Lars Eller is no stranger to big-time playoff performances as the scorer of the Washington Capitals’ Stanley Cup championship-winning goal. However, seven years later, the two-way centerman has seen his role shrink as he received the least amount of ice time on the team in a Game 2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.
Eller skated just 9:06 time on ice in the 3-1 victory, his lowest single-game total of the playoffs and third-lowest of the entire 2024-25 season. Caps head coach Spencer Carbery explained after practice Friday that Eller sitting was more of an isolated incident and not a strike against his overall game in the playoffs.
“I think Lars has been solid,” Carbery said. “I think last night was a little bit tough. They have that shift that was getting sort of two-plus minutes. Then, we’re sort of on our heels in the third period after that shift, so now we essentially go to three lines at that point. At this time of year, when you get into these moments, one-goal games, you’re going basically with your penalty kill guys protecting a lead and spot some other guys in at certain points.”
With the 36-year-old Dane on the ice in the playoffs, the Caps have seen just 41 percent of shot attempts, 44.7 percent of expected goals, 42.1 percent of scoring chances, and 39.3 percent of high-danger chances. However, most of those poor results, like for most Capitals forwards, have come in the two games against the Hurricanes. With Eller on the ice five-on-five in the first round, the Caps controlled 54.8 percent of the expected goals and 57.8 percent of the high-danger chances.
Carbery has stuck with a relatively unchanged lineup throughout the team’s seven games of the postseason, but made his first big change to Eller’s line for Game 2 against Carolina. Rookie forward Ryan Leonard was sent to the press box as a healthy scratch in favor of veteran winger Taylor Raddysh.
Despite a much-improved performance from the Capitals, the newly assembled third line struggled mightily. The Hurricanes owned heavy advantages in shot attempts (19-4), scoring chances (9-1), and high-danger chances (3-1) with Eller, Raddysh, and Andrew Mangiapane on the ice at five-on-five.
Carbery was unconcerned with the poor game, pointing to the line’s success over the totality of the postseason. He also hinted that Raddysh would likely stay in the lineup over Leonard for Game 3.
“I thought they’ve done a good job,” Carbery said. “They played well through the Montreal series. [Mangiapane] scored a huge goal in Montreal. I know they all weren’t on the ice in that moment, but a big goal there. I thought they’ve given us solid minutes and we’re going to need more of it, to be honest with you, with now going on the road and playing down in Carolina.
“So, whether it’s Lars, ‘Raddy’, ‘Mang’, whatever that line looks like, it’s an important line for our group. I think them continuing to give us good, solid, reliable minutes and being able to control play in their minutes is important.”
Eller has just one point in the playoffs thus far, and the four forwards to play on that third line have combined for five points (1g, 4a) through seven games. With Carbery unable to control matchups on the road in Raleigh, the Capitals will likely need more from Eller and the line in general in Games 3 and 4.
