Ovechkin, Trade Deadline Among Questions Capitals Face Returning From All-Star Break

The Capitals are looking to improve and work their way back up the standings in the second half.

The Washington Capitals will return from the All-Star Break on Monday with quite a bit of work to do and a few questions that need answering.

Following a tough road swing that saw the team go 0-3-1 before the break, Washington now sits seven points out of a playoff spot with 35 games remaining on the schedule. The group hasn't lost hope by any means and promised improvement, with every point a big one going forward.

"We know we have a long way to go. We have a lot of work to do to hang in these games against these types of teams in the league. We know that. We're going to put the work in and get back in after the break," head coach Spencer Carbery said.

That said, here are five questions that the team faces as it prepares to return from break.

One large question for the Capitals surrounds their captain, who has struggled in the goal-scoring department to open the season. He scored in his final game before the break on a classic Ovechkin play, firing home a slapshot from the point on a late power play for his ninth goal of the season.

Ovechkin was dealing with a lower-body injury that held him out for a few games before the road trip, and given his struggles, it is possible he is playing through something. That's why getting a lengthy break midseason is a bonus for the 38-year-old, who could benefit from some rest to come back stronger for the second half.

The biggest issue for Washington right now is scoring, as the team is struggling to produce and generate a lot on offense through 60 minutes. So, having Ovechkin back in top form will be huge for the team as it looks to climb back up the standings.

Ovechkin has shown that he can come back stronger in the second half over the course of his 19-year career. He is currently on pace for just 16 goals, but he still has the potential to total at least 20 if he can start off on the right foot.

Going into the break, the Capitals were struggling to piece together the right combination on their blue line. Trevor van Riemsdyk and Ethan Bear both took turns sitting out as Carbery and assistant coach Mitch Love shuffled things on the backend, but the team is still struggling with coverage in front of both netminders.

With offense not coming easily for D.C., the group needs to strike the right balance on the blue line — and fast — to stop the bleeding. Washington was outscored 19-9 on the road trip, and a lot of the goals against were from lapses in coverage and miscues.

It'll likely take a couple of more scratches and pairing swaps before the team finds the combinations that work. Once that happens, though, things should go better in front of Charlie Lindgren and Darcy Kuemper.

Evgeny Kuznesov's season has left a lot to be desired, as the 31-year-old center has just 17 points in 43 games and has struggled to find consistency while only showing flashes of that skill that had him up there with the NHL's elite centers just a few seasons ago.

Kuznetsov has three points in his last three games, and despite some struggles defensively, his effort on offense has been a lot more noticeable of late. With time to hit reset and relax over break, is it possible that the Capitals will see a different player in the second half and see him continue to produce?

With Sonny Milano working his way back from injury and the trade deadline approaching, there are several lineup questions that will need answers. And if Kuznetsov wants to keep his spot in the lineup, he will have to continue to step up and trend in the right direction at both ends of the ice.

Charlie Lindgren all but earned the starting spot with a stellar first half, but the last few outings on the road trip have been a bit rough. Granted, the play in front of him wasn't ideal, and he is still among the leaders in save percentage and goals saved above expected.

Darcy Kuemper has shown flashes of impressive play, and though his stats are not what he hoped, his play hasn't been as bad as it seems, as he's stopping most of the shots he's expected to stop. Still, he hasn't been able to find the consistency that Lindgren has.

That said, it's hard to imagine the team not going with Lindgren for the majority of the time or riding the hot hand.

The final question that the Capitals face returning from the break is how the trade deadline will go, and their approach is stlil very much up in the air.

If Washington can't come close to a playoff spot and remains in a similar position to where it is now, this team will likely sell at the deadline. Nic Dowd is a name that's gaining traction on the rumor mill, and D.C. could choose to go for a sell-off for the second consecutive year and turn attention to draft capital and the future.

However, if the Capitals can come within close distance to a Wild Card spot or get back in the race altogether, this team is likely not to sell and to keep the team intact to push for a return to the postseason.

Ultimately, it encourages the players to play for one another, with the room being tight-knit and wanting to keep things together.