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TJ Oshie reunites with Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin on Capitals first line

By Ian Oland

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January 3, 2018 1:33 pm

Despite a goal explosion in Carolina, Capitals head coach Barry Trotz tweaked the lines at Wednesday’s practice ahead of a four-day break between games.

TJ Oshie, who has one goal in his last 14 games, was returned to the first line with Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin. Tom Wilson was bumped up to the team’s second line with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Jakub Vrana. Andre Burakovsky, scratched the last two games due to poor play, remains out of the lineup.

After practice, Oshie demurred that he didn’t deserve the promotion.

Since being traded for from the St. Louis Blues, Oshie has spent a majority of his Caps career skating with Backstrom and Ovechkin to great success. Last season per Natural Stat Trick, Oshie scored a career high 23 goals at even strength – 19 of which he scored with Nicklas Backstrom on the ice and 17 with Alex Ovechkin (source).

This season, Oshie started the season paired with Nicklas Backstrom, but with Ovechkin on another line. Lately, Oshie has skated on the team’s second line with Evgeny Kuznetsov.

While Oshie’s dashboard stats (goals and assists) have dried up recently, his underlying play, at least according to a quick glance at his possession statistics, appears not to have suffered since returning from his fourth-documented concussion.

Trotz’s line changes come as the Capitals are recently removed from a 177 minute goal drought that saw them get shutout in two straight games. Their offense has scuffled lately.

Regardless, the Capitals keep finding a way to win since Backstrom and Ovechkin have been reunited.

Headline photo: Cara Bahniuk

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