Alzner, Carlson combined boast just eight games of NHL playoff experience
The Capitals begin their quest for the Stanley Cup tonight when they face the New York Rangers in Game 1 of a first-round playoff series at Verizon Center. But when Washington takes the ice, its top defensive pairing – the one that will play in the critical moments late in a game and against New York’s best forwards – will consist of a pair of youngsters with a combined eight NHL playoff games between them.
Rookie defenseman John Carlson, 21, played in all seven games of last year’s first-round series with Montreal. Karl Alzner, 22, has one NHL postseason game under his belt. Before the season, Washington’s brain trust expected the duo was ready for its first full NHL campaign. But have Carlson and Alzner have surpassed expectations?
The web site BehindTheNet.ca has several metrics that ranks NHL players’ quality of competition. Carlson ranks 24th among all NHL defensemen who have played at least 50 games and tops among rookies (.056). Alzner is even better at 21st(.059) in quality of competition. He also ranks 21st among defensemen in goals against per 60 minutes on the ice at even strength (1.91). Carlson isn’t far behind in that category (1.93) – again 24th overall. By comparison, Mike Green is Washington third-best defenseman at even strength (2.11).
“I think anyone would be surprised if you told us that in September. I think we still knew how good they were coming into the season,” Caps forward Jason Chimera said. “But how they’ve progressed through the year has been awesome. They play quality minutes for us. And it’s not just that, it’s the way they play – their sticks are good in the defensive zone, they play the body well, they never really get beat, they’re never really out of position.”
Carlson and Alzner’s play didn’t come out of nowhere, of course. Washington coach Bruce Boudreau said the duo was his team’s best pairing on the ice in Game 7 last spring against Montreal. That was Alzner’s first – and so far only – NHL playoff experience. But they had played together much of last season at AHL Hershey and formed a dependable partnership.
Boudreau pulled Carlson and Alzner aside before a game against Carolina on Dec. 26 and said they would be matched with Hurricanes star forward Eric Staal and his line. That was no small task. When Staal has a big game against Washington – there have been a few — Carolina usually wins. But Carlson and Alzner were told to stop him and they did it. Staal had just two shots on goal, two attempts blocked, missed the net twice all together and was on the ice for a goal against. Two nights later they received a similar assignment against Montreal and top forward Mike Cammalleri. Then came the biggest test yet — Sidney Crosby’s line when the Caps played the Penguins in the Winter Classic on New Year’s Day.
“I don’t know if we really expected that. We wanted it. I know I wanted it,” Alzner said. “That’s what I like to do. I was hoping that at one point I would get that opportunity. But I didn’t know that I would get to play so much of the season doing this and being in that role. I’m happy I’m here, but I’ve got to make sure I do my job now.”
That trust from the coaching hasn’t wavered. Carlson, who has seven goals and 30 assists, also sees 2 minutes, 12 seconds of ice time on the power play. Only six Washington players have played more when on the man advantage. Meanwhile, only five play more short-handed minutes (2:19 per game). Alzner gets 2:07 of short-handed ice time per game and is in the regular rotation of penalty killers — though he is far less of a threat offensively with two goals and 10 assists.
“That’s the big thing is having the trust from the coach. I think it makes you play better when you have that feeling,” Carlson said. “You know you’re a little bit more secure than you were last year. It does feel good. But at the same time we’re just here to be a part of the team and to be a part of a winning team.”
