WASHINGTON -- The strength of the Washington Capitals during coach Bruce Boudreau's tenure has always been the depth of the team's offensive firepower. Few teams can boast about a quartet of elite scorers like Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Alexander Semin and Mike Green, but even fewer have "secondary scoring" options like Mike Knuble, Brooks Laich, Tomas Fleischmann, Eric Fehr and now rookie defenseman John Carlson.
After a slow start by nearly the entire team, Ovechkin, Backstrom and Semin have produced as expected in recent games, but the Capitals need more from their supporting characters.
"Our team prides ourselves on making sure we have every line that can score," Fehr said. "We like rolling through our lines. In the past we've had no problems getting goals from different lines, but right now we're a little bit snakebitten. Hopefully we can regroup and get back on track."
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NHL Insider
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NHL Insider
Capitals want to get secondary scorers going
Wednesday, 11.03.2010 / 12:17 PM / NHL Insider
Corey Masisak - NHL.com Staff Writer
Wings' Datsyuk starting to look like old self
Tuesday, 11.02.2010 / 7:47 PM / NHL Insider
Brian Hedger - NHL.com Correspondent
Pavel Datsyuk just couldn't resist.
During an interview following a 5-2 home win against Nashville this past weekend, the dynamic 32-year old Russian center sensed a chance to score with the TV cameras rolling. He was told that Wings coach Mike Babcock had just talked about how much he likes it when Datsyuk takes the puck to the net, like he did against the Predators for his second goal of the game.
A slight grin formed on Datsyuk's face.
"So far, I do it the one time," he said, pausing. "I think he liked it."
The dry humor drew some chuckles, but his net charge late in the second that night was liked by a lot more people than just Babcock. His teammates liked it, too, including a couple whom began emulating it in the third.
During an interview following a 5-2 home win against Nashville this past weekend, the dynamic 32-year old Russian center sensed a chance to score with the TV cameras rolling. He was told that Wings coach Mike Babcock had just talked about how much he likes it when Datsyuk takes the puck to the net, like he did against the Predators for his second goal of the game.
A slight grin formed on Datsyuk's face.
"So far, I do it the one time," he said, pausing. "I think he liked it."
The dry humor drew some chuckles, but his net charge late in the second that night was liked by a lot more people than just Babcock. His teammates liked it, too, including a couple whom began emulating it in the third.
Ducks to keep Fowler for rest of season
Tuesday, 11.02.2010 / 5:00 PM / NHL Insider
Adam Kimelman - NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor
The Anaheim Ducks had nine games to decide if Cam Fowler was ready to stay in the NHL full-time, or go back to his junior team.
They needed just six.
The Ducks on Tuesday confirmed that Fowler, the 12th pick of the 2010 Entry Draft, will remain with the team. The news comes on the heels of Fowler being cleared to play for the first time since he broke his nose Oct. 17.
In six games, Fowler has 1 goal and 2 assists, and played more than 21 minutes in five of his first six games -- the only game he played less was when he was hurt.
They needed just six.
The Ducks on Tuesday confirmed that Fowler, the 12th pick of the 2010 Entry Draft, will remain with the team. The news comes on the heels of Fowler being cleared to play for the first time since he broke his nose Oct. 17.
In six games, Fowler has 1 goal and 2 assists, and played more than 21 minutes in five of his first six games -- the only game he played less was when he was hurt.
Early returns from Whitney are encouraging
Tuesday, 11.02.2010 / 2:05 PM / NHL Insider
Robin Brownlee - NHL.com Correspondent
EDMONTON -- Defenseman Ryan Whitney not only leads the Edmonton Oilers in scoring with 9 points as they face the Vancouver Canucks at Rexall Place tonight, he's logging the most ice time.
Whitney has 9 assists and is averaging 26:14 of playing time per night. Those are awfully impressive numbers, considering he's coming off having offseason foot surgery and still isn't 100 percent.
"I feel pretty good," Whitney said. "The foot is coming along. When one feels good, the other kind of gets a little sore. It's about trying to find a balance between the two."
Whitney has 9 assists and is averaging 26:14 of playing time per night. Those are awfully impressive numbers, considering he's coming off having offseason foot surgery and still isn't 100 percent.
"I feel pretty good," Whitney said. "The foot is coming along. When one feels good, the other kind of gets a little sore. It's about trying to find a balance between the two."
Injuries, inexperience biggest reason for NJ's demise
Tuesday, 11.02.2010 / 1:52 PM / NHL Insider
Dan Rosen - NHL.com Senior Writer
New Jersey's minus-22 goal differential is the worst in the National Hockey League, as are its 20 goals for, 42 goals against, 5 goals in the first period and 3-for-41 power play (7.3 percent).
So, yes, for right now we can accurately say the Devils' offense is the worst in the League and their defense isn't far behind. It's why they have an NHL-worst seven points through 13 games and are 1-5 over their last six games, with just seven goals in the span.
How can this happen to such a proud franchise?
We're not in the excuse-making business here, but it's fair to say that part of these problems can be blamed on injuries and the subsequent inexperience of Matt Taormina, Alexander Vasyunov, Olivier Magnan-Grenier, Tim Sestito, Bradley Mills and the now-injured Jacob Josefson and Matthew Corrente.
So, yes, for right now we can accurately say the Devils' offense is the worst in the League and their defense isn't far behind. It's why they have an NHL-worst seven points through 13 games and are 1-5 over their last six games, with just seven goals in the span.
How can this happen to such a proud franchise?
We're not in the excuse-making business here, but it's fair to say that part of these problems can be blamed on injuries and the subsequent inexperience of Matt Taormina, Alexander Vasyunov, Olivier Magnan-Grenier, Tim Sestito, Bradley Mills and the now-injured Jacob Josefson and Matthew Corrente.
Coyotes looking for more offense
Tuesday, 11.02.2010 / 10:26 AM / NHL Insider
Jerry Brown - NHL.com Correspondent
"You're disappointed and you wish you could have the games back, but you can't. I can guarantee you we won't go the next 10 games with myself and the other guys not scoring, so that's a positive. We have nowhere to go but up." -- Shane Doan
Wojtek Wolski, acquired last spring for the same reason, is scoreless in eight games and watched the last two as a healthy scratch. Captain Shane Doan? Seven games, no goals, one three-game suspension.
Add in Radim Vrbata, who has scored 1 goal since scoring twice in the season opener, and that's a grand total of one goal from Phoenix's four highest-paid forwards over the last nine games. That's more than $14 million of salary space -- on a team that watches every penny -- which so far has been little more than wasted space.
Oiler fans crave re-appearance of spring playoff rituals
Tuesday, 11.02.2010 / 10:13 AM / NHL Insider
Robin Brownlee - NHL.com Correspondent
With parades marking five Stanley Cups in a span of seven seasons ending in 1990 and all the players who sipped from those Cups during those Dynasty Days -- led by Hall-of-Famers Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier Jari Kurri, Paul Coffey and Grant Fuhr -- long since retired, Lorieau longs for the opportunity to thrust his right arm in the air and listen to Oilers fans sing "O Canada" again.
In idiosyncratic homage to those five Stanley Cup wins, the Edmonton Oilers fans spent the final five home games of the team's Cinderella run to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final in 2006 doing a rousing rendition of O'Canada, threatening to make Lorieau, Edmonton's anthem singer since 1981, almost irrelevant.
Flyers' Giroux establishing himself as an elite player
Monday, 11.01.2010 / 11:50 PM / NHL Insider
Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer
PHILADELPHIA - It was sometime during the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs when Philadelphia Flyers coach Peter Laviolette began to realize just how special a player forward Claude Giroux really was.
In only his second playoff season, Giroux finished third on the team with 21 points, including 10 goals, in 23 games. An eye-opening display for sure and, in Laviolette's mind, a performance that probably catapulted him into elite company.
"I would say that he's not among those second-tier players anymore," Laviolette said when asked where Giroux stood in the mix of elite and second-tier players in the League.
"He's somebody we count on to play in every situation and he's proving himself to be a clutch player," he continued. "He's had big games in playoffs and big games when you need a performance out of somebody. He's seems to be stepping up."
In only his second playoff season, Giroux finished third on the team with 21 points, including 10 goals, in 23 games. An eye-opening display for sure and, in Laviolette's mind, a performance that probably catapulted him into elite company.
"I would say that he's not among those second-tier players anymore," Laviolette said when asked where Giroux stood in the mix of elite and second-tier players in the League.
"He's somebody we count on to play in every situation and he's proving himself to be a clutch player," he continued. "He's had big games in playoffs and big games when you need a performance out of somebody. He's seems to be stepping up."
Inconsistency plagues Blackhawks again
Monday, 11.01.2010 / 11:09 PM / NHL Insider
Sergei J. Feldman - NHL.com Staff Writer
NEW YORK -- Just when the Chicago Blackhawks thought they were out of their up-and-down, inconsistent play in which consecutive victories have been hard to come by, they pulled themselves back in and squandered any hope of feeling better about themselves after a strong performance Saturday night against the Minnesota Wild.
That 3-1 victory seems like a year ago.
On Monday night against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, the Blackhawks jumped out to the kind of start any road team hopes for, battling for every loose puck, playing in the opposing team's zone, outshooting the home team and, most importantly, scoring the game's first goal.
That 3-1 victory seems like a year ago.
On Monday night against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, the Blackhawks jumped out to the kind of start any road team hopes for, battling for every loose puck, playing in the opposing team's zone, outshooting the home team and, most importantly, scoring the game's first goal.
Hawks hope November brings health, consistency
Monday, 11.01.2010 / 2:52 PM / NHL Insider
Sergei J. Feldman - NHL.com Staff Writer
After one month of regular-season hockey, the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks find themselves sitting atop the Western Conference's Central Division and tied for the second-most points in the National Hockey League.
Left wing Patrick Sharp leads the NHL with 10 goals and is tied for third in points with 15.
On the surface, it looks like all is well in the Windy City. However, a look deeper shows something else.
The Blackhawks have played more games than any other team, so their 7-5-1 record diminishes the grand total of 15 points. Perhaps the grind that was October has contributed to Chicago's average start.
"We've had a lot of games, been pretty busy," forward Patrick Kane said. "Overall, I think we probably had a little bit of a slow start to the season, but it seems like we've been playing a little bit better as of late."
Left wing Patrick Sharp leads the NHL with 10 goals and is tied for third in points with 15.
On the surface, it looks like all is well in the Windy City. However, a look deeper shows something else.
The Blackhawks have played more games than any other team, so their 7-5-1 record diminishes the grand total of 15 points. Perhaps the grind that was October has contributed to Chicago's average start.
"We've had a lot of games, been pretty busy," forward Patrick Kane said. "Overall, I think we probably had a little bit of a slow start to the season, but it seems like we've been playing a little bit better as of late."
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