Backstrom's assisted the most power-play goals in the NHL over the last seven seasons (161). Only Flyers' center Claude Giroux comes close (146) while no other player has reached 120 in that span. Forsythe credits Backstrom's precision and timing on passes.
"They're easy to shoot, always in the right spot," Forsythe said. "He finds holes that not a lot of guys can force pucks through. And he's patient, which I think makes defenders a bit antsy at times to move their stick out of the lane. He's got an incredible knack to wait for those seams to open."
The most famous seam being the one to Ovechkin at the top of the left face-off circle, his signature spot. Teams began to key in on Ovechkin years ago, scheming to prevent those opportunities specifically. The strategy opened looks elsewhere, ultimately serving to sharpen the Capitals unit.
"That goes back to reads, knowing how teams are going to defend against it," Forsythe said. "We have the ability to adjust. They don't get rattled if a team throws something different at us; it just becomes a different read. That's the biggest thing, their calmness and ability to adjust."