A turnover on an entry while on the power play.
After Sonny Milano went off the ice, he would only take two more shifts for the rest of the game on Sunday night in D.C. In total, Milano logged less than four minutes in the game and totaled five shifts for the entire week.
While Milano hasn't been a total game-breaker for the Columbus Blue Jackets, his impact has been felt offensively. In 20 games from the trade deadline to the end of the regular season, Milano put up nine points during that time including six goals. At a flat 13 minutes averaged over that time, the trust between the coaches and Milano only grew.
Now that the Stanley Cup playoffs have hit, Milano has lost the trust that it looked like he previously gained. For a team that is trying to fire on all cylinders offensively, it makes zero sense to holster one of your weapons. The issue of defensive prowess, though, is a legitimate worry; at the beginning of the season he was lost, not covering defensemen who were able to skate in without him covering. Those issues have been remedied, but the lack of trust is still there between he and coach John Tortorella.
A large portion of the goals scored against the Blue Jackets in this series have come on the power play. The penalty kill has been a sore spot, as it was for much of the regular season. Dominating at 5-on-5 is a necessity if they want to win. Every goal Milano has scored this year has been at even strength. A no-brainer decision has now become polarizing.
It would be hyperbolic to say that whatever happens in this series could determine the fate of Milano long-term, but it's important to see how they handle his ice time for the rest of the playoffs.
Opportunity is there for both sides. In a wide open game, why not provide your team with enough ammunition to stick with the Capitals rather than leave a gaping hole in ice time?
[Stats courtesy of Hockey Reference]
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