Said evaluation includes the future of head coach Barry Trotz, who has been behind the bench since 2014-15, and whose contract includes one more season. MacLellan got the GM job in May 2014, making Trotz the only Capitals head coach he knows.
Khurshudyan writes that MacLellan had season-ending interviews with players Friday, and is meeting with each member of the coaching staff this week.
It'll be a week Wednesday since the Capitals were eliminated, turning in a dud at home in Game 7, a 2-0 loss. Another Presidents' Trophy-winning season down the drain, just like that. Washington remains unable to make it to the third round in the Alex Ovechkin era, which is remarkable.
It's hard to argue Trotz is the issue. This season, Washington ranked first in goals against, third in goals for, third on the power play, and seventh on the penalty kill.
However, those results didn't translate into the playoffs. Washington didn't play tight defense, and Braden Holtby suffered as a result. The Caps' playoff run ended with the team sporting a .904 save percentage, lowest among all clubs that advanced to the second round.
Like Ovechkin, Trotz has never made it past the second round in his lengthy coaching career, as Khurshudyan writes. The 54-year-old has a 20-19 record in the postseason with the Capitals, and is a career 39-50 in the playoffs.
Trotz won the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year last season. But in Washington, the first 82 games don't really matter much anymore. Only the ones that come after do.
Whatever you're going to tweet about Alex Ovechkin ... don't. Step away from your phone. Go to bed early, deal with it Thursday. It's not worth it. You're mad, you're hurting. And you know the rule: Never tweet emotionally. Because placing all the blame at Ovechkin's feet and his alone for this latest heartbreaking, soul- and dream-crushing Washington Capitals playoff defeat is the easy way out.
This was another collective Washington failure. That it came against the Pittsburgh Penguins adds insult to injury. It's tough to accept, and it's going to hurt for a long time in D.C., but here are three reasons why Ovechkin doesn't deserve the crap he's undoubtedly going to get over the next few days, weeks, and months.
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
Fleury was better than Holtby
Washington goaltender Braden Holtby's track record in the playoffs is amazing. At least it was, until these playoffs.
The Capitals' rock in goal simply didn't have it this spring. He departs the postseason with a .909 save percentage and a 7-6 record in 13 games.
Check out his playoff numbers in years past:
Playoffs
GP
SV%
2016-17
13
.909
2015-16
12
.942
2014-15
13
.944
2012-13
7
.922
2011-12
14
.935
Opposite Holtby, Marc-Andre Fleury was stellar. He is the story of the playoffs. And he out-goaltended Holtby. It's simple as as that. And, hey, it happens. Holtby's still one of the best goalies in the league.
What was Trotz saving Ovie for?
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
In the most important game in the 12-year Ovechkin era, Capitals head coach Barry Trotz decided to give six forwards more ice time than No. 8. Six!
Sure, Ovechkin was on the ice for both Penguins goals, but if Trotz wasn't ready to ride his horse in Game 7 against the Caps' nemesis in Washington's all-in, Stanley-Cup-or-bust season, he never will be.
Rank
Player
Ice Time
EV Ice Time
1
Nicklas Backstrom
21:58
19:44
2
T.J. Oshie
22:38
20:00
3
Marcus Johansson
19:33
16:52
4
Justin Williams
19:51
18:02
5
Andre Burakovsky
19:19
17:51
6
Evgeny Kuznetsov
19:18
17:21
7
Ovechkin
18:22
15:09
8
Lars Eller
13:07
11:56
9
Tom Wilson
13:03
12:26
With all due respect to Mr. Trotz, there's no world in which Johansson and Burakovsky should be playing that much more than Ovechkin, both in general and especially at even strength.
Even more inconceivably, this was Trotz's gameplan from puck drop. Ovie played only 5:01 in the first period, according to NHL.com's Arpon Basu. At home, in Game 7, with momentum on the Caps' side after two straight wins to tie the series, why wasn't Ovechkin out there more often?
No. 8 saw 7:08 of ice time in the third period, with his team on the ropes, but as NHL.com's Dan Rosen notes, 2:26 of that was with Holtby on the bench and the Caps up 6-on-5.
You can argue that Ovechkin is no longer the Capitals' best player, but you can't argue that Ovechkin isn't one of the greatest goal-scorers of all time. His team needed a goal in the third, a period it entered trailing 1-0. And with the season - with everything - on the line, Trotz couldn't be bothered to play his captain:
@drosennhl He sat for 4:43 straight after he was on for the Hornqvist goal, so he played 1:13 of the first 8:57 of the third period.
Well, he's finally lost one. In fact, Mr. Game 7 failed to find the net in seven games against the Penguins. Ditto Johansson and Lars Eller. Oshie managed a single goal in the series, in Game 6. After three big goals in the first round, Tom Wilson put up zeroes versus the Pens.
Ovechkin had five points in seven games. Not great, but better than a number of his teammates. And he didn't have his best game Wednesday - but neither did his teammates.
"Tonight, I don't think we gave ourselves a chance," Holtby said after his season ended, according to NBC4 Sports' Carol Maloney. "And we're going to have to live with that."
After three straight 50-plus goal seasons, there's no doubt Ovechkin looked a step slower this season. He wasn't the five-on-five force we're used to him being. Time comes for us all. But to suggest that Ovie alone shoulders all the blame after another Capitals flameout is far too simplistic and - frankly - far too stupid a conclusion.
The Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Washington Capitals 2-0 in Game 7 of their second-round series Wednesday night. The defending champs are moving on, while another Presidents' Trophy-winning season for the Capitals is over at the hands of the Pens. Even worse: It's the third time in the Alex Ovechkin era that Washington's been eliminated by Pittsburgh.
Ovechkin, somehow, remains without a postseason game played in the third round or later on his remarkable resume.
This series loss is especially crippling for Washington because the team was so very much all-in this season, with T.J. Oshie, Justin Williams, Karl Alzner, and rental Kevin Shattenkirk all slated for unrestricted free agency on July 1. Add in the fact that Washington tied up the series after falling behind 3-1 and, well, this one's going to hurt for a long, long time in the District.
Marc-Andre Fleury was stellar for the Penguins, stopping all 29 shots he faced. Thrown into the crease before Game 1 of the first round, Fleury's made the most of his opportunity, and after backing up Matt Murray all season, he's now led the Pens into the Eastern Conference Final against the Ottawa Senators.
Bryan Rust and Patric Hornqvist scored for Pittsburgh. It was Rust's eighth goal in elimination/close-out games.
Braden Holtby did what he could for the Capitals, making a number of stellar stops in the third period to keep Washington within striking distance.
Pittsburgh, however, was especially dominant in the third period, keeping on the attack and giving the Capitals no room and no chance to mount a comeback. The shots in the final 20 minutes were 11-6 in favor of Pittsburgh.
The Penguins are now an insane 6-0 all time in Game 7s on the road. The Capitals never had a chance.
The Caps were left for dead after falling behind 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, but they're alive, and now have a chance to exorcise some demons - as major as hockey demons get, really - on home ice.
New Jersey Devils general manager Ray Shero confirmed with Kovalchuk's agent that the 34-year-old is indeed serious about returning to North America after spending the past four seasons in Russia's KHL, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.
A couple of weeks ago, TSN's Bob McKenzie provided details on Kovalchuk's status, pointing out the forward is on the league's Voluntary Retirement List (VRL) but remains property of the Devils. Since he's on the VLR, the Devils can't trade his rights, making a sign-and-trade scenario the most likely solution.
Shero says Grossman free to speak to other teams about a potential deal. Devils would do a sign and trade. But deal has to make sense for NJ
New Jersey's rebuilding, and surprisingly hit the jackpot by winning the NHL Draft Lottery, which means the club will be adding some top-flight offensive talent in either Nolan Patrick or Nico Hischier. In other words, they've got little use for Kovalchuk, even though he's coming off his most productive season in the KHL.
KHL Season
GP
G
A
P
2016-17
60
32
46
78
2015-16
50
16
33
49
2014-15
54
25
30
55
2013-14
45
16
24
40
2012-13
36
18
24
42
Kovalchuk could help a contender, though how he left the Devils will follow him for the rest of his career. After signing a 15-year, $100-million contract in 2010, Kovalchuk left for Russia with 12 years and $77 million left on the deal, retiring from the NHL at 30.
In 816 career regular-season games, Kovalchuk scored 417 goals and had 816 points.
The Washington Capitals are 60 minutes or more from having their Stanley Cup dreams shattered again. But being on the brink is a good thing for two of the club's best players.
The Caps will play their second straight elimination game Monday night against Pittsburgh. The Penguins are up 3-2, and are looking to end Washington's season in six games in the second round for the second consecutive spring.
Barry Trotz, though, can rest assured goalie Braden Holtby and captain Alex Ovechkin will show up. They have a history of doing so.
False narratives
By now, you know the "Ovechkin doesn't show up in big playoff games" narrative is garbage. In 19 career elimination games, Ovie has 10 goals and 10 assists. He'll leave his mark on Game 6.
Meanwhile, a dive into Holtby's playoff career suggests he's going to be in top form, as well, despite a subpar postseason so far, by his standards. Among goalies who have played at least five playoff games in 2017, his .909 save percentage is tied for 12th in the league - a far cry from his career .932 save percentage in the postseason.
Throughout his career, though, Holtby's risen to the challenge when his team faces elimination:
Year
Game #
Opponent
Round
SV%
Result
2017
Game 5
Penguins
2nd
.909
W
2016
Game 6
Penguins
2nd
.905
L-OT
2016
Game 5
Penguins
2nd
.968
W
2015
Game 7
Rangers
2nd
.949
L-OT
2015
Game 7
Islanders
1st
.909
W
2013
Game 7
Rangers
1st
.815
L
2012
Game 7
Rangers
2nd
.935
L
2012
Game 6
Rangers
2nd
.972
W
2012
Game 7
Bruins
1st
.969
W
He has a .930 save percentage (252 saves on 271 shots) in nine career elimination playoff games, and is 5-4, with two overtime losses.
It's clear that with their backs against the wall, Holtby and Ovechkin rise to the occasion. But they need help in order to ensure a Game 7.
Supporting cast
Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and Evgeny Kuznetsov are each averaging a point per game through five games against the Penguins. They're not the problem.
Losing three of the first four to the defending champs has left the Capitals with an almost-impossible challenge. One down, two to go. While it's certainly possible Holtby and Ovechkin can force a Game 7 on their own, the Capitals' depth must make its mark at some point this week, or it'll be deja vu.
After last game, Kuznetsov guaranteed an Ovechkin goal. I asked him why he was so confident. "You don't trust me?"
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 7, 2017
"I know (Ovechkin) gonna step up for sure," Kuznetsov said, according to the The Associated Press' Stephen Whyno. "You can see how he play today, that's our captain."
And Kuznetsov is predicting even bigger and better things for Ovechkin in Game 6 on Monday night:
Kuznetsov also said Ovechkin would score twice next game.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 7, 2017
Kuznetsov scored a big goal of his own Saturday, giving the Capitals a third-period lead they wouldn't relinquish. He has goals in three straight games and four in five games against the Pittsburgh Penguins. After a quiet first round, the Russian has stepped up.
"You think I ever feel tight?" Kuznetsov asked, per Whyno. "I (am) always loose, try to enjoy the hockey. I live for those type of games."
There was, however, no customary bird celebration after Kuznetsov's goal.
Kyle Turris scores big-boy goals. Ones that matter. He's been doing it all year for the Ottawa Senators.
His tally Saturday, though, was the most significant of his season - and arguably of his career.
The 27-year-old won Game 5 against the New York Rangers in overtime, going five-hole on Henrik Lundqvist and putting the Senators a win away from the Eastern Conference finals.
Mr. GWG
Turris finished second on the Sens with six game-winning goals during the regular season - only Mike Hoffman had more, with eight.
Saturday's goal was the seventh GWG for Turris, with five of them scored in the third period or later, including three in overtime, and six in one-goal games. No cheapies here:
Date
Period GWG scored in
Final Score
May 6
OT
5-4
March 31
3rd
3-2
Feb. 26
2nd
2-1
Jan. 19
1st
2-0
Nov. 26
3rd
2-1
Nov. 1
OT
2-1
Oct. 12
OT
5-4
Rising to the occasion
Turris played 24:58 on Saturday, most among Sens forwards. He finished with three shots on goal, a team-high nine hits, and won 15 of the 23 faceoffs he took. He was a force, precisely when Ottawa needed him to be.
"It's Kentucky Derby day and he was our horse tonight," Senators head coach Guy Boucher said after his team's pivotal win, according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen.
Ottawa is Erik Karlsson's team, of that there's no doubt. But Turris' 27 goals in the regular season led all Sens, and he finished third on the club in scoring with 55 points.
Turris scored an OT winner on opening night, and is still doing the damn thing seven months later. The Senators aren't on the cusp of the final four without him.
If an NHL playoff game is played in front of a non-capacity crowd at an arena in Canada, has it truly been played?
That's the question the north is grappling with Friday, after only 16,744 souls - the building was at 90.5 percent capacity - showed up Thursday to Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa for Game 1 of the second-round playoff series between the Senators and New York Rangers.
Second round. Not the first. The second. Prior to these playoffs, the Senators had advanced this far only once since their Stanley Cup Final run in 2007. Ottawa fans, in other words, certainly haven't been spoiled with winners.
Look, we get it. The rink's not in an ideal location. Nobody wants to pay $20 or more for parking, anywhere. And public transit is, generally speaking, the absolute worst. But this is a bad look, Ottawa, any way you spin it. Those seats shouldn't have been empty - especially when they're as cheap as they are, even on the secondary market. And especially not this year, because these Sens, this group of guys, are too damned easy to root for.
A true team
The Senators, like Ottawa, don't get a lot of respect. Only two of our editors had them advancing to the second round, while over at ESPN, only three of 12 picked Ottawa to win. But the Sens, led by Guy Boucher, have been proving folks wrong all season long, and have clearly rallied around one another. They're a team in the truest sense of the word, and it goes back all the way to training camp.
MacArthur's unbelievable comeback
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
In September, during a training-camp scrimmage, Clarke MacArthur suffered yet another concussion when he was hit by defenseman Patrick Sieloff, a 2012 second-round pick who was looking to make his mark with his new team.
MacArthur's concussion history was common knowledge - he played only four games in 2015-16. Every hit taken could be his last. And watching him skate off the ice at camp, clearly in distress, knowing his career might be over, was brutal to watch.
Immediately after the hit, Bobby Ryan, the Sens' highest-paid player with a cap hit of $7.25 million through 2021-22, dropped the gloves with Sieloff. He had to send a message to one of his own. Sieloff was eventually removed from the scrimmage, because Chris Neil was angling for a piece of him after Ryan. That's how serious it got.
MacArthur was thought to be out for the season, and retirement was appearing more and more likely. But he somehow returned in early April for Ottawa's final four games, and he eliminated the Boston Bruins in overtime of Game 6 in the first round. It was as perfect as perfect gets.
And you know damned well who was credited with the first assist on the winner: Ryan. But before joining teammates in celebration, he went and retrieved the puck for MacArthur. That one was a keeper, after all.
Ryan's redemption
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Ryan's writing his own neat little playoff story.
The 30-year-old struggled badly this season, scoring only 13 goals and finishing with 25 points - by far the worst statistical season of his career. But it appears he's used the playoffs as a fresh start.
Ryan has four goals - two of them game-winners - and three assists in seven spring games. One of those winners was an OT number, and the other was tallied in the third period of what ended up a 1-0 game.
Big goals. Big Bobby.
The Captain
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
Oh, yeah, there's also that Erik Karlsson guy, who's scoring game-winning goals in the second round of the NHL playoffs off Henrik Lundqvist, while playing with hairline fractures in his heel.
Karlsson is a defenseman like no other in the league. He's worth the price of admission on his own.
The Andersons
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
We haven't even mentioned Nicholle and Craig Anderson yet.
The Sens' starting goalie's wife was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in the fall, leading Craig to rightfully take multiple leaves of absences from the team in order to be with her. And he had the Senators' blessing, and the support of teammates, every step of the way, even when nobody knew when he'd return to the club.
Craig played only seven games from December 2016 through February 2017, with backup Mike Condon - acquired via trade in November - carrying the load. Condon would end up playing 40 games for Ottawa, winning 19 of them and posting five shutouts. He's a big reason why Ottawa made the playoffs. It was truly a team effort.
As for Nicholle, she was able to report good news with respect to her treatment, and on April 17 wrote a blog post dedicated to Craig, titled, "My Rock."
Here's an excerpt:
During this cancer journey, my husband definitely has shown the definition of a best friend.We cried and laughed together.We experienced situations that we never thought would come our way. He became my cheerleader, like I am for him on the ice. He pushed me on days where I didn’t think I was going to make it. He was the first to hold my hair when chemo didn’t agree with me, and when I was so weak he would carry me to the car and rush me to the hospital or hydration. On Christmas Day, I was admitted into the hospital, missing our kiddos, and found a way to smile drinking milkshakes and hospital chicken fingers. During the night he would watch over me, and check on me. Never once did he ever complain that he was tired or needed a break. His strength to be by my side is truly remarkable. I always think I can I ever repay him? I am truly blessed by GOD to have this man in my life.
In what was easily the most challenging personal and professional season of his life, Anderson recorded a .926 save percentage and five shutouts in 40 games. In any season in which the 35-year-old has played 40 games, he's never been better.
Nicholle surprised her husband by showing up in Boston for Game 6, which Anderson and the boys won in OT on MacArthur's winner. A whole lot of feelings, all around.
So, how can you root against the Andersons, their perseverance, and the Senators?
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
Truth is, you can't. The organization handled the Andersons' situation with utmost class, and deserves all the success it's achieving. Which is why those empty seats Thursday are so bothersome. Everyone in Ottawa should want to watch this team, this family, play hockey. First round, second round, who cares. Fill that damn arena, no matter where it's located.
They're not the "Pesky Sens" of a few years ago, but they're something else, something stronger. This team, it appears, is on a mission.
Get it together, Ottawa. Game 2 better be sold out.
