by Maitreya Jay
featured image by Alena Schwarz (check out some of her Caps photography here)
Top center Nicklas Backstrom has been out of the Capitals’ lineup since a January 3, when he absorbed an errant elbow to the jaw from then Calgary Flames player Rene Bourque. Since leaving the lineup in that game, Backstrom has missed every Capitals game with “concussion like symptoms” and has no clear timetable for return. The team has continued, since that time, to battle for the division with even less depth at Center, a position at which the team had been weak even before losing Backstrom.
Here’s a look at how the team’s remaining centers have fared with and without Backstrom in the lineup.
The data above comes from here:
What we’re seeing is that Marcus Johansson and Mathieu Perreault have significantly increased their offensive production in 19′s absence. While this is due in part to seeing a bump ice time, both young centers have significantly outplayed their season averages while maintaining defensive responsibility in the Hunter system. The key to the Capitals’ postseason push, in addition to Backstrom’s return, is the continued maturation of these young centers.
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[...] also allow for two young centers in Mathieu Perrault and Marcus Johansson— both who have seen a boost in offensive production this year— to strengthen the bottom two lines, where they could be utilized as wingers or [...]