Fourth line proving to be energizer for Caps

By John R. Adams
Special to The Examiner 10/12/08

On a team that carries a collection of forwards brimming with skill, Capitals right wing Matt Bradley makes his mark with grit and leadership.

Two games into the 2008-09 campaign, the veteran is providing his typical sandpaper play in the corners, and even dropped the gloves for a fight with Atlanta’s Chris Thorburn in the waning moments of Friday’s contest against the Thrashers.

Matt Bradley, rear, celebrates with Capitals teammates Tom Poti, left, and Jeff Schultz, right, after scoring in the first period against the Blackhawks Saturday night at Verizon Center. Mitchell Layton/NHLI via Getty Images

More surprisingly, Bradley has also been flaunting his ability to fill the role of a sparkplug, stirring up scoring chances with fourth-line mates Donald Brashear and Dave Steckel.

“Our game is forechecking,” said Caps coach Bruce Boudreau after Saturday’s 4-2 home-opener win against the Chicago Blackhawks. “And that's where we get the adrenaline from the crowd. And I thought the Steckel, Bradley, Brashear line was by far the best at it.”

Boudreau added that the fourth line’s play resonated with his team, inspiring a complete two-way effort: “They leaned on people. They know how to play without the puck, which is so terribly important.”

With his squad trailing Chicago, 2-0, midway through the first period, Bradley broke the ice by beating Blackhawks goalie Nikolai Khabibulin. The strike energized the capacity crowd at Verizon Center — which had been rendered silent by the early deficit — as well as Bradley’s teammates.

“We came out flat,” Bradley said. “But (after the first goal) everyone sort of realized what we were capable of and we came out and played Caps hockey.”

Bradley, Steckel, a faceoff specialist, and Brashear, who is more renowned for his work with his fists than with his stick, are making their minutes count. Each shift brings a lion’s share of possession and serves as a wake-up call for the bench.

Don’t bank on seeing Bradley’s name anywhere near the chase for the Art Ross Trophy come season’s end. But his solid early performances have brought another level of offensive depth to the Capitals.

“We’re not the most skilled line of the four,” said Steckel. “But we play to our strengths, and we do whatever we can, whether it’s score a goal or get a hit.”

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