By Jason La Canfora
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, November 2, 2001; Page D01
The Washington Capitals have taken 69 shots on goal in their past two games and not once did they beat a goaltender. The club, which hoped to replenish its attack by adding winger Jaromir Jagr in the offseason, is still searching for some kind of offensive balance a month into the season.
Washington (5-6-1) has scored 29 goals in 12 games and has already been shut out three times. The Capitals have netted a grand total of seven goals in their six losses and one tie. Only four forwards -- Peter Bondra (denied on 17 shots over the last two games), Jagr, Ulf Dahlen and Andrei Nikolishin -- have consistently produced. The rest of the club's forwards have combined for just two goals in 98 man games. Bondra alone has accounted for more than a third of the offense (nine goals) while his teammates strive for confidence around the net.
"Right now we're in one of those holes we've been in in the past where we're having trouble scoring goals -- simple," Coach Ron Wilson said. "Guys are squeezing their stick a little bit. We just have to relax and simplify what we're doing and worry about the process and not the end result."
The Capitals have always been a hard-working team that relied on sweat and tenacity to produce scoring chances by softening the opposition's defense and dominating the boards. Jagr's arrival was supposed to add an element of creativity and elevate the play of his teammates, but thus far he has been visibly hampered by a right knee strain. He has just one point in the last four games.
"It's kind of frustrating right now," Jagr said. "But it's something that happens to every team sometimes."
The loss of co-captain Steve Konowalchuk for four months has stung as well. Washington's forechecking game -- imperative to its attack -- has suffered without the club's lone true power forward and the team's best line the last two seasons -- Konowalchuk, Jeff Halpern and Dahlen -- has not been the same without him. That line set a physical and emotional tone at the start of every period, but has not been as effective this season in grinding down opponents. While Dahlen has managed to chip in timely goals -- he has four goals and eight points -- Halpern has not scored since opening night and has just two assists in the last 11 games.
"The last few games have been pretty frustrating because I have been getting into my spots and I have been getting those [scoring] chances," Halpern said. "But I haven't been satisfied with how I've done with those results and setting up other guys. Hopefully, as the season goes along you get to the point where everybody is having a good year and everyone is peaking at the right time."
Halpern has elite company among the slumping. Trevor Linden, who has spent the entire season on one of the top offensive lines, has just one goal and has been robbed on the goal line twice, partly for failing to lift the puck and partly because of a great effort from the goalie. Dainius Zubrus has done well feeding Nikolishin for goals but has not scored himself. Top center Adam Oates does not have a goal and has just one assist in his last five games. Offensive defenseman Sergei Gonchar, always streaky, had three goals and eight points after seven games but no longer exudes confidence and is not looking for his shot, goal-less in eight games.
Wilson predicted that he would be tinkering with his offense through the holidays and that has been the case. He has been forced to juggle his lines during almost every game and is still seeking regular forwards to complement Jagr. The fourth line has been stagnant, uneasy defensively and without a goal this season. The six forwards recalled from the minors or junior -- Brian Sutherby, Matt Pettinger, Peter Ferraro, Chris Ferraro, Chris Corrinet and Stephen Peat -- have no goals in 19 man games. There have been no offensive contributions from role players.
"We are still trying to find out how we should be playing," said Wilson, who has worked on offensive fundamentals at recent practices. "But the last couple of games we generated a whole ton of chances and it's just matter of time before some guys break through and chip in some goals. Obviously, we're hoping Zubbie can get a couple of goals and relax a little bit, Trevor as well. Other than that, most of our forwards are scoring that we expected to score.
"We just have to keep working on driving wide and going to the net and looking for rebounds and screens. That's what we have to do to score."
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, November 2, 2001; Page D01
The Washington Capitals have taken 69 shots on goal in their past two games and not once did they beat a goaltender. The club, which hoped to replenish its attack by adding winger Jaromir Jagr in the offseason, is still searching for some kind of offensive balance a month into the season.
Washington (5-6-1) has scored 29 goals in 12 games and has already been shut out three times. The Capitals have netted a grand total of seven goals in their six losses and one tie. Only four forwards -- Peter Bondra (denied on 17 shots over the last two games), Jagr, Ulf Dahlen and Andrei Nikolishin -- have consistently produced. The rest of the club's forwards have combined for just two goals in 98 man games. Bondra alone has accounted for more than a third of the offense (nine goals) while his teammates strive for confidence around the net.
"Right now we're in one of those holes we've been in in the past where we're having trouble scoring goals -- simple," Coach Ron Wilson said. "Guys are squeezing their stick a little bit. We just have to relax and simplify what we're doing and worry about the process and not the end result."
The Capitals have always been a hard-working team that relied on sweat and tenacity to produce scoring chances by softening the opposition's defense and dominating the boards. Jagr's arrival was supposed to add an element of creativity and elevate the play of his teammates, but thus far he has been visibly hampered by a right knee strain. He has just one point in the last four games.
"It's kind of frustrating right now," Jagr said. "But it's something that happens to every team sometimes."
The loss of co-captain Steve Konowalchuk for four months has stung as well. Washington's forechecking game -- imperative to its attack -- has suffered without the club's lone true power forward and the team's best line the last two seasons -- Konowalchuk, Jeff Halpern and Dahlen -- has not been the same without him. That line set a physical and emotional tone at the start of every period, but has not been as effective this season in grinding down opponents. While Dahlen has managed to chip in timely goals -- he has four goals and eight points -- Halpern has not scored since opening night and has just two assists in the last 11 games.
"The last few games have been pretty frustrating because I have been getting into my spots and I have been getting those [scoring] chances," Halpern said. "But I haven't been satisfied with how I've done with those results and setting up other guys. Hopefully, as the season goes along you get to the point where everybody is having a good year and everyone is peaking at the right time."
Halpern has elite company among the slumping. Trevor Linden, who has spent the entire season on one of the top offensive lines, has just one goal and has been robbed on the goal line twice, partly for failing to lift the puck and partly because of a great effort from the goalie. Dainius Zubrus has done well feeding Nikolishin for goals but has not scored himself. Top center Adam Oates does not have a goal and has just one assist in his last five games. Offensive defenseman Sergei Gonchar, always streaky, had three goals and eight points after seven games but no longer exudes confidence and is not looking for his shot, goal-less in eight games.
Wilson predicted that he would be tinkering with his offense through the holidays and that has been the case. He has been forced to juggle his lines during almost every game and is still seeking regular forwards to complement Jagr. The fourth line has been stagnant, uneasy defensively and without a goal this season. The six forwards recalled from the minors or junior -- Brian Sutherby, Matt Pettinger, Peter Ferraro, Chris Ferraro, Chris Corrinet and Stephen Peat -- have no goals in 19 man games. There have been no offensive contributions from role players.
"We are still trying to find out how we should be playing," said Wilson, who has worked on offensive fundamentals at recent practices. "But the last couple of games we generated a whole ton of chances and it's just matter of time before some guys break through and chip in some goals. Obviously, we're hoping Zubbie can get a couple of goals and relax a little bit, Trevor as well. Other than that, most of our forwards are scoring that we expected to score.
"We just have to keep working on driving wide and going to the net and looking for rebounds and screens. That's what we have to do to score."
