relieved of nearly all faceoff duties

Injury
Ovechkin-Laich-Backstrom
Sturm-Arnott-Semin
Chimera-Johansson-Knuble
Hendricks-Gordon-Bradley

Hannan-Schultz
Carlson-Alzner
Wideman-Erskine

Full Health
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Laich
Semin-Arnott-Fehr
Sturm-Johansson-Knuble
Chimera-Gordon-Hendricks

Green-Hannan
Carlson-Alzner
Wideman-Schultz.