First line failure: numbers for the morning after

May 4, 2018 5:15 am

The first playoff game post Tom Wilson suspension did not go so well for the Washington Capitals as they fell in Pittsburgh to the Penguins 3-1. A very quiet top line, a better Matt Murray, and a few bad bounces sank the Caps ship in Game Four.

The Penguins out-shot the Caps 24 to 21 and out-attempted them at five-on-five 39 to 36.

The top line. What was probably the Caps standout line through nine playoff games is no longer. The addition of Devante Smith-Pelly to the line due to Tom Wilson‘s suspension did not work. It did not work and it was obvious that it was not going to work after maybe 10 minutes of this game. When Alex Ovechkin is getting doubled up in shot attempts, scoring chances, and high danger chances, you need to make an in game adjustment and get him going. Barry Trotz did not do this, but hopefully he mixes things up for Game Five.
TJ Oshie‘s goal on the power play marked the ninth game this postseason that the Caps have recorded a goal with the man advantage.
Filling in Jakub Vrana‘s normal fourth line role was rookie Shane Gersich. In his first career postseason game, I thought he did not look out of place. He had good jump and did enough to earn another jersey for Game Five in DC. Is it that crazy that I think he could fit on that top line with Kuzy and Ovi? Doubt he’d be trusted to play that type of minutes though.
Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin’s combined shots on goal total in Game Four: Zero.
Well folks, we have a best of three now and the Caps have two home games. Get it done.