New power-play unit for the Caps

Morning skate brought the first big tweak since Ryan Leonard went down, with Sammi Silber spotting a new PP1 of Ovechkin, Jakob Chychrun, Dylan Strome, Frank and Tom Wilson.

Rookie winger Leonard is on injured reserve after a high hit from Anaheim defenseman Jacob Trouba on Friday, and is expected to miss extended time.

That hurts more than just the five on five depth. Before the collision he had 7 goals, 11 assists and 18 points in 29 games, riding a four game point streak and sitting near the top of the rookie scoring charts.

Enter Ethen Frank, the 27 year old undrafted burner whose story has gone from Hershey curiosity to Washington late bloomer.

Frank brings straight line speed, a heavy release and a willingness to attack seams, traits that fit naturally on the weak side flank.

With Wilson living net front, Ovechkin locked into his left circle office and Chychrun at the point, Frank likely becomes the right side trigger man while Strome works the bumper.

The promotion is a reward for more than just effort. Coaches have praised Frank's improved puck touches and retrieval work, and his five on five underlying numbers have quietly been solid for a depth winger.

Washington's power play had already started climbing after a major systems reset, moving out of the league's basement and up near 16.5 percent over a recent stretch that included five straight wins.

The puck has moved quicker, with more low plays, fewer forced seam passes and a bigger role for Chychrun as a one timer threat up top.

If Frank can consistently hit the net from the right side, penalty kills will have to cheat away from Ovechkin again, which is exactly what the Capitals want.

Big picture, Washington is 10 1 1 in its last twelve and suddenly leading the conference, even while now missing Leonard and backup goalie Charlie Lindgren.