The additions of veteran bottom-six forwards Mike Richards and Daniel Winnik were a boost to the Washington Capitals’ depth, and the team also got two penalty-killing specialists. Richards led the league in shorthanded goals twice in his career. Winnik ranked second among NHL forwards in shorthanded time on ice per game last season (3 minutes 16 seconds).
Getting Jay Beagle back from injured reserve after he missed 24 games with a broken hand was like another midseason acquisition of another expert penalty killer. With those three players in the lineup, the Capitals have been able to limit the shorthanded ice time of Nicklas Backstrom, T.