Agree. While Backstrom is super smart, you pair that with his conditioning and (i think confidence to score has come with that), he is aging very well. I’m less concerned about his contract if he can stay in good health.
for the Kuzy fans!
Stats like these are always misleading. Basically every player is going to have a great record when they record a point, because of selection bias. All it's basically saying is that "The Capitals do well when their players do a good thing"
He’s the type of player that if you haven’t played a ton of hockey you don’t really appreciate what he does. But those of us who have played are able to pick up on it. All the little passes to get out of the zone, the board play and puck protection, the surveying of the ice right before you get the puck so you can move it right away, the times he doesn’t make a pass because it’s not a smart play. He is a coach’s dream.
Crazy how playing Kuznetsov in the third period instead of benching him leads to shutting down the other team by keeping the puck in the other team's zone.
Also this is where I say that Kuznetsov has been playing this well pretty much all season, except now he is getting points.
I’d say a rotation of Sprong/Sheary/Panik? Maybe even Hathaway or Hagelin. Give guys a game off, rotate them in. Lots of hockey in a short period of time so some rest would be in order.Who sits after Wilson comes back? We need to let Sprong ride this heater out, developing him could be massive for keeping the team more competitive than it has any business being in the coming years.
I think it is less about who sits and more about who earns playing time. Someone has to sit so fight to stay in the lineup. I doubt we do anything to break up fourth line unless they go downhill quick. We count on that line to do the dirty (or as my Indian friends say, “do the needful”.Who sits after Wilson comes back? We need to let Sprong ride this heater out, developing him could be massive for keeping the team more competitive than it has any business being in the coming years.
On another note, the discipline shown by Panik and others by not retaliating on Mayfield led to a PP and Backstrom's goal.
Tom Wilson should take some notes on not allowing goons from the other team to goad him into a sideshow that will put the team at a disadvantage.
I'm really invested in the consecutive 30 goal season streak. Getting it done despite two shortened seasons might make it one of the most impressive records in the game.
Nice win, btw.
He needs to start scoring multiple goals (including hattricks) to continue the streak. Amazingly, Ovi scored more than one goal only once thus far.Needs 18 goals in 27 games. Definitely not out the realm of possibility.
He needs to start scoring multiple goals (including hattricks) to continue the streak. Amazingly, Ovi scored more than one goal only once thus far.