'Everything's Just Off' Right Now For The Capitals, And A Big Reason Is Dubois' Ongoing Absence. What's The Fix?
The Capitals have lost three straight games and have not won two in a row since the start of December. What's the fix?
The Washington Capitals feel like everything right now is just off.
Pucks aren’t going in. There’s no consistency through 60 minutes. Any mistake ends up in the back of the net, to the point where even standout showings from Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren can’t steal a game.
But, amid a three-game losing streak, there’s one key piece of the puzzle, missing in action, that has been an up-and-down season that, at the stretch, has this team in a bind.
That’s Pierre-Luc Dubois.
Tom Wilson’s seven-game absence amid a lower-body ailment doesn’t help either, nor do the other mounting injuries that D.C. is navigating, but it’s Dubois’ void that’s perhaps causing the most problems.
Dubois wasn’t just a point producer, though a guy who can put up 20 goals and 60-plus points is something that the Capitals certainly miss up front.
He was the anchor on the top-6 that kept things humming, and where the consistency and foundation of the lineup sat.
His line effortlessly shut down other top trios across the league, and could strike the other way on a consistent basis for grade-A scoring opportunities. The 27-year-old' didn’t get on the scoresheet through the five games he played so far this year, but his underlying numbers told a story of a player dominating puck possession and driving play on the ice.
Dubois’ absence marked the start of some adversity for the Capitals, but it also took away a key component that provided stability and consistency with the lineup, something that, truthfully, Washington hasn’t had since the start of December, which also marks the last time the team won back-to-back games.
Justin Sourdif’s done what he’s could to fill the void, and has been a strong fill-in in that position, but since Dubois’ absence, the Capitals haven’t been able to rely on a consistent line for production on a nightly basis. Mix in everchanging combinations across the board, and there’s not enough time to really form chemistry.
It’s been enough to keep afloat for now, one point out of third in the Metropolitan Division, but not nearly enough to pull the team completely upstream.
So, what’s the fix?
Getting healthy is a good start, and Dubois, who underwent surgery in early November, is back skating and could return soon after the Olympic games, but ultimately, there’s not a magic wand or immediate solution for D.C.
General manager Chris Patrick mentioned that the Capitals are looking for a high-end winger, but one trade alone won’t solve things for the group.
Instead, it starts with addressing the foundation, and then going from there. And whether that’s a players-only meeting, more practice work or perhaps seeing what the current options in Hershey can do, remains up to the group.
At the end of the day, though, something has to give, and fast.