Capitals can’t stave off an eighth loss in their last 10 games
The Washington Capitals played well again at five-on-five and lost again. The story of the season remains the same, with a 3-2 shootout loss to the New Jersey Devils.
I feel like a broken record, but the Capitals are also operating like a broken record player, so it all tracks.
- Instead of looking at this individual game, let’s go over the last 10 games, in which the Capitals hold a 2-6-2 record. During that particularly rough stretch in the standings, the Capitals have owned 54.6 percent of shot attempts, 55.7 percent of expected goals, 55.9 percent of scoring chances, and 53.7 percent of high-danger chances at five-on-five. They rank no lower than sixth in the league in any of those marks over that span. For comparison’s sake, the Boston Bruins, who are 8-2 in their last 10 games, have garnered just 47.9 percent of five-on-five expected goals in their games.
- The issue is obviously still special teams and a lack of consistent goal scoring. The Devils went 1-for-3 on their power play, leaving the Capitals with a 72.9 percent effective penalty kill this season, which ranks 28th in the league. The Caps did not score a power-play goal on their one opportunity, leaving with the 30th-ranked power play at 14.6 percent effectiveness.
- Connor McMichael was a bright spot in the loss as he seemed to finally wake up once moved back onto the wing. He snapped a nine-game goalless streak and had points (1g, 1a) on both of the Capitals’ goals in the game. He fired four shots on goal, which is his second-highest single-season total this season. The Capitals need much more out of him.
- Alex Ovechkin scored his 902nd career goal to tie the game. Ovechkin, 40, basically fueled the comeback by himself, recording two points (1g, 1a), three shots on goal, 11 shot attempts, five individual scoring chances, three individual high-danger chances, and four hits.
- Hendrix Lapierre played just 8:04 in the loss and has played fewer than 10 minutes in five of his last seven games. I’m not sure how much longer the team, already struggling with depth scoring issues, can last with a line that the head coach clearly doesn’t trust. It may be time soon to try something different, whether that means recalling someone like Ilya Protas from the AHL’s Hershey Bears or exploring a solution elsewhere in the league.
- With John Carlson out and the Capitals chasing the game from very early on in the first period, Jakob Chychrun ended up playing 28:22 of ice time.
Davis Mills Identifies Key Factor for Success in His First Start: Can the Texans Build on This?
If the Houston Texans are going to kick on from the 4-5 mark and back into playoff contention, it's going to require head coach DeMeco Ryans squeezing every last bit of juice out of his team.
Over the last few days, Ryans has demanded a great deal more from his talented rookie crop, but keeping this team on track against the Tennessee Titans is still going to rest on the shoulders of backup quarterback Davis Mills.
Davis Mills Talks Moving Around the Pocket in Texans' Offense
Going with Mills once again has been thrust on the Texans due to starter C.J. Stroud being officially ruled out with a concussion, but the reserve quarterback has lifted the lid on some of the scheming that is allowing him to use his mobility and downfield vision.
"We've moved the pockets and ways to get us out of the pocket that are designed," Mills revealed during a visit with Texans Radio.
"Then a big thing that (quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson) has been talking to us about in the QB room is always pushing forward in the pocket. So, the more you can command through the pocket, the defense will sometimes fall off their guy and come up and try to get you. As long as you remain a passer, you can find someone open in your progression."
Nick Caley Finding What Works in Texans' Passing Attack
Of course, offensive coordinator Nick Caley would be remiss to shove Mills back in his box as such; they've clearly happened upon a formula that works for his relief signal caller.
After all, for long durations of the season, Caley and Ryans have struggled to really successfully harness the much more wide-ranging skill set of Stroud. Consequently, the team has lost some debilitating squeakers, results that could have been flipped if they'd shown a little more willingness to try something different.
For as long as Stroud will remain sidelined, just listening to what Mills prefers and serving him within the offense makes a whole lot of sense, especially if he knows when to pick the right option.
"Or you can take off and get the free yards the defense is giving you and get down, Mills noted about staying safe when running. So, I think moving up in the pocket and letting the rush develop and being able to access the defense internally is usually advantageous."
Given the brutal manner in which Stroud got injured when trying to make a play with his legs against the Denver Broncos, you can certainly more fully understand why the coaching staff wouldn't want to put Mills overly in harm's way.
Having said that, Mills' gutsy 14-yard scramble for a score with under a minute left against the Jacksonville Jaguars only proves that they have to let absolutely everything hang out at this stage. It stands to reason that the Texans' imperious defense is going to keep them squarely in every game; so it might only take just one athletic play to push them over the finishing line.
Mills has exhibited a nice little knack of navigating the pocket—all while keeping his eyes open down the field for his receivers to finally work their way open, and that must be maximized to the fullest extent.
All told, only an intelligent blend of motivation and scheme will keep the Texans plugged onto the ventilator that's keeping their entire season alive.
