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Capitals Throughout the season, the Capitals’ play at even strength has been a glaring weakness. Washington, which ranked 23rd in total five-on-five goals as of Monday, is on pace to finish with roughly 138. That would be the Capitals’ lowest output in a full season since 2005-06, when they finished 27th in the NHL standings. The Capitals’ even-strength woes have been magnified over the
past month as they fight for a playoff spot. Washington’s top-six forwards have failed to produce any offense during five-on-five play as the season winds down. Alex Ovechkin, currently in a curious partnership with defensive-minded center Jay Beagle, was held without a single evenstrength point in March. His ongoing 15-game drought without an even-strength goal is the longest of his career. Excluding an empty-netter, Troy Brouwer scored his first fiveon-five goal since returning from the Olympic break Sunday against the Predators. Nicklas Backstrom has been held without an even-
Alex Ovechkin hasn’t scored an evenstrength goal in 15 straight games.
D E PA R T M E N T O F H E A LT H A N D H U M A N S E R V I C E S a n d N AT I O N A L I N S T I T U T E S O F H E A LT H ( N I H )
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strength goal since Feb. 27, while Marcus Johansson has scored two all season. Outside of the Capitals’ third line featuring Jason Chimera, Eric Fehr and Joel Ward, the rest of the team has not mustered consistent offense at even strength. “We need more from everyone five-on-five and our best players have got to be our best players,” Chimera said Saturday. “We can’t just rely on [the] power play.” Washington has become heavily dependent on its top-ranked power play. Forty percent of the Capitals’ offense in the past 16 games has come from the power play, rendering them one-dimensional.
The Capitals are 12-17-8 when failing to score on the power play this season, which formulates a simple game plan for opponents: remain disciplined and force Washington to gain traction at even strength. And with power-play opportunities harder to come by in the postseason, if the Capitals get there, finding five-on-five success becomes even more vital. With seven games left, the Capitals’ grip on a seventh straight playoff appearance is becoming more tenuous by the day, and the disappearance of evenstrength production hasn’t helped. ADAM VINGAN (FOR E XPRESS)
Congressional Approves Return of Woods’ Tourney Golf Tiger Woods’ annual PGA Tour event in Washington has some certainty going forward. Late Sunday night, the members of Congressional Country Club overwhelmingly approved a proposal to bring back what is now known as the Quicken Loans National in 2016, ’18 and ’20 — keeping the tournament at its original site, which Woods strongly preferred. Next year, the tournament will move to Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Prince William County, the Tiger Woods Foundation announced Monday. “We are excited to keep our tournament in the D.C. area and to be playing at these great golf courses,”
CHRIS TROTMAN (GETTY IMAGES)
In March, Ovechkin was held without an even-strength point
PATRICK SMITH (NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)
Caps Too Reliant on Power Play
Tiger Woods will host his tournament at Congressional in 2016, ’18 and ’20.
Woods said in a statement. “Congressional Country Club and Robert Trent Jones Golf Club will continue to challenge our strong fields while supporting the local community.” BARRY SVRLUGA (THE WASHINGTON POST )
Baseball Quiz Answers (From Page 15) Starting pitcher Bartolo Colon, New York Mets; Catcher Brian McCann, New York Yankees; First baseman Prince Fielder, Texas Rangers; Second baseman Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners; Shortstop Jhonny Peralta, St. Louis Cardinals; Third baseman David Freese, Los Angeles Angels; Left fielder Mark Trumbo, Arizona Diamondbacks; Center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, New York Yankees; Right fielder Curtis Granderson, New York Mets