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.
New lines!
8-19-77
13-92-43
10-20-25
18-83-39— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) January 3, 2018
After practice, Oshie demurred that he didn’t deserve the promotion.
Oshie said he's frustrated with his lack of production lately. Told Trotz that Wilson or Smith-Pelly deserve to be on the top line with Ovi/Backstrom more than he does.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) January 3, 2018
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.
TJ Oshie's 5v5 individual offense rates before and after his concussion. pic.twitter.com/eRwvNvNC3m
— Peter Hassett (@peterhassett) December 29, 2017
That's why I included the TOI row. The whole team has struggled in the same fashion Oshie has over the last couple weeks. I didn't have an agenda when I pulled those numbers, but a post-concussion slump isn't evidenced in them.
— Peter Hassett (@peterhassett) December 29, 2017
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.
This is the most beatable Washington Capitals team we've seen in a long while. pic.twitter.com/i1Db4g6mM9
— Sean Tierney (@ChartingHockey) January 3, 2018
Regardless, the Capitals keep finding a way to win since Backstrom and Ovechkin have been reunited.
Since Barry Trotz put the #Capitals dynamic duo back together, their record is 13-3-2. Ovi has 13goals, 10assists for 23pts. Backstrom 5goals,13assists for 18pts. pic.twitter.com/hd7HZNv8De
— Alan May (@MayHockeyNBCS) January 3, 2018
Headline photo: Cara Bahniuk
