5 players who need to up their games for a Capitals comeback
The following five players are all key ingredients in the Washington Capitals' winning formula, but they haven't been up to the task through five games against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Capitals will need better showings from all of them in Games 6 and 7 if they want to complete the series comeback after trailing 3-1.
T.J. Oshie
Oshie has yet to score in this series. If the Caps are going to pull off a comeback, they need more from a player who tied for the team lead in goals with 33 during the regular season.
What's most concerning about Oshie's play is that he has only taken seven shots through five games. That's simply not enough, especially considering he has averaged 20:37 minutes of ice time this series - the most among Capitals forwards.
Braden Holtby
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Facing the high-flying Penguins is obviously a tough task, but, frankly, Holtby has been terrible, sporting an .876 save percentage in the series.
He won the Vezina Trophy last season as the league's top goaltender, and was nominated again this year. They need him to start playing like the perennial Vezina candidate he is.
The Caps have outplayed the Pens all series. The only thing holding them back is Holtby, who has been bested by Marc-Andre Fleury in the opposite crease. It's been the difference in the series thus far.
Justin Williams
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Williams is 35 years old, so it's hard to ask him to produce offensively like he did in his prime.
However, the Capitals signed him based on his postseason pedigree. He scored clutch goals throughout three Stanley Cup runs, and has seven game-winners in his playoff career.
Washington needs a big marker from this grizzled veteran, who has put up a goose egg in the goal column so far this series, if they plan on advancing past the Penguins.
Dmitry Orlov and Matt Niskanen
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Even as their team dresses seven defensemen, Orlov and Niskanen need to elevate their games. The pairing is relied upon to play substantial minutes, but hasn't been up to the challenge so far.
They've been on the ice for a combined 34 scoring chances for and 43 scoring chances against so far in the postseason at five on five, according to Corsica Hockey.
Furthermore, the pairing has totaled 23 giveaways but only 13 takeaways in the playoffs. With the excellent transition game the Penguins possess, these two need to start making smarter decisions with the puck.