In Thursday’s Caps Wrap, we mentioned the plethora of forwards currently on Washington’s roster. The 15 forwards are battling for just 12 spots, making life difficult for Bruce Boudreau when it comes to deciding who will see the ice during postseason play.
We have a general idea what the line combinations will be. The first two lines will probably consist of 8-19-22 and 21-44-28. Boudreau will stick with his usual first line and then likely keep Alex Semin paired with Jason Arnott.
Both wings on the third line and right wing on the fourth line are the positions up for grabs among four skaters. Eric Fehr, Jason Chimera, Matt Bradley and Marco Sturm are expected to compete for the spots while Jay Beagle and DJ King should be healthy scratches along with one of the aforementioned foursome.
So it’s safe to assume there will be an unhappy individual in the Capitals locker room come mid-April. With Chimera none to pleased about being a healthy scratch against Carolina, we’d rather not envision the reaction from whoever takes a seat for game one of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.
Here’s a look at who we think will be suiting up for the postseason run:
Marco Sturm: The biggest concern for Sturm is his health after tearing his MCL and ACL last May. He missed the first two and a half months of the season, but since the Caps claimed him off of waivers, he hasn’t missed a game.
He is 1-5-6 in 16 games with Washington with four of those points coming in the last four contests. His scoring touch remains a bit off, but he is slowly getting comfortable and should eventually improve upon his dismal shooting percentage (under 4%) with the team.
Outlook: Sturm is a seven-time 20-goal scorer with 52 games of NHL playoff experience. He is responsible on both ends of the ice and if Boudreau stays patient with him, he should start shooting closer to his career average of 11.9 percent. Expect to see him on the third line playing left wing.
Eric Fehr: Fehr’s balky shoulder should be a big concern for the Capitals. They have been very cautious after he re-injured it against Montreal two weeks ago. He didn’t play in Detroit or New Jersey, they limited his minutes in Philadelphia and sat him down again against Carolina.
When he’s been on the ice, Fehr hasn’t been as prolific as he was in 2009-10. However, that doesn’t take away from his being one of the team’s best secondary scorers when healthy. He’s tied for eighth on the team in shots and is one of their more versatile scoring threats.
Outlook: If his shoulder is right, then Fehr will likely play right wing on the third line. The Capitals need him to get into a rhythm and quickly. A productive Fehr means Washington will have a solid third line also featuring Sturm and Marcus Johansson. All three bring a different game to the table, but also realize the importance of two-way hockey.
Jason Chimera: Chimera responded to the one game benching with the overtime winner against Columbus, but what the Caps really want him to do is apply an aggressive forecheck and use his speed to create opportunities while playing dump and chase.
Outlook: Chimera isn’t blessed with great hands and he fails to finish off prime scoring chances routinely, but he’s the perfect fit on the fourth line. Too often this season, he’s had to play over his head with highly skilled forwards. As a fourth line player, he won’t be expected to have as much of an impact on the scoresheet. Rather he can focus on wearing down opposing teams in their own zone.
Matt Bradley: With 10 points on the year, Bradley isn’t much of scorer, but he’s a gritty energy line forward who is fourth on the team in hits (150). Bradley hasn’t sat out a game since January 24 due to a broken finger. He isn’t the most skilled player, but he is willing to drop the gloves and take the body, helping Matt Hendricks and John Erskine set the tone as enforcers.
Outlook: Bradley should be a candidate to sit as he’s scored one time since December 18. Hendricks not only brings similar qualities to the table, but can also contribute offensively. It would be ideal for the Capitals to move Hendricks to right wing on the fourth line, making room for Chimera at left wing.
With these proceedings in mind, the Capitals lines should look something like this:
8-19-22, 21-44-28, 18-90-16, 25-15-26
Even if things shake out differently, Washington possesses quality depth at forward. The competition among them only adds to the talent level and if Boudreau can discover the right formula, the Capitals will be in good shape heading into the postseason.
On an aside, there has been some discussion as to Boyd Gordon’s role in the playoffs and we believe he plays a key one. He has taken more faceoffs (672) than anyone except Nicklas Backstrom while posting the highest winning percentage (58%) on the team. The penalty kill also needs him as he’s averaged more shorthanded minutes per game than every forward save Brooks Laich.
Kings Of Leonsis 