Courtesy: Zimbio.com
WASHINGTON — Thursday night when the Washington Capitals take on the Carolina Hurricanes at the Verizon Center, the guys who try to prevent goals from being scored will be highlighted.
The Capitals have struggled during even-strength situations thus far this season, but it’s been the lack of communication of defense that has really put this club in a hole.
Assistant captain Mike Green hasn’t been the issue. According to Washington Capitals PR, Green is leading the NHL in power play assists with four, second in the league in time on ice per game with 28:18, second in assists with four, second for power play points with four and fifth overall in points with four. He is tied first among all defenseman with four total points. Yes, these are mostly offensive numbers, but Green has been one of the better defensive performers.
John Carlson has had a decent start to his 2013 as well… the rest of the bunch? Not so much.
Sure, Connor Carrick did net his first career NHL goal in the team’s second game against the Calgary Flames, but the 19-year-old still is working his way into the system and it shows. He’s young though… and like defenseman Steve Oleksy, he is in his first full season in the NHL. Good thing it is early on.
The guys I’m more worried about are John Erskine and Karl Alzner. Erskine has never been an athletically gifted player, but has really struggled with skating this year. It seems as if he has been beaten to virtually every 50-50 puck that comes his way. As much of a physical presence that he provides, his inability to stick with forwards in the defensive zone and even between the red lines will cost this Caps team all season. Alzner, to me, hasn’t been himself since 2011. A lot more mental mistakes than normal and it seems as if he can’t find a consistent partner on the defensive pairings. Maybe it’s him. Maybe it’s the system. Thankfully, plenty of hockey is left to be played.
What used to be a Southeast Division clash, will now be a Metropolitan Division battle between the 1-2-0 Capitals and the 1-1-1 Hurricanes. We’ll see if the defensive struggles continue to mount for Caps head coach Adam Oates.
