Spreading the Wealth

In the Eastern Conference quarterfinal against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Evgeny Kuznetsov and John Carlson led the way, combining for a whopping 33 points in six games. But while the Capitals' biggest stars and top-four regular season scorers pushed the Blue Jackets to the brink, it was contributions from their depth players that sealed the series for Washington.

Washington has seen that depth production continue into the Eastern Conference semifinal against the Pittsburgh Penguins. In a 4-1 win in Game 2, the Capitals got contributions from Jakub Vrana, Brett Connolly and Lars Eller. Vrana and Connolly both recorded their first career playoff markers while Eller added a career playoff-high three assists.
"You know, usually you get scoring from your top guys," right winger Alex Chiasson said. "That's going to even out throughout the series, maybe a guy with two [goals] is going to get hot here and there. Sometimes depth guys can come in and contribute offensively."
Having four productive forward lines is widely considered a prerequisite for prolonged postseason success. The Capitals received plenty of secondary scoring and other key contributions from their bottom-six forwards against Columbus. That will need to continue against the offensively minded Penguins.

"It's huge," said Devante Smith-Pelly, who has three points (2g, 1a) this postseason. "I mean, you look at past Cup winners… and the top guys are obviously going to get their goals and their points on both sides and it's going to come down to the bottom six guys. If they chip in and chip in consistently, that team has a chance to win. We did that in the first round and we're going to have to continue to do it moving forward."
The Capitals' depth was prevalent throughout the first round, with eight forwards recording at least three points. It's a point of emphasis for the team every year, but it has not always come to fruition. Last season in round one against the Toronto Maple Leafs, seven forwards scored at least three points in six games, while only four did it the year before versus Philadelphia. But after scoring 21 goals in five wins in the playoffs, the Capitals have proven they can get goals, and other significant contributions, from anywhere in the lineup.
"Everyone, all through the lineup, bottom six, everyone has been playing well," Smith-Pelly said. "I mean everyone's elevated their game. We know how important these games are, obviously. We all have the same goal, so all the way through the lineup everyone's stepped it up and contributed in some way, whether it's on the scoresheet or not."

Jay Beagle, who missed Game 1 against Columbus due to injury, is valued for his efficiency in the faceoff circle and play on the penalty kill. But in his return to the lineup in Game 2, Beagle scored the opening goal, and added two assists in the series, while also winning 71.8 percent of his draws. Chandler Stephenson, Beagle's frequent linemate on the fourth line during the regular season was promoted to the second line mid-series and has flourished, recording four points (1g, 3a), including an assist on Backstrom's overtime winner in Game 5 and a shorthanded goal in Game 6.
They are two of several players to have picked up the offensive part of their games to complement the Capitals' high-end skill players, making Washington a more balanced and dangerous team in many aspects of the game.
"As for players, obviously it's big throughout games just because momentum changes so, so quickly and it's important that everyone understands that the next shift is the biggest," Chiasson said. "So, when you got guys that can play throughout the lineup, I think everyone can get the job done."