tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14971098.post2445432901490530731..comments2024-03-17T21:09:46.268-04:00Comments on The Peerless Prognosticator: The Peerless Prognosticator is ON THE AIR!!! -- Game 60: Capitals at Senators, February 22ndThe Peerlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10293195514553989436noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14971098.post-269248583876607652012-02-22T06:14:34.278-05:002012-02-22T06:14:34.278-05:00I think the Backstrom injury is the most significa...I think the Backstrom injury is the most significant in the NHL this season, bar none. It has affected depth, putting players in positions above their comfort zones (Johansson, Perreault, Laich), has affected the power play (denying Dale Hunter the chance to fully deploy what system he chooses to use to replace that which Bruce Boudreau used), and affected continuity (how many line combinations have the Caps used to try to find a spark?).<br /><br />No single injury in the league has had this impact. That said, Backstrom's absence should be the difference between being a top-three team and being a 5-6-7 team, not the difference between top-three and tenth place.The Peerlesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10293195514553989436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14971098.post-68584981292609064482012-02-21T23:34:10.864-05:002012-02-21T23:34:10.864-05:00Peerless: You've talked in the past about how...Peerless: You've talked in the past about how there were defensive players put in positions above their heads. Don't you think it as at all possible that due to the lack of depth the Backstrom injury is having an excessive destructive chain reaction? That if he was still in the line-up this team would be significantly better off? That doesn't mean the centers they have are capable of being a 2nd line center (MP might be), but would they be this bad?Insanitynoreply@blogger.com