Here's what I posted in another forum regarding Backstrom and Ovechkin. I'll just leave it here since it applies to the subject.
Keep Backstrom and Ovechkin separate. I think last night proved when Backstrom's main responsibility isn't "get puck to Ovechkin" he will actually be very creative and shoot quite often... and shoot quite well.
Put Ovechkin with a center who won't lose their ability to score goals if he's on their line. This means that he can't go with Grabovski because Grwbovski can actually score goals, plus his line is playing very well right now.
This means Ovechkin goes with Johansson as his center because, quite frankly, Johansson sucks at scoring goals. Regardless of who is on his line he's always looking to pass. That would be perfect if he was centering Ovechkin.
I've heard people complaining that Backstrom was not an elite center. People were hoping he'd be a Crosby, a Malkin, a Towes, etc. Well frankly, he'll never be that good if he's stuck playing second fiddle to Ovechkin feeding him the puck so he can take 10 shots a game.
The Flyers suck but they weren't really giving up goals. Mason's GAA was something like .920 going into last night's game. Backstrom scored twice. Not a chance in hell that happens if Ovechkin is playing on his line. No way.
I don't think we should separate AO and Nick.
Does Ovechkin grab the puck, not allowing 19 to shoot? Doesn't he make passes when it's the best opportunity? If Backstrom can't play as he can on Ovi's line, we need to get his head straight, not find linemates with whom His Majesty will play up to his abilities.
Nice pun.
It's not, but it can be a product of the unit the player's on or how it's run, and it's viewed as unsustainable in the playoffs. A majority of the game is also played at even strength, and you want to be able to trust your players to tilt things in the right direction there. Backstrom is definitely an elite PP player though.
a productive PP can carry a team in the playoffs.....for the Caps it has been ineffective in the playoffs, but a general rule of thumb is you need to be able to get it done on the PP and PK to go deep
It's not about what Ovie does, it's about how Nick plays when he's with Ovie.
a productive PP can carry a team in the playoffs.....for the Caps it has been ineffective in the playoffs, but a general rule of thumb is you need to be able to get it done on the PP and PK to go deep
Did you miss the Rangers series last year?
That would require being awarded with a PP in the playoffs, first.
...or we risk to get 2 average top-6 lines instead of a dominant 1st line.
And secondary question; will he ever improve and become an elite center?
What is he lacking to take that extra step. He's strong on the puck, has great vision, puckhandling and passing plus a decent shot. He is also defensively responsible. Is speed his biggest drawback?
no...the idea that he is not an elite center is ridiculous. he doesn't have to read this mess to know that.
of course not....are you totally missing what im saying?
an effective PP would have likely been the difference...same in the MTL series. Teams that got deep often get that far by doing well on the PP, the PK, or likely both
Yeah IMO the risk of relying on your PP come playoff time isn't as much that it is easier to PK against the same PP when you have time to prepare for it and are seeing it many games in a row, though there is that, but more that you can't depend on getting PP opportunities, especially as games get into the 3rd period and OT.
For example in the regular season last year the Caps had 164 PPs in 48 games for an average of 3.42 per game. In the 7 playoff games against the Rangers they had 16 PPs for an average of 2.29 per game.