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Karl Alzner and Matt Niskanen have forged a bond on and off the ice Karl Alzner and Matt Niskanen have forged a bond on and off the ice
(about 5 hours later)
Their relationship started with a text message. When Karl Alzner heard the Washington Capitals signed Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik, he reached out to the new defensemen to welcome them to the team and tell them where he and a lot of players live.Their relationship started with a text message. When Karl Alzner heard the Washington Capitals signed Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik, he reached out to the new defensemen to welcome them to the team and tell them where he and a lot of players live.
“‘And there’s a ton of houses for sale,’” Alzner recalled recently. “Next thing you know, [Niskanen] bought one pretty close to me. He moved in like four or five blocks from me, so that worked out great.” “ ‘And there’s a ton of houses for sale,’ ” Alzner recalled recently. “Next thing you know, [Niskanen] bought one pretty close to me. He moved in like four or five blocks from me, so that worked out great.”
A new system under a new coach and new additions brought change to the Capitals before last season. One of those changes was splitting Alzner and longtime defense partner John Carlson, a move that Alzner admits he met with some hesitation at first. But in the pair’s second season together, Alzner and Niskanen have become Washington’s most reliable defensive duo. A new system under a new coach and new additions brought change to the Capitals before last season. One of those changes was splitting Alzner and longtime defensive partner John Carlson, a move that Alzner admits he met with some hesitation at first. But in the pair’s second season together, Alzner and Niskanen have become Washington’s most reliable defensive duo.
With lower-body injuries sidelining Orpik and Carlson, Alzner and Niskanen are the only blue-line pair that has stayed together all season. When Orpik got injured on Nov. 10, the Capitals started to lean on Alzner and Niskanen to play more minutes and against opponents’ top lines. When Carlson also went down on Dec. 26, Alzner and Niskanen’s minutes again went up and now there is no doubt about the team’s top pair. With lower-body injuries sidelining Orpik and Carlson, Alzner and Niskanen are the only blue-line pair that has stayed together all season. When Orpik got injured on Nov. 10, the Capitals started to lean on Alzner and Niskanen to play more minutes and against opponents’ top lines. When Carlson also went down on Dec. 26, Alzner and Niskanen’s minutes again went up, and now there is no doubt about the team’s top pair.
“They stabilize the boat every night,” Capitals Coach Barry Trotz said. “Those guys make it happen for us. They give you a comfort and they give our team comfort. They give us peace of mind as coaches.”“They stabilize the boat every night,” Capitals Coach Barry Trotz said. “Those guys make it happen for us. They give you a comfort and they give our team comfort. They give us peace of mind as coaches.”
[Karl Alzner’s staying power the stuff of records][Karl Alzner’s staying power the stuff of records]
There may have been uneasiness about a new defensive partner at first, but Alzner came around quickly. With he and Niskanen essentially neighbors, they’d bond on carpool trips to the rink or to the airport. Niskanen, the more reserved of the two, appreciated how social Alzner was and how diligent he was in including Niskanen in off-ice gatherings. There may have been uneasiness about a new defensive partner at first, but Alzner, 27, came around quickly. With he and Niskanen, 29, essentially neighbors, they would bond on carpool trips to the rink or to the airport. Niskanen, the more reserved of the two, appreciated how social Alzner was and how diligent he was in including Niskanen in off-ice gatherings.
“He’s the type of person that I really like and really like to gravitate towards,” Alzner said. “He lives simply. He’s quiet and he’s got really, really good opinions when he gives you his opinion, so you can really learn from someone like that. I feel like when we’re chatting, I talk enough for the both of us. It just works out really good.”“He’s the type of person that I really like and really like to gravitate towards,” Alzner said. “He lives simply. He’s quiet and he’s got really, really good opinions when he gives you his opinion, so you can really learn from someone like that. I feel like when we’re chatting, I talk enough for the both of us. It just works out really good.”
Orpik and Carlson started the season as the team’s top pair, with Alzner and Niskanen functioning as a sort of “Pair 1B.” Washington had what most teams can’t afford under the salary cap: four solid defensemen able to contend with the opponents who have deeper forward lines. But especially since Carlson’s injury, Alzner and Niskanen have not only been skating more minutes, but harder minutes, almost always on the ice against the competition’s most skilled lines.Orpik and Carlson started the season as the team’s top pair, with Alzner and Niskanen functioning as a sort of “Pair 1B.” Washington had what most teams can’t afford under the salary cap: four solid defensemen able to contend with the opponents who have deeper forward lines. But especially since Carlson’s injury, Alzner and Niskanen have not only been skating more minutes, but harder minutes, almost always on the ice against the competition’s most skilled lines.
Against Columbus on Tuesday, Alzner skated 26 minutes and 24 seconds, the most time on ice he’s had all season. With Niskanen playing on both the power play and the penalty kill, he’s skated more than 25 minutes in nearly every game since Carlson’s injury on Dec. 26. In that span, Alzner is plus-6 with four assists and Niskanen is plus-9 with eight assists. What’s helped them survive the heavier workload is the stability of being together. Against Columbus on Tuesday, Alzner skated 26 minutes 24 seconds, the most time on ice he has had all season. Niskanen plays on both the power play and the penalty kill, so he has skated more than 25 minutes in nearly every game since Carlson’s injury. In that span, Alzner is plus-6 with four assists and Niskanen is plus-9 with eight assists. What has helped them survive the heavier workload is the stability of being together.
“That’s definitely been a nice luxury,” Niskanen said. “It’s not the end of the world if you end up having new partners. Sometimes, it’s almost a good thing for certain situations. But for us, we’ve benefited from that, I think, just the chemistry we have right now on the ice. We know situations, what we want to do depending on who we’re playing and what we’re trying to do. “That’s definitely been a nice luxury,” Niskanen said. “It’s not the end of the world if you end up having new partners. Sometimes it’s almost a good thing for certain situations. But for us, we’ve benefited from that, I think, just the chemistry we have right now on the ice. We know situations, what we want to do depending on who we’re playing and what we’re trying to do.
“There’s just less gray area when you’re familiar with your partner.”“There’s just less gray area when you’re familiar with your partner.”
[Matt Niskanen’s uncanny ability to frustrate opponents][Matt Niskanen’s uncanny ability to frustrate opponents]
Alzner said getting a new partner in Niskanen was ultimately good for him, as it led to him having his most productive season last year with 21 points, and he’s on pace for more this season. What he learned from that experience could also be applicable to how the Capitals have managed without Carlson and Orpik. Alzner said getting a new partner in Niskanen was ultimately good for him, because it led to him having his most productive season last year with 21 points and he is on pace for more this season. What he learned from that experience could also be applicable to how the Capitals have managed without Carlson and Orpik.
“I guess that’s what I’ve come to realize: You don’t always want to be comfortable,” Alzner said. “You want to get put in a different situation and see what else you have.”“I guess that’s what I’ve come to realize: You don’t always want to be comfortable,” Alzner said. “You want to get put in a different situation and see what else you have.”
Without Carlson and Orpik, the Capitals have continued to win, nursing a five-point lead on the second-best team in the league (Chicago) with three games in hand. Niskanen and Alzner have shown they can handle playing as a top pair, and the Capitals’ second pair, Nate Schmidt and Dmitry Orlov, have also shined in elevated roles.Without Carlson and Orpik, the Capitals have continued to win, nursing a five-point lead on the second-best team in the league (Chicago) with three games in hand. Niskanen and Alzner have shown they can handle playing as a top pair, and the Capitals’ second pair, Nate Schmidt and Dmitry Orlov, have also shined in elevated roles.
When Carlson and Orpik do return, Washington will have six defensemen capable of playing top-four time and competition. When Carlson and Orpik do return, Washington will have six defensemen capable of playing top-four time and against top competition.
“In the end, I think it will give the coaches more confidence to even out the minutes,” Alzner said. “Obviously, depending on the game, you want Nisky and Carly out there, the guys that can change momentum offensively for us. I think it’d be nice if we could split it 20-20-20. It’d be great for the rest of the season.”“In the end, I think it will give the coaches more confidence to even out the minutes,” Alzner said. “Obviously, depending on the game, you want Nisky and Carly out there, the guys that can change momentum offensively for us. I think it’d be nice if we could split it 20-20-20. It’d be great for the rest of the season.”