As Expected (by me), Fleishmann Taking Full Advantage

About a week ago Caps nation collectively held its breath as our hero Alex Ovechkin gingerly skated off the ice and headed straight for the lockerroom during a game against Columbus.  We now know Columbus was targeting OV on purpose.  That isn’t necessarily a knock against Columbus, but it is a knock against the notion that teams don’t need enforcers.  Upon further review, neither Matt Bradley nor John Erskine are not enforcers!  But that’s for another blog.  When realization came to be that OV would be missing an extended period of time, the immediate question was which player was going to fill his shoes, or should I say skates.  The obvious choice was Alex Semin.  Perhaps the Caps would have to change their style of play going from a run and gun style to a more rugged in your face style of play.  This is where  Brooks Laich and Mike Knuble would shine.  If you read my blog titled Ovechkin Status Downgraded, you would know that I predicted Tomas Fleishmann to come alive and take on the responsibility of scoring goals.  Well so far, that prediction has been spot on.

Flash, as we in Washington call him, has only played in six games so far this season after recovering from a blood clot in his leg most likely suffered on a flight back to the Czech Republic last spring.  Flash was on blood thinners for most of the summer and training camp and was unable to participate in any contact drills, let alone a game.  Since returning from the the injury, Flash has scored 5 goals in those 6 games totaling 7 points.  Boudreau and the rest of the coaching staff have used OV’s injury as an opportunity for Fleishmann, placing him on the top line and giving him ample power play time.

It shouldn’t be any surprise that the main concern of the Caps’ coaching staff when OV got hurt was who was going to step up and provide the nearly 1 goal per game you were losing with OV being out.  So far Fleishmann has met that challenge head on and will continue to be rewarded with top line duties and power play time.  The Caps organization have always seen Fleishmann as a 25-30 goal guy.  He has incredible wrist shot and can dance with the puck all night long.  Some would say Fleishmann has underperformed thus far in his time with the Caps.  Hopefully Flash has come into his own and is ready to put up the numbers we’ve all been expecting of him.

Other notes:  Congratulations to Mathieu Perrault.  The AHL call-up scored his first NHL goal in front of the homecrowd on Saturday night.  If not for a back and forth third period, his goal would’ve been the game winner.  Nobody has shown the heart and hustle that Perrault has shown over the last three games.  He is a manacing forechecker and has pair of hands maybe only surpassed by Nick Backstrom.  His tape to tape passes appear almost effortless.  I can’t imagine Boudreau sending Perrault back to Hersey if he keeps this level of play up.  I certainly hope he sticks around.

The Caps entertain the Islanders this Wednesday.  Seems like the Isles are the only team we play these days.  The Islanders have really turned their season around and playing extremely well.  The Islanders always play us tough, so it should be a barnburner.