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Don't Look Now, But Mike Green Playing Good Defense This Year

Mike Green is often described as a defenseman by title only. It's no secret that Green makes his living on the offensive side of the ice, even though he starts each game behind the blue line. He is really, really good at offense, but because it is not his natural position, people use that as a knock against him. But this year, things are a little bit different then they have been in the past, and Green is playing better defense then he has in the past, particularly on the penalty kill.

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The Peerless Prognosticator has crunched the numbers, and Green is playing more penalty kill minutes then he has in the past, and he's being pretty effective while he is out there.

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So far this season, Green ranks 48th in average shorthanded ice time (3:08/game), which is more than the likes of Duncan Keith or Zbynek Michalek. But more than the ice time numbers there is this. In the 13 games Green has played so far, the Caps have allowed seven power play goals.

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All while still being the offensive force he is known for. If he keep sit up, we can put the "offensive defenseman" label to bed.