GDT#49 Capitals @ Panthers 2018-01-25 7:30pm EST NBCSWA, FS-F

[ArJunaZ]

                     

                 Thu. Jan. 25    Washington Capitals @ Florida Panthers
                 Place:  BB&T Center
                 Time: 7:30 p.m.
                 TV: NBCSWA, FS-F
                 Radio: 106.7 The Fan, Capitals Radio 24/7
                 Florida Panthers 44-19-21-6  Last Game: Jan 23, Loss 6-1 against Stars
                 Washington Capitals 61-28-15-5  Last Game: Jan 21, OT Loss 2-1 against Flyers


                       8-Ovechkin        92-Kuznetsov        43-Wilson
                     65-Burakovsky    19-Bäckström        77-Oshie
                     18-Stephenson    20-Eller                  10-Connolly
                     13-Vrana              83-Beagle              25-Smith-Pelly


                               29-Djoos                74-Carlson
                                 9-Orlov                   2-Niskanen
                               44-Orpik                 22-Bowey


                                              70-Holtby (starter)
                                              31-Grubauer


                                           -- SCRATCH --
                                             39-Chiasson                                           
                                              4-Chorney


                                           -- INJURED --


                                    -- 1st Powerplay Unit --
                    77-Oshie            19-Bäckström     92-Kuznetsov
                                 8-Ovechkin           74-Carlson
                               
                                    -- 2nd Powerplay Unit --
                    39-Chiasson        20-Eller             65-Burakovsky
                                2-Niskanen             9-Orlov
       

               Referees:   Trevor Hanson (#14)  Jean Hebert (#15)
               Linesmen:  Pierre Racicot (#65),  Andrew Smith (#51)









1st Period
11:02  Panthers GOAL Malgin   1-0 FLA
17:25  PP GOAL 19-Bäckström, assists 92-Kuznetsov & 8-Ovechkin   1-1 TIE

2nd Period
06:40  Panthers GOAL Malgin   2-1 FLA
07:51  GOAL 8-Ovechkin, assists 44-Orpik & 22-Bowey   2-2 TIE
17:38  GOAL 74-Carlson, assists 43-Wilson & 92-Kuznetsov   3-2 WSH

3rd Period
01:52  GOAL 10-Connolly, assists 65-Burakovsky & 20-Eller   4-2 WSH

FINAL:    4-2 WSH









By Callie Caplan  January 25 at 8:00 AM

Barry Trotz hopes Evgeny Kuznetsov can shift back into his second gear


Evgeny Kuznetsov is looking to get back on track. (Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post)

Capitals Coach Barry Trotz knows Evgeny Kuznetsov has two gears. There are instances when the center is “just going and playing,” Trotz said. And then there are the times when Kuznetsov skates with “a real high battle mentality” and can be the most productive player on the ice.

Trotz has watched Kuznetsov control games with that dominance and creative passing when he feels he has something to prove, and then he’s watched stretches like Kuznetsov’s recent play — recording just five points, including one goal, in 12 games since Dec. 22.

With Thursday’s game against the Florida Panthers providing a chance for the team to snap its three-game slide out of the bye week before another hiatus during the All-Star break, the Capitals hope Kuznetsov can regain that edge.

[Capitals’ OT trend could become more prevalent down NHL’s stretch run]

“When he’s got — I don’t want to say a chip on his shoulder or something to prove — but either a game against an opposition player or a team, or maybe I haven’t been using him as much as he’d like, he’s going to get my attention,” Trotz said. “He gets a little chip on his shoulder, and he doesn’t say anything. You can see it in his play. And when he does, he can literally take games over.

“If he could do it every night, I’d love that. I hope if he wants to prove me wrong every night, I hope he does.

”Tom Wilson hopes Kuznetsov started to return to form in Sunday’s 2-1 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. With Wilson on Kuznetsov’s right and Alex Ovechkin on the left, Wilson felt the trio missed “some empty nets” and close-range looks.

Kuznetsov, who had two assists in a back-to-back stretch coming off the five-day bye, missed his two shots against the Flyers and didn’t record a point in the game.

But Wilson isn’t worried. He’s played with Kuznetsov since the duo started with the Capitals during the 2013-14 season, and has both skated on his line and watched from the bench as Kuznetsov has honed the skills and vision to be one of the most creative players in the league.

“I’ve found playing with Kuzy, kind of what you don’t expect is what you learn you need to expect,” Wilson said. “He makes plays that no one really else can see. He’s always told me … just put your stick on the ice, and I’ll find you.

”Perhaps some of Kuznetsov’s slump can be attributed to having rotation on the wings.Trotz has experimented with line combinations in an effort to re-energize the Capitals’ production back to the levels that fueled a 13-3-1 record from Dec. 2 until their bye week.

So, despite the team having an established center on each line the last two years, Kuznetsov has had to adjust to the changing tendencies of players and chemistry around him.

“Kuzy’s just so good at carrying the puck and beating his guy and making someone else’s defender come help,” T.J. Oshie said. “To play well on Kuzy’s line, you just need a guy who will work hard and get loose pucks.

”But Kuznetsov feels the bigger key to getting back on track could come with regular shifts. When he sits for awhile during early penalties, Kuznetsov said he loses his rhythm, though when the Capitals have a chance to start with quick shifts, “we can do some crazy things.

”Either way, Trotz hopes that come Thursday night — and as the Capitals compete to maintain first place in the Metropolitan Division after the All-Star break — his top centerman has the energy and intensity that lead Wilson to call Kuznetsov “a man possessed” when he’s working hard.

“Sometimes you’re just not going well, you just have to work through those periods,” Kuznetsov said. “If you do keep working hard, you’ll get back for sure.”

[DC_1908]

A month long slump with 5 points, even if it includes a bye week is no way shape or form acceptable or excusable for someone with his ice time, responsibility and hype.  He's doesn't excel at any aspect or than the scoreboard and he's not doin that, so he isn't of much value.


The result is his value on the trade market is dropping.


We simply can not wait around for him and these kids to get grow the hell up and get to work,  I don't give a damn how "popular" any of them are .  The fanbase needs to start being harsher, and more aggressive when these guys aren't doing there job, not just bask in delusional, dissociative optimism based on hype and feelings


Its starting to look like GMBetaMale screwed up more than we thought he did when he gave him this contract.

[Beaglefan2]

Trotz needs to stop talking like that in the press, hoping his players read the paper.  To really change behavior, he needs to jump on these guys and take away ice time - and make them healthy scratches.  For instance, he needs to tell Kuzy to stop passing and start shooting and that if he doesn't get 5 shots on goal in the game tonight, he is sitting out the next game.  Same with Backstrom and Oshie!  These three "stars" have developed terrible "pass-first" habits.

[KitFisto]

The fan base won't affect decisions no matter how harsh. It takes the press and fan base and the press is lackluster at best about the Caps. This isn't Toronto or Montreal.

[Maacoshark]

A month long slump with 5 points, even if it includes a bye week is no way shape or form acceptable or excusable for someone with his ice time, responsibility and hype.  He's doesn't excel at any aspect or than the scoreboard and he's not doin that, so he isn't of much value.


The result is his value on the trade market is dropping.


We simply can not wait around for him and these kids to get grow the hell up and get to work,  I don't give a damn how "popular" any of them are .  The fanbase needs to start being harsher, and more aggressive when these guys aren't doing there job, not just bask in delusional, dissociative optimism based on hype and feelings


Its starting to look like GMBetaMale screwed up more than we thought he did when he gave him this contract.

    You are so right about Kuzy not bringing anything other than offense. He is defensively responsible, he back checks but he just isn't very good at it and he takes dumb penalties when he is back checking.

[Maacoshark]

Trotz needs to stop talking like that in the press, hoping his players read the paper.  To really change behavior, he needs to jump on these guys and take away ice time - and make them healthy scratches.  For instance, he needs to tell Kuzy to stop passing and start shooting and that if he doesn't get 5 shots on goal in the game tonight, he is sitting out the next game.  Same with Backstrom and Oshie!  These three "stars" have developed terrible "pass-first" habits.

    Kuzy and Backstrom are always going to be pass first players but they need to take some shots. They are passing up too many opportunities. I'm not sure what the problem ius with Oshie. He is out to lunch. His hand eye coordination seems to be gone. I think he might be feeling affects from the last concussion.

[alta]

holy crap, is there an actual Caps game tonight?

[alta]

the CHL prospects game is about to start, very bad timing, should be in two days when the NHL is off

[ArJunaZ]

Hi Guys!  Here we go!  It feels like ages since we played.

[justwincaps]

Did anyone else think that PK setup looked jacked up?  It’s like we were running a 1-1-2 instead of a diamond.  Either way, it looks like we get a chance to get another look at it. 

[Maacoshark]

Eller is a meathead

[justwincaps]

A month long slump with 5 points, even if it includes a bye week is no way shape or form acceptable or excusable for someone with his ice time, responsibility and hype.  He's doesn't excel at any aspect or than the scoreboard and he's not doin that, so he isn't of much value.


The result is his value on the trade market is dropping.


We simply can not wait around for him and these kids to get grow the hell up and get to work,  I don't give a damn how "popular" any of them are .  The fanbase needs to start being harsher, and more aggressive when these guys aren't doing there job, not just bask in delusional, dissociative optimism based on hype and feelings


Its starting to look like GMBetaMale screwed up more than we thought he did when he gave him this contract.

Why did you mention "trade value"?

[justwincaps]

3 penalties in 8 minutes of play.  Way to keep the leagues leading scorer sitting on the bench. 

[Maacoshark]

Wtf 3 consecutive penalties

[justwincaps]

Wtf 3 consecutive penalties

We can complain, but it’s not like we didn’t earn each of those penalties.  They weren’t exactly ticky tacks.

[ArJunaZ]

Eller is a meathead

I think the whole team are meatheads tonight!   

[Maacoshark]

Unfuckingbelievable. Backstrom with a brutal turnover

[Maacoshark]

I think the whole team are meatheads tonight!   

  Can't argue that

[washcapsfan]

Trotz... If you cannot see that Bowey is shit, then get the fuck out of Washington.  He is a shitty hockey player. There are better players on my men's league. Piece of worthless shit

[washcapsfan]

Backstrom is struggling terribly, as is Oshie and Kuzy