Capitals' youth movement experiencing growing pains

By Steve Ginsburg

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Washington Capitals coach Glen Hanlon believes his team's rebuilding is on course despite a season marred by missed opportunities, a second-half tailspin and too many gut-wrenching losses.

"If you're looking for success and you think you should win the Stanley Cup with a lot of young players, I think that's unreasonable," Hanlon told Reuters on Tuesday.

Washington's Alexander Ovechkin has followed up his rookie-of-the-year campaign with an outstanding 87-point season but has been overshadowed by Sidney Crosby.

The Pittsburgh Penguins' center finished second to Ovechkin for the Calder trophy a year ago but has emerged as the league's leading scorer on the NHL's most-improved team.

"I think Ovie's success is parallel with what the team has been doing," Hanlon said. "Crosby is certainly having a great year but their team is having a great year.

"When we're a 100-point team I think Ovie will get the same kind of recognition. With Ovie, he's faced all odds here. He's lost his right-winger and center since the trade deadline.

"He's playing with different players and he'll still likely get 50 goals."

The Capitals blew a chance to beat the Penguins for the first time in four attempts this season by squandering a two-goal lead in a 4-3 loss at the Verizon Center on Tuesday.

Crosby scored his 35th goal during the Penguins' triumph, which raised his point total to 112. At 44-23-10, the team already has 98 points, 30 more than last season.

Washington, meanwhile, has a 26-37-13 record, the second-worst in the Eastern Conference.

UNLOADING VETERANS

Ovechkin refuses to blame management for unloading veterans like Dainius Zubrus, Richard Zednik and Jamie Heward before the trade deadline, leaving the Capitals with too few players able to set him up with scoring opportunities.

"I've had lots of chances to score goals," the 21-year-old Russian told Reuters. "Sometimes we don't have luck. Sometimes we play great and score goals. Other times, we miss the net.

"I won't score 100 points like that year. But I'm playing more defense. We're getting experience. We just have to look to next year."

Washington was 9-12 in overtime games last season but has slumped to 5-13 in 2006-07. The team has not had a winning month since October and is 5-15-6 since February 1.