Mike Green out to prove that he is more than just an offensive force
The Washington Capitals are known as a team that can erupt with an offensive explosion at any time. When it comes to scoring clutch goals, the usual suspects are forwards Alex Ovenchkin,
Nicklas Backstrom, and Alex Semin, among others. But the team often gets some secondary scoring from the back end, courtesy of one Mike Green.
Since entering the league in the 2006-07 season, Green has become an offensive force on the Caps’ blue line. It all began when current head coach Bruce Boudreau replaced Glen Hanlon in
2007. Green immediately flourished under Boudreau, scoring goals in eight consecutive games in 2008-09 to set an NHL record.
Despite his successes, many hockey experts have labelled the 6ft 1in defender as a defensive liability in his own zone because of his goal-scoring prowess. But Green is out to prove his
critics wrong.
Since the beginning of the 2010-11 season, Green has been evolving into a multi-dimensional player who can play a wide variety of roles on the ice. One of them has been acting as a shut-down
specialist.
“I was asked to play more of a shut-down role, and I’m taking pride in that,” Green told
nhl.com. “In the past, that wasn’t my job, and now it is. I take pride in what’s asked of me.”
The Calgary native has a rating of plus-7 in his first 11 games this season, and is frequently sent out to face the opposing team’s top scoring threats.
So far, Green has scored four goals and five assists for a total of nine points, while paying more attention to his defensive game.
“You have to find a balance,” Green said of his progress. “It’s hard to find a balance at times, especially at the start of the season. It kind of takes some time to get the feel. But
I’ve found that balance.”
Green has a supporter in team-mate Mike Knuble. The veteran forward has come to Green’s defence about his defensive play in recent games.
“I guarantee you when we’re in the last minute of the game, he’s going to be out there,” Knuble said of Green. “If he was a defensive liability, he wouldn’t be out there. I think he gets
knocked a bit for his defence, but he’s such a great skater. He’s a fit guy, he’s strong, he’s got a really good stick. He’s hard to play against.”
“He came into the league as an offensive guy, and that’s probably what put him in the league. You check any penalty-killing situation, any key, crucial time when we need to keep a goal
out, he’s out there.”
Boudreau has rewarded Green with more time on the penalty kill. Last season, he averaged 2:09 of ice time in shorthanded situations, which was fifth on the team. This season, he averages
3:14 of shorthanded ice time, which places him second behind fellow blue-liner Jeff Schultz. In addition, the Capitals have seen their success on the penalty kill rise from 78.8 per cent last season (25th overall) to 86.7 per cent this season (eighth overall).
The success cannot be attributed to one player’s efforts alone, but Green’s success in his new role may have something to do with it.
Knuble, on the other hand, believes that it may take some time for Green to prove that he has improved his defensive game, but it will eventually happen.
“I don’t know how long it’s going to take for him to shake that,” said Knuble. “Is it going to be a strong playoff run? I don’t know what it’s going to take for him to lose that stereotype.
He’s a great, mobile defenceman, and he’s capable at both ends.”
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