With the Washington Capitals 6-5 victory over the New York Rangers last night - extending their winning streak to 12 games - the Caps now command a 12 point lead over the second place team in the Eastern Conference, the New Jersey Devils. They are one point ahead of San Jose for the overall points lead in the NHL, and all signs are pointing up for the Caps Franchise. Here are ten musings about the team from D.C.1. When will Backstrom get his due?
With all the big names in Washington (Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Mike Green, Bruce Boudreau), many fans and members of the media find it easy to skim over 22-year old Nicklas Backstrom. They shouldn't. Backstrom is a superstar in his own right, and plays a game that is eerily similar to another Swedish sensation by the name of Peter Forsberg. Backstrom's hands, vision, and passing skills can all be characterized as "elite," and his cummulative numbers over the course of his first two and a half seasons are unbelievable. 60 goals, 166 assists, 226 points, and a +58 over his first 221 games. He also has 21 points in his first 21 playoff games. Even without Ovechkin, Backstrom - known as the best player in the world outside the NHL as a 19-year old - is a 90+ point talent.
2. Give the bottom-six forwards some props.
We all know the Caps' top-six forwards can score goals better than anyone (3.86 goals per game is .56 goals per game higher than the second place team - unbelievable). But their bottom-six isn't too shabby, either. Brooks Laich (17 goals) and Eric Fehr (14 goals) are both more than capable of being top-six forwards, and Matt Bradley, David Steckel (top faceoff guy in the league), Jason Chimera, and Boyd Gordon are all very solid two-way forwards that know how to play their role. They are all plus players. So, let's get this straight: what do you get when you have arguably the top-six in the NHL and every member of your bottom-six is a plus player? You do the math.
3. Who needs star power?
The Capitals are 6-1-1 with Ovechkin out of the lineup this season and 5-0-0 with Green out of the lineup. 'Nough said.
4. Success runs deep...really deep.
Their AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, won the Calder Cup last season. Their ECHL affiliate, the South Carolina Stingrays, won the Kelly Cup. This year, the Bears are atop the league with a 38-9-0-2 record. Likewise, the Stingrays are number one in the ECHL with a 30-13-4-4 record. Number one in the NHL, AHL, and ECHL - it's almost not fair.
5. Theodore at his best.
A big reason for their 12-game win streak is the play of Jose Theodore. He is on a personal win-streak of nine games, and has had a save percentage above .900% in all but one of those games. Theodore looks confident and composed in net, and his rebound control has really begun to come around. Remember - he's playing for a new contract, too.
6. Knuble - the perfect signing.
The 37-year old net presence has 20 goals in 45 games this season. He's a great leader, possesses a superior work ethic, and is the ideal fit on a line with Ovechkin and Backstrom. With 13 goals in his last 15 games, Knuble is proving to be well worth his $2.8 million cap for this season and the next. Every top line and successful power play needs a net presence, and there's not many better than Knuble.
7. Sorry Eastern Conference, they'll be back again next year.
Caps' General Manager George McPhee will need to re-sign Nicklas Backstrom, first and foremost, while Tomas Fleischmann, Brendan Morrison, Eric Fehr, Boyd Gordon, Brian Pothier, Shaone Morrison, Jeff Schultz, Jose Theodore, and Michal Neuvirth are due for RFA or UFA status. But, he does have approximately $20-$24 million in cap space to do so. Surely some of these players will be shown the door, but at the end of the day they'll lose very little. Don't forget the youthfulness of this team - most of the players are still getting better. They have plenty of NHL-ready talent on the farm (Karl Alzner, John Carlson), as well. The Caps should be successful for a long, long time - even in this new cap-era.
8. Concerns?
But, there are causes for concern. Will they continue to get the goaltending from Theodore? If not, will Semyon Varlamov be healthy and ready to play at a playoff level? Is their defense good enough? Pittsburgh still has the advantage in net, and arguably defensively, as well. New Jersey, now with Ilya Kovalchuk, will be a forced to be reckoned with, too. Will their up-tempo style prove to be successful in four consecutive tightly-checked series?
9. Green - overrated? Expendable?
In the five games Green has missed this year, not only are the Capitals undefeated, but they've also scored 26 goals in those games, an average of 5.20 goals per game. Green was downright brutal during last year's playoffs, and while he's undoubtedly very talented (leads NHL defensemen in points, yet again), there's little doubt in my mind that his numbers are inflated because of the team and situation that he finds himself in. It may sound ridiculous to many, but if the Capitals are forced to eventually trim some salary when Green's up for a new contract after the '10-'11 season, I think Green may be the guy to move out the door. There's no reason to break the bank on Green when this team will be able to score goals, no problem.
10. That dude named Ovechkin is really freakin' good.
38 goals and 80 points in 49 games? Yikes. His points per game of 1.63 is 0.24 higher than the NHL's next highest (Henrik Sedin). He's a hit machine at 6'2'' 233 lbs. The hockey world will be in for a treat watching Ovechkin play for his country in the Olympics, down the stretch, and into the playoffs. He finds himself on the perfect team, situated on the perfect line, and, man, has he made the most of it. The 24-year old winger just keeps impressing - I don't know what else I need to say.
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