Been meaning to do this post for a while. With 25 players on the roster it’s hard enough to keep track of who’s playing for the Caps on a given night. To think back over every game since the trade deadline on March 3 and remember who was in and who was out is impossible. So – a handy guide to Bruce Boudreau’s healthy scratches as the playoffs approach. Let’s tackle the forwards first and I’ll write about the defensemen later.
Alex Ovechkin » Yeah, not scratching a guy fighting for his third Hart Trophy in a row. Consider that two-game suspension his rest for the playoffs. 0
Alex Semin » If that hit by Jordan Staal on Wednesday didn’t knock Sasha out of the lineup I think he’s good to go for a while. But still a good bet to sit at least one game when the Caps wrap up home ice. 0
Nicklas Backstrom » The Caps new iron man given Brooks Laich’s unfortunate run in with a deflected puck. He’s played every game the past two seasons and hasn’t missed one this year, either. But unless that streak is really important to Backstrom it’d be a good idea to sit him a game down the stretch. 0
Mike Knuble » Like Semin and Backstrom, he has yet to sit since the Olympic break. But at 37 – and given his style of play – Knuble’s a prime candidate to rest. In fact, I’d be shocked if Boudreau didn’t give him two games off. 0
Brooks Laich » Was on the Backstrom program until he skated into a John Carlson slap shot off the crossbar in practice this week. No one will confirm if he has a broken bone in his face. Zero reason to rush him back on the ice. Boudreau said Laich could participate in a light practice on Friday and maybe play Sunday. Don’t bet on it at this point. He’s in great shape. He can handle sitting three or four more games. I mean – he can’t handle it. Laich is a maniac. George McPhee probably wanted to kick him out of the team luxury suite. But it’s for the best. 1 (injured)
Brendan Morrison » Boudreau still deciding who will stick at No. 2 center. Morrison is a smaller guy who could probably use a little more rest. Scratched March 8 vs. Dallas. Otherwise he’s been in the lineup flipping between the second and third lines. 1
Eric Fehr » Almost too hot to sit with goals in four of five games and six since the Olympic break ended. Fehr sat out the March 10 game against Carolina. 1
Tomas Fleischmann » Another winger who has worn a suit just once since the break – March 8 vs. Dallas. Like Fehr, I’d expect one more off day in the final two weeks of the season. 1
Eric Belanger » Caps didn’t trade for him to sit him. Belanger’s work in the faceoff circle makes up for the loss of Boyd Gordon to injury and he needs as much time as possible to get used to his new teammates. A solid fit so far. Was scratched on March 12 against Tampa Bay. May not happen again. 1
Jason Chimera » Has jumped between the third and fourth lines depending on the other scratches. Scratched March 10 against Carolina. May have to play fourth-line left wing in the playoffs if everyone is healthy. He has 14 goals and 30 points overall in 69 games with Columbus and Washington. There are some NHL general managers who deal with that production on their second line. They are jealous. 1
Matt Bradley » Has seen consistent ice time since the trade deadline so it doesn’t appear he’ll be unseated from his fourth-line right wing role. Then again – Bradley was a -2 against the Penguins on Wednesday. Don’t want too many nights like that on the resume with the playoffs approaching. Also hasn’t scored since Jan. 19. Was a healthy scratch March 4 and March 20 against Tampa Bay. 2
David Steckel » Scratched March 4 against Tampa Bay and March 16 against Florida. With Gordon hurt, though, there’s no competition for the fourth-line center spot. One of the league’s best faceoff men looks good for the playoffs. 2
Boyd Gordon » Sat on March 6 against New York Rangers and March 12 vs. Tampa Bay. With Belanger’s addition he was fighting for either a fourth-line wing spot or Steckel’s position as fourth-line center. The recent recurrence of his back injury has already cost Gordon three games, though, Make it four if he is kept out, as expected, tonight. He’s currently rehabbing in Hershey, but there’s no timetable for his return. Better be soon or Gordo will be used as depth once the playoffs start. 2 (healthy); 3 (injured)
Scott Walker » Whatever his injury – a knee as the team says, or a concussion of some sort after his fight in Tampa Bay last Saturday – Walker will miss his second game in a row tonight. He was already a healthy scratch March 8, 14 and 16 and now looks like a nice insurance policy when the playoffs start. Remember, last season the Caps were recalling a rookie like Jay Beagle from Hershey and playing him against the Rangers in the first round. 3 (healthy); 1 (injured)
Quintin Laing » Knows his role. Laing has played in just two games since the Olympic break ended. But he is expected to go again tonight at fourth-line left wing against Carolina – back-to-back starts – thanks to the injuries to Gordon, Laich and Walker. But if everyone is healthy Laing is watching from the luxury suite again. On the team right now because he can handle that and still perform when called upon. 9
