Capitals Scorers Have to Step Up in Last 25 Games

[bulldog]

Ovechkin is a given. Kozlov has contributed at a good clip since Nylander was lost to the rotator cuff. Mike Green is leading the NHL in goals from the blueline.

But for the final stretch run the Caps are going to need increased scoring from some folks who have had difficult seasons either because of injury or prolonged slumps.

Semin has 14 goals and needs to come on strong as the 1A option for the Caps in getting favorable matchups from other teams. He is contributing but is still working his way back into shape and is not yet the consistent presence he was last season.

Nicklas Backstrom is having a fine rookie season with 36 assists, but he has to press forward to the net and try to punch in some more tallies for this club. Against the Rangers, Backstrom twice passed on good shots to give Ovechkin and Semin less favorable chances.

Matt Pettinger. I don't know what happened to Matt this season, but a guy who is usually around 20 goals has not really stepped up even with the injuries to Nylander and Clark to be a scoring presence on the off lines.

Chris Clark. The team simply has to get Clark back on the ice, because he has the best sense of how to take advantage of the attention focused on Alex Ovechkin. His 30 goals last season as the RW on the #1 line showed that.

Tom Poti. While Green has emerged as a backline point producer, it has not been lost on a lot of us that Poti was brought here to improve the power play by being a playmaker of consequence. His numbers since returning from injury are poor.

Eric Fehr. I don't want to put too much pressure on a guy that just finished a 10 game rehab assignment in the minors and who has less than 30 games of NHL experience. But if there was ever a time for a 6'3 guy who takes up space in front to materialize, THIS would be the time.

[DoGood28]

Clark is killing us. Having our captain out for so long is very, very frustrating.

[herrmag]

With Kozlov back at Center on the second line, I fear his numbers will drop back to what they were in the 1st half of the season. Hopefully an in-shape Semin will be able to pick up the slack, which appears to be the case as of late. I expect nothing from Fehr, unfortunately. I don't have high hopes for him, at least this season. I think we're beginning to experience the loss of Nylander. Hopefully, someone on this team will step up and become a legit goal-scoring threat besides the obvious 3-4 players. Unfortunately, I don't think we'll see Clark healthy at any point this season. He's been on the bench so long that even when he does come back, I don't expect much.

[djotroy17]

I feel as thoe Ovechkin will keep up what he has been doing all season...I also think Fehr and Backstrom will start getting some more goals (especially Fehr) Playing alongside Ovechkin, hes soon going to get familiar with the line and learn that with his size it won't be too hard to tap in a few of ovies rebounds.

However if we want to go deep into the playoffs the key player that needs to step up is semin...if semin can start putting in goals the way he did last season then we will be very tuff to stop.

[rincewind]

With Kozlov back at Center on the second line, I fear his numbers will drop back to what they were in the 1st half of the season.

Victor was back on the front line yesterday. Where do you think he'll stay?

[HEavyJumbo85]

Victor was back on the front line yesterday. Where do you think he'll stay?

Kozzie stays up front until clark gets back, then I think Boudreau has to move him to 2nd line pivot unless he wants to scratch fleischmann(I would prefer that he did scratch Flash). Viktor belongs on the wing, Fleischmann belongs in Hershey, I just hope Clark get can back before this season is over and help contribute down the stretch.

Edit: by scratching Flash I mean Viktor would stay on the 1st line and Clark or Fehr would play in place of Flash on line number 2.

[PokerPacker]

i dunno, i kinda liked seeing Fehr playing on the first line, there was instant chemistry there.