The Washington Capitals managed to escape a weekend romp on Long Island with a 3-2 OT win over the NY Islanders.It wasn't pretty, it certainly wasn't impressive, but the Capitals added 2 points onto their standings and sit atop the Southeast Division and second overall in the Eastern Conference posting a record of 6-2-2 (14 points). Caps have their issues. Mainly the power play. After finishing with the 2nd most powerful power play in the NHL last season, the Capitals currently are tied for 20th overall in power play percentage. Last year they accumulated a 25% success rate, this year, the Caps sit at 16.7%.
More numbers.
Season Totals: 8 for 48 (16.7%)
Last 2 Games: 0 for 11
Last 5 games: 2 for 24 (8.3%)
To me, the Caps power play over the last 5 games has look disheveled and weak. The passing has been less than sharp, and the setting up has been dismal. You can look at player specific as well. Alexander Ovechkin has 9 goals on the season. Only 1 has come from the power play. Mike Green had 18 PP goals last year, 1 behind Ovechkin. This year, Green has failed to score on the power play. Nicklas Backstrom recorded 14 power play tallies last year, this year, he has 1.
HC Bruce Boudreau obviously is trying everything in his power, shifting lines on the power play often during the Islanders game. He even had Keith Aucoin on the PP. More than likely, getting Alexander Semin and Tomas Fleischmann back will help jolt the power play.
Read it all
http://dcprosportsreport.com/2009/10/26/red-alert-power-play-disappearance.html
Melanie Fitzpatrick
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