Tuesday night, Andre Burakovsky was benched for the entire third period of the Caps’ 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Burakovsky received only 6:34 of ice time and was a factor on the game’s opening goal, a wrist shot from the point by Dennis Savard.

Burakovsky seemed lost during the play, running into a teammate in the slot and leaving his man open at the point. The talented forward would only receive eight more shifts after that, including a 12-second and 10-second shift towards the end of the second period. He would commit several turnovers.

Thursday during practice, Burakovsky was the extra forward and will not play Friday in the two teams’ rematch from days before.

Capitals' lines here during morning rushes: Ovechkin-Backstrom-Wilson

Vrana-Kuznetsov-Oshie

Connolly-Eller-Chiasson

Stephenson-Beagle-DSP Burakovsky is the extra forward here at practice. D pairs same as normal. — Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) February 8, 2018

Head coach Barry Trotz explained his decision with the media afterwards. Here’s the video from NBC Sports Washington’s Tarik El-Bashir.

“Now it’s really on Andre; he’s not a first [or] second year player.” — #Caps Coach Barry Trotz on Andre Burakovsky’s benching vs. Columbus. pic.twitter.com/DTB5xAxdqT — Tarik El-Bashir⌨️🎙🏒 (@TarikNBCS) February 8, 2018

“I think we’ve all seen it. He’s a really good player. You’ve seen it in the past. He was good in the playoffs. He just hasn’t found his game,” Barry Trotz said. “Some of the decisions he’s making, I’m sort of just trying to get his attention a little bit.

“I think Andre is going to be a guy we need down the stretch,” Trotz continued. “I need him. We need him. He needs to find his game within our game a little bit. It’s been a struggle for him this year for the most part. He really hasn’t gotten a lot of traction.”

Burakovsky missed seven weeks of NHL action in the fall due to a fractured left thumb. The Burracuda has scored four goals in 28 games this season.

“There’s certain things that we can do to help him,” Trotz said. “The coaching staff is helping him all the time, pointing out things to him, showing him a lot of film. Now it’s on Andre. He’s not a first, second year player. He’s a fourth-year player now. We need him to find his game and we need him down the stretch here.”

Andre Burakovsky acknowledged that it’s been a frustrating season for him, but the soon-to-be 23 y.o. (his birthday is tomorrow) remains hopeful of a late-season turnaround. #Caps pic.twitter.com/TeBYxDfF5v — Tarik El-Bashir⌨️🎙🏒 (@TarikNBCS) February 8, 2018

For his part, Burakovsky seemed unsure exactly what Trotz was looking for him to correct.

“I don’t know. I’’m going to see what he’s saying after today,” Burakovsky said. “Yeah, he mentioned a little bit my turnovers on the ice and just that game, I wasn’t really feeling the puck. Every time I had it, it would bounce on me a little bit. When I was starting to get around (Seth) Jones during the first period, it bounced on me. I looked down and he went over me. Just little things like that.

“I wasn’t feeling the puck at all,” Burakovsky said. “Every time I had it, I was insecure on what I was going to do with it. Sometimes you have that feeling.”

Burakovsky has been the healthy scratch for several games this season in what was supposed to be a breakout year.

“It definitely isn’t easy, not really what I was expecting this year at all,” Burakovsky said. “We still have the most important part left of the season. We’re just going to get ready for the playoffs and help the team as much as I can.”

While Burakovsky has struggled, he has not been nearly as bad as many would think. Burkie actually leads the team in possession (53.42 shot-attempt percentage) among players who have played 28 or more games this season per Natural Stat Trick. This benching appears to be another example of Trotz trying to send a message to a young player who arguably is better and performing at a higher level than other forwards in the lineup.

Fact: Burakovsky has not produced points as hoped or expected Fact: Burakovsky leads the Caps in CF% (relative and raw percentage) and has the worst on-ice Sh% of any Cap regular Fact: Burakovsky is markedly better than players that will be in the Caps' lineup tomorrow night — Japers' Rink (@JapersRink) February 8, 2018

P.S. – The Caps’ biggest problem is not on offense.

Headline photo via @TarikNBCSN