REPORT: Ovechkin in Trotz’s dog house?

With their backs up against the wall in game 5 of their second round playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Washington Capitals elected to employ superstar Alex Ovechkin on the team’s third line. When the news was announced it raised some eyebrows, but it’s hard to argue with the results: a 4-2 Capitals victory. Now, facing elimination for the second game in a row, it appears that Barry Trotz will use the same strategy. 

If Trotz’s practice lines are to be believed, Ovechkin will line up with Tom Wilson and Lars Eller once again for game 6. With Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov each stepping up and Ovechkin struggling, the move seems like a natural fit. Of course, Ovechkin has game-breaking ability so look for Trotz to move him up in the lineup if he gets the sense that his captain is on top of his game.