Ivan Miroshnichenko is set to become a core part of the Washington Capitals’ future, but his time as a legit NHL player may have just begun.
Since his recall in late November, Miroshnichenko has found success by simplifying his game and playing on the fourth line with two of the hardest-nose players in the NHL, Nic Dowd and Brandon Duhaime. Projected to be a top-six player in the future, Miroshnichenko is learning how to contribute the hard way while also learning how to shut down other teams’ top lines.
Saturday, for the third time in the last four games, Miroshnichenko registered a point. But it’s his underlying play and his competitiveness in the more nuanced parts of the Capitals system that suggests something is clicking in a bigger way.
In the Washington Capitals’ 6-5 win over the New Jersey Devils, Miroshnichenko earned a primary assist while out with the team’s second power play unit. The young Russian forward won a puck battle against two different Devils players behind the net, allowing Ramus Sandin to skate the puck in front of the net. The Swedish defenseman made no mistake, beating goaltender Jake Allen as Miroshnichenko boxed out three different Devils penalty killers.
Some tenacious forechecking and a heads up line change by Miroshnichenko also led to Taylor Raddysh’s third period goal that put the Capitals up 5-4. The Devils, caught on a long shift, were overwhelmed by the Capitals further when the young Russian exited for a fresh skater. The tally came 14 seconds after Miro went to the bench and as the Capitals maintained possession.
Postgame, Carbery called Miroshnichenko’s work on Raddysh’s goal an “incredible example of what this group is all about,” earning loud cheers from the locker room.
In the Capitals’ 5-4 overtime win over the New York Islanders on November 29, Miroshnichenko also tallied a primary assist on a Nic Dowd goal, hitting the centerman with a perfect pinpoint pass as he skated in front of the net. The five-on-five point was his first in 11 games stretching back into the 2023-24 season.
Miroshnichenko also scored a hardworking empty-net goal against the Florida Panthers on November 25 beating a defender to the puck and making his idol Alex Ovechkin proud.
In a small sample size (40:15 of ice time) the Capitals have dominated with Miroshnichenko on the ice at five-on-five, posting positive differentials in shot attempts (61.4 percent), scoring chances (59.6 percent), and high-danger chances (57.0 percent). The Capitals have also outscored teams 4-1 and have an expected goals percentage of 59.1 with him on the ice.
The numbers are a far cry from last year where the Capitals posted a 49.1 shot attempts percentage and were outscored 11 to 9 with him on the ice at five-on-five. Miro’s biggest contribution then was firing the puck aggressively on net: 70 individual shot attempts in 21 games (3.33 per game).
Miroshnichenko’s success with the Caps over the last two weeks comes after he dominated the AHL in the opening month of the 2024-25 season. Using his huge shot and play-making ability, Miroshnichenko led all under-22 AHL players in scoring and was on pace to score 36 goals with the Hershey Bears.
But the way he’s contributing with the Capitals now has been something different entirely. Miroshnichenko is playing more physical and battling more consistently, allowing his skill to shine through that baseline of play.
Miroshnichenko’s recall from Hershey came after Ovechkin fractured his fibula against the Utah Hockey Club. The Capitals currently have a full 23-man roster, meaning they’ll need to make a move when either Ovechkin or the also-injured Sonny Milano are healthy enough to play. The Caps will have a decision to make with the 2022 first-round pick when that moment comes: Is it time to keep Miro up permanently in Washington or let him cook more in Hershey?
