ESPN Insider Request NHL Why the Caps can't seem to score

[MavsX]

could one of you fine gentlemen(or lady) post the espn insider article called:

Button: Why the Caps can't seem to score

i'd appreciate it!

[dirno2000]

Images of the high-powered offensive team fans became accustomed to seeing are an increasingly rare sight in Washington this season. The Caps were shut out once during the 2009-10 season and scored one goal on only two other occasions. To date in the 2010-11 campaign, they have been shut out eight times and scored one goal in seven of their games.

Statistically, that explains the precipitous drop in scoring from almost four goals a game in last season to less than three goals a game this season. Furthermore, Washington's power play has seen a dramatic falloff in production, going from a 25 percent success rate to 17 percent.

Caps' fans saw a glimpse of this stagnation during the seven-game series loss to the Montreal Canadiens during the 2010 playoffs. Some concluded the loss was merely a case of facing "hot" goalie Jaroslav Halak. But based on the results this season, it appears the Caps are facing a ton of "hot" netminders.

What's really wrong? I see two things that are keeping the Caps down.

First, Mike Green and Alexander Semin have missed significant time because of injury, and this has had a pronounced impact, particularly when the Caps have a man advantage.

When Washington is clicking, its power play is capable of breaking down opponents by creating scoring options from multiple points of attack. Along with Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, the Caps have four of the most highly skilled players in the NHL, and they can execute quickly and successfully.

[+] EnlargeGeoff Burke/US Presswire
Alexander Semin's absence has deprived the Caps power play of a key weapon.Give the puck to Backstrom at the right half wall and defenders need to use both hands and feet to count the threats. If a defender pressures Backstrom, he can push the puck to Green at the right point for a slap shot. Back off too far and Backstrom can take it to the net or hit Semin in the slot coming from the weak side. If the defense overreacts to that first pass, the Caps can slide it to Ovechkin at the left point for a one-timer. High-scoring options abound.

But when any team misses one or two key players on the power play, it has profound effects on how a team defends it. In the Caps' case, it has allowed PKers to pay greater attention to Ovechkin and Backstrom and force bad-angle shots. John Carlson is a talented rookie, but he's not as effective as Green at the point. Likewise, Semin's ability to receive the puck in the slot and make plays is sorely missed. When the Russian sniper gets the puck between the circles, defenders must pick their poison: crash down on him and leave another scorer open or stay home and trust that their goalie can turn aside a high-percentage shot from a player who has averaged over 35 goals the past two seasons.

Remove Semin from the equation, though, and things change drastically. This season, the success rate with Semin on the ice is 19 percent. Without him? Less than 10. Having fewer options means less scoring chances, which inevitably leads to fewer goals.

The second big problem is that the Caps ability to possess the puck is not as strong as their skills suggest it should be.

In "Russian Hockey Secrets: Road to Olympus," Anatoly Tarasov writes:

"The speed of developing an attack (or counter-attack) is equal to the speed of the puck in motion: and by accurately passing to each other, our players manage to outplay their opponents, thereby, giving themselves numerical superiority in the enemy zone. And this increases the chances of scoring."

The importance of passing can't be underestimated. During his days as the maestro of the most prolific scoring team in history, the Gretzky-era Edmonton Oilers, Glen Sather was relentless in his demands on the skill of passing. His feeling was that if you couldn't master this skill, the speed of your skating was wasted because it couldn't be used to full advantage. But there's more to passing than just putting the puck on a teammate's tape. And in this sense, the term puck possession is a bit of a misnomer. Equally key in retaining the puck is what players do without it.

Think of the double play in baseball. A player must field the ball cleanly and make an accurate throw to the player at second base. But the play is broken if the player receiving the throw isn't moving without the ball to put himself in the right place at the right time. Similar skills and coordination are necessary to possess the puck. Skaters must get into position quickly by finding an open area so their teammates have options. That forces the defenders to make decisions on who to defend and opens other avenues of attack.

The Caps have not been doing this, and it's made an explosive offense much easier to defend. Ovechkin can barrel down the left wing all he wants, but if he has no support -- no teammate to pass to and no other threat for the defenders to guard against -- opponents can focus entirely on stopping his rush. This greatly limits an otherwise exceptional player and makes life far too easy for opposing blueliners.

In a Feb. 1 game against the Canadiens, a game in which the Caps coughed up a two-goal lead, Carlson carried the puck through center ice and attacked the Montreal zone. Carlson is a great skater with the puck, but a lack of support has limited his options. He made a poor pass and the Canadiens quickly transitioned on the turnover and scored the tying goal.

That's an example of the Caps' weak puck possession. Instead of a scoring chance for Washington, it resulted in a goal against. There have been too many of these types of plays by the Caps this season and it has hurt their offense.

It is imperative for the Caps to develop the habits of a strong possession team. Washington has made strides in that area this season and developed more patience in their game. But that's just part one of the equation. Now they have to develop an equal strength in holding the puck and working to exploit their opponents with pinpoint passing and coordination. Move without the puck. Find open ice. Force the defenders to make decisions. And use skill to exploit them.

The Detroit Red Wings and Vancouver Canucks are superb puck possession teams and considered serious Stanley Cup contenders because of it. If Washington wants to be considered in the same discussion, it must become serious about getting stronger in its puck possession game.

[MavsX]

thanks for the article +1 for you.