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Capitals making adjustments to cope with injuries Capitals making adjustments to cope with injuries
(about 14 hours later)
COLUMBUS — Marcus Johansson braced for the expected questions in the Blue Jackets’ visiting locker room, standing to talk to reporters about his sudden position switch on Saturday morning. Beside him, Nicklas Backstrom smiled and offered a parting thought. COLUMBUS, Ohio — Marcus Johansson braced for the expected questions in the visiting locker room, standing to talk to reporters about his sudden position switch Saturday morning. Beside him, Nicklas Backstrom smiled and offered a parting thought.
“A natural center,” he called Johansson.“A natural center,” he called Johansson.
Johansson hadn’t played center in more than three years, sticking at left wing for the past two-plus seasons. But with Jay Beagle not expected to resume “full hockey activities” for six weeks after hand surgery early Saturday, the Capitals are exploring their options for how to fill his role on the third line. Johansson hadn’t played center in more than three years, sticking at left wing for the past two-plus seasons. But with Jay Beagle not expected to resume “full hockey activities” for six weeks after hand surgery early Saturday, the Capitals are exploring their options for filling his role on the third line.
[Jay Beagle undergoes hand surgery][Jay Beagle undergoes hand surgery]
They could either do so internally — by moving Johansson or someone else there on a more permanent basis — or by acquiring a third-line center by the trade deadline. Washington had the benefit of a 12-point cushion in the Metropolitan Division through Saturday’s games, even as its lineup endures the most change it has this season. They could do so internally — by moving Johansson or someone else there on a more permanent basis — or by acquiring a third-line center by the trade deadline. Washington had the benefit of a 12-point cushion in the Metropolitan Division through Saturday’s games, even as its lineup endures the most change it has this season.
“I wouldn’t panic. . . . We’ve got such good players that they can kind of fit in anywhere,” Tom Wilson said after the Capitals’ 5-4 shootout loss to Columbus on Saturday night. “You put JoJo in the middle and he does great, and there’s kind of a newfound chemistry with JoJo and [Jason Chimera].“I wouldn’t panic. . . . We’ve got such good players that they can kind of fit in anywhere,” Tom Wilson said after the Capitals’ 5-4 shootout loss to Columbus on Saturday night. “You put JoJo in the middle and he does great, and there’s kind of a newfound chemistry with JoJo and [Jason Chimera].
“Obviously we miss Beags,” Wilson continued. “He’s one of my really good buddies, and it’s a huge loss for our team, and we’re going to adapt. It’s hockey; there’s always injuries throughout the whole season, and the team that ends up at the top at the end of the year is the team that kind of works with adversity and overcomes it. It’s just a little bit of that right now.”“Obviously we miss Beags,” Wilson continued. “He’s one of my really good buddies, and it’s a huge loss for our team, and we’re going to adapt. It’s hockey; there’s always injuries throughout the whole season, and the team that ends up at the top at the end of the year is the team that kind of works with adversity and overcomes it. It’s just a little bit of that right now.”
The Capitals’ checking line had been a model of stability to that point. Before Beagle’s injury against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night, he and Chimera had been the only pair on the team to play every game together. Coach Barry Trotz moved Wilson back onto the third line as the right wing, and while the primary responsibility of that trio was to be a defensive force against opponents’ top two lines, it had started to chip in offensively, as well: In three games before Beagle was injured, the third line had scored four goals. The Capitals’ checking line had been a model of stability to that point. Before Beagle’s injury against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night, he and Chimera had been the only duo on the team to play every game together. Coach Barry Trotz moved Wilson back onto the third line as the right wing, and while the primary responsibility of that trio was to be a defensive force against opponents’ top two lines, it had started to chip in offensively, as well: In three games before Beagle was injured, the third line had scored four goals.
In the first game without Beagle, Trotz started Zach Sill on the third line. Sill had been recalled from the American Hockey League when Michael Latta suffered a minor upper-body injury Monday, and the Capitals needed a fourth-line center. Against Carolina, Trotz alternated Latta and Sill on the third line, depending on whether it was a right-handed or left-handed faceoff. In the first game without Beagle, Trotz started Zach Sill on the third line. Sill had been recalled from the American Hockey League when Michael Latta suffered a minor upper-body injury Monday and the Capitals needed a fourth-line center. Against Carolina, Trotz alternated Latta and Sill on the third line, depending on whether it was a right-handed or left-handed faceoff.
[Capitals’ lineup shuffled][Capitals’ lineup shuffled]
But Trotz said moving both Latta and Sill to the fourth line with Brooks Laich gave that forward trio an identity. Since Johansson had some prior experience at center, Trotz tried him on the third line Saturday in Columbus. Wilson praised how Johansson seemed to slow the game down, controlling his and Chimera’s speed as the center. But Trotz said moving both Latta and Sill to the fourth line with Brooks Laich gave that forward trio an identity. Because Johansson had some previous experience at center, Trotz tried him on the third line Saturday in Columbus. Wilson praised how Johansson seemed to slow the game down, controlling his and Chimera’s speed as the center.
Trotz, for his part, said he thought Johansson’s line was the Capitals’ best, despite Johansson winning just two of 14 faceoffs. Trotz, for his part, said he thought Johansson’s line was the Capitals’ best even though Johansson won just two of 14 faceoffs.
“I thought he was excellent,” Trotz said. “Obviously Marcus’s draws we’ll have to work on a bit. It’s not fair to him.”“I thought he was excellent,” Trotz said. “Obviously Marcus’s draws we’ll have to work on a bit. It’s not fair to him.”
Said Johansson: “It’s a little unusual in some areas of the game. Taking faceoffs and stuff like that, I haven’t done that in a while. It’s something I have to work on a little bit and hopefully get better.”Said Johansson: “It’s a little unusual in some areas of the game. Taking faceoffs and stuff like that, I haven’t done that in a while. It’s something I have to work on a little bit and hopefully get better.”
In training camp before last season, Johansson was a candidate for second-line center, playing there in exhibition games before Trotz moved him back to wing. The Capitals could also turn to 21-year-old Chandler Stephenson as another option. In training camp before last season, Johansson was a candidate for second-line center, playing there in exhibition games before Trotz moved him back to wing. The Capitals could turn to 21-year-old Chandler Stephenson as another option.
Should the Capitals look to add another center from outside, they do have some salary cap space to play with, created when the team moved defenseman Brooks Orpik to long-term injured reserve. But as soon as Orpik, who hasn’t played in a game since Nov. 10, is activated, his $5.5 million cap hit would return. Should the Capitals look to add another center from outside, they do have some salary cap space to play with, created when the team moved defenseman Brooks Orpik to long-term injured reserve. But as soon as Orpik, who hasn’t played in a game since Nov. 10, is activated, his $5.5 million cap hit would return.
For the immediate future, the re-jiggered Capitals — now in the midst of their first losing streak of the season — are likely to stick with Johansson. For the immediate future, the Capitals — now in the midst of their first losing streak of the season — are likely to stick with Johansson.
“Even if we’ve got some key players out, it always gets someone else to step up and gives someone else a chance,” Backstrom said. “That’s good. We have a good organization, and even if we’re missing a couple of players, we’re trying to play good as a team.”“Even if we’ve got some key players out, it always gets someone else to step up and gives someone else a chance,” Backstrom said. “That’s good. We have a good organization, and even if we’re missing a couple of players, we’re trying to play good as a team.”