One of the biggest X-factors for a team in the NHL is the club’s fourth line. The ability to roll out four lines and have each one be a threat to contribute not only wins games during the regular season but is also instrumental during playoff time.
With months to go until the postseason, the Washington Capitals will gladly take the two points and victory against the Calgary Flames, thanks mostly to the play of their fourth line.
A quick glance at Joel Ward’s 2013-2014 numbers and it will be hard to believe that he is currently a fourth line winger, but head coach Barry Trotz attempted to try and send a message to his struggling forward.
Message received coach Trotz, and with such a resounding answer that he made a case to remain on the fourth line for all the right reasons.
Ward registered his first multi-goal game of the young season, a feat he only achieved twice last season despite scoring 24-times. His first marker was a power play goal, his first of the season.
While Ward stuck out on the depth chart, fellow fourth line teammates Liam O’Brien and Michael Latta shined in the ice time they were able to get.
Latta played in in 17-games last season, most of which were in November, making this year his first real opportunity to contribute over an entire season. He took advantage of his 10:17-of ice time, setting up Ward’s second marker after retrieving the puck from the corner and getting it out in front.
Although he scored 30-goals twice in junior, Latta has never been much of a scorer at the professional level. Against Calgary he showed good speed and prowess in the opponent’s end.
Training camp darling O’Brien tied a career high with 14 shifts and had the second most ice time of his young career (9:45). He was held off the stat sheet, but always finds a way to make his presence known throughout the game.
Their efforts weren’t only felt in the offensive zone, as they were able to provide great back-checking that helped end a Flames possession. Ward broke up a pass to a player who would have had an open shot on netminder Braden Holtby, using a body check to ensure the shot did not get off.
It was going to be interesting to see how Ward would play having Trotz as his head coach again. Playing under Trotz in Nashville put Ward on the path to getting his big pay day, and he had by far his best season last year with the Capitals.
The fact that in the seventh game of the season, and with three goals already, Trotz demoted the 33-year old winger to the fourth line is purely the head coach trying to get more out of a player he knows has more to give.
Defensively, Alex Ovechkin had one of his best games this season but was held to one shot so, these are the games that the depth of a team is tested. And when they were needed, they passed.
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