Caps get shutout again

DISCUSS IT

For the second time in 4 games, a Southeast Division rivals handed the Caps a scoreless defeat.  This time, it was for the division lead with the Tampa Bay Lightning.   Caps fell last night 3-0 to the Lightning, falling 2 points behind Tampa in the Southeast.

At this point last season, the Caps were averaging 3.82 goals per game.  This year, that has fallen by 1 to 2.82 goals per game.  What's the deal?  Where is the vaunted Caps offense?

Pretty clear to me is that a HUGE contributing factor is the lack of scoring from the big three on the Caps offense.  Alexander Ovechkin has just 15 goals on the season and has netted just 3 goals in his last 15 games.  Meanwhile, Nicklas Backstrom has just 11 goals on the season and has not netted a goal since December 1, 2010.  Finally, Alexander Semin, who started out on a red hot tear, has played inconsistently and has suffered nagging injuries, tally 18 goals, but none since November 28, 2010. 

During droughts like this, secondary lines need to step up, and they have somewwhat, with Eric Fehr and other, but not consistently so.  Until the Top 3 break out of ongoign slumps, expect average offensive production, nothing that Caps fans have become accustomed to over the past two seasons.