(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Entering Tuesday’s game, the Washington Capitals’ third line was in a slump. It hadn’t scored since March 1, and that goal was with Mike Richards centering the trio, not Marcus Johansson. Jason Chimera had gone nine games without a point. Johansson had one point at even strength in that span.
Coach Barry Trotz started to sense frustration, and change seemed imminent. Against San Jose, he made Richards the third-line center, moving Johansson to wing and bumping right wing Tom Wilson from the third line to the fourth line. When the team reconvened for Monday’s practice, every forward formation was different, and Johansson and Chimera got a boost in the form of Justin Williams.