Author: Kassie Coulson

Don’t Poke the Bear: Washington Capitals vs Boston Bruins

Washington Capitals (14-3-2) vs Boston Bruins (12-3-4)

 

 Predicted Goaltender Record GAA / SV% / # SO
Washington CapitalsBraden Holtby9-1-33.06 / .903% / 0
Boston BruinsJaroslav Halak4-1-22.68 / .918% / 1

 

The Washington Capitals will play their second game of a back-to-back tonight versus the Boston Bruins. Luckily, they have defined themselves as ‘road warriors’, as they are 9-1-1 on the road, and 7-1-1 against Eastern Conference teams. Despite dropping their last four games, the Bruins are still ranked first in the Atlantic Division and have not yet lost in regulation at TD Garden. The Caps and Bruins last played on February 3rd of 2019, where just a single goal decided the winner, and it was David Krejci of Boston who scored it. However, the Capitals won the two other meetings with the Bruins, including a 7-0 shutout on the eve of Washingtons’ combined home-opener/Championship banner raising.

Last night, the Washington Capitals ended a 13-game point streak after losing 5-2 to the Montreal Canadiens. Washington played with just 11 forwards, and seven defensemen, after calling up Tyler Lewington from the Hershey Bears earlier in the day. As a result, we saw double-shifting from top nine forwards, and Lewington filling in on the fourth line center position, as well as on defense. The first 10 minutes were ALL CAPS, as play remained in the Habs’ defensive zone for much of the period, and the Capitals’ forecheck was extremely aggressive. Washington fell behind slightly in the second half of the first frame, and Montreal took full advantage, though Ilya Samsonov stopped all 15 shots he faced. The second period, in which the Capitals had dominated in goal-scoring, saw four goals from the Canadiens, each from four different players. Phillip Danault started off the scoring at the 6:22 mark, as he deceivingly snuck the puck past Samsonov. The Habs’ second goal, coming from Shea Weber, resulted directly from a defensive breakdown between the circles, and Samsonov was hung out to dry. Just over two minutes later, Jordan Weal scored his 3rd of the season. The first penalty of the game was called at the 12:36 mark of the second period, as Garnet Hathaway was called for tripping (TheScore, MTL @ WSH). Just moments after the Capitals successfully killed off the penalty, Nick Suzuki improved the Habs’ lead to four goals. The third period saw the only Capitals’ power play of the game, with Jeff Petry going off for interference. Just over a minute into the power play, Alex Ovechkin, from his office, scored his 14th goal of the season, and just his 2nd goal at home. Many fans, myself included, considered a spoiled shutout for Carey Price the singular bright spot of the night.  10 minutes later, Evgeny Kuznetsov, who had already taken the majority of the Caps’ faceoffs, scored his 9th of the season, bringing Washington within two. However, Tomas Tatar, who had already registered three assists, scored an empty net goal, securing Montreals’ win, after head coach Todd Reirden elected to pull Samsonov for the extra skater. Since no one likes +/- ratings, let’s talk Corsi for a moment, also known as shot-attempt differential at even strength. Stat heads like myself prefer to utilize this value over +/-, because it generally gives a better idea of in-game contributions. Brendan Leipsic was the only player of the night with a + corsi rating, totaling +3 (TheScore, MTL @ WAS). With Samsonov having played last night, Braden Holtby is expected to start for the Capitals tonight.

Boston also played last night, where they defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-2 on the road. After losing their last four games, Boston head coach Bruce Cassidy was looking to his veterans to beat the team that they are nearly guaranteed to play in the first round of the playoffs, year in and year out. Charlie Coyle got the Bruins on the board at the 13:48 mark of the first period. David Pastrnak was called for interference shortly thereafter, but Bostons’ penalty kill successfully kept Toronto off the board. As the Leafs’ power play expired, Nicholas Shore was called for holding, and Bostons’ 3rd ranked power play unit would hope to add to their lead (TheScore, Boston Bruins). Neither team would score again until the 9:20 mark of the second, when Auston Matthews scored his 14th of the season. Boston ranks 5th in goals for, averaging 3.56 goals per game, and they also allow the 4th fewest goals against, averaging 2.5 goals per game (TheScore, Boston Bruins). Brad Marchand would give the Bruins a 1-goal lead just 11 seconds into the third period, and less than three minutes later, Kasperi Kapanen would score, tying the game. Just as quickly as Kapanen tied the game, Brad Marchand would score his second of the game, and his 13th of the season, a goal of which would be the eventual game-winner. Andreas Johnsson would be called for tripping at the 11:11 mark, which isn’t very lucky, but Boston would not convert on their second power play opportunity. Just under the 17 minute mark of third period, four-time Selke Trophy winner Patrice Bergeron would go off for slashing, and like Boston, Toronto was unable to score with the extra skater. With 90 seconds remaining, Zdeno Chara secured Bostons’ win with an empty net goal, giving the Bruins a 4-2 lead. David Pastrnak, who leads his team, and the league, in goals (16G), has just one point in his last four games. It is worth noting that nine, yes, nine, of his goals have come on the power play. After starting the season with points in 13 straight games (31P in 18 games), and five assists coming versus the New York Rangers on October 27th, Pastrnak, as he usually does, has gone cold for the moment. The Washington Capitals absolutely cannot let this Czech winger get behind their defense. Or offense, for that matter. Because he is one of those skaters who, given an inch, will take a mile. Or four. Brad Marchand leads the Bruins with 19 assists, and is close behind ‘Pasta’ with 30 points (TheScore, Boston Bruins). A right winger leads the Bruins in hits, with 47. That’s right. A forward, not a defenseman, and that wingers name is Chris Wagner. Arguably the most physical player on the squad, Wagner, who averages 13:37 TOI per night, is a heavy hitter, so sparks will likely fly between these teams tonight. Tuuka Rask stopped 29 of 31 shots, ending his night with a .935 save percentage (TheScore, BOS @ TOR). However, as they too will be playing the second game of a back-to-back, former Capitals’ goaltender Jaroslav Halak is slated to start tonight. In 21 career games VERSUS the Washington Capitals, Halak is 9-10-0, with a .900 SV% and 2.80 goals against (HockeyReference).

Nic Dowd and Carl Hagelin are both listed as ‘OUT’, and timelines to return are unknown at this point. We will continue to update this article as we receive further information from the Washington Capitals. Due to tight salary cap restrictions, the Capitals have recalled forward Travis Boyd and goaltender Vitek Vanecek, and have reassigned Ilya Samsonov and Tyler Lewington to the Hershey Bears. Vanecek will serve as back-up goaltender to Braden Holtby tonight. The Boston Bruins have been to hell and back with their lengthy laundry list of injuries. See below:

  1. D- John Moore (IR-NR, shoulder)
  2. D- Kevan Miller (IR-NR, kneecap)
  3. D- Tory Krug (OUT, upper body)
  4. LW- Anton Blidh (IR-NR, shoulder)
  5. LW- Jake DeBrusk (DL, lower body)
  6. RW- David Backes (DL, upper body)
  7. RW- Brett Ritchie (OUT, upper body)
  8. RW- Zach Senyshyn (DL, lower body)
  9. RW- Karson Kuhlman (DL, leg)

It is expected that none of these nine players will play tonight.

 

Coverage of the game begins at 6:00pm with Caps Faceoff Live, followed by Caps Pregame Live at 6:30pm, all on NBCSN/NBCSWA, with puck drop shortly after 7:00pm.

 

References:

HockeyReference. (2019). Jaroslav Halak Career Splits.Retrieved from https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/h/halakja01/splits/.

TheScore. (2019). Boston Bruins News & Stats. Retrievedfrom https://www.thescore.com/nhl/teams/1.

TheScore. (2019). Boston Bruins @ Toronto Maple Leafs. Retrievedfrom https://www.thescore.com/nhl/events/22020.

TheScore. (2019). Montreal Canadiens @ Washington Capitals.Retrieved from https://www.thescore.com/nhl/events/22022.

Washington Capitals. (2019). Caps Recall Boyd and Vanecek From Hershey, Assign Samsonov and Lewington. Retrieved from https://www.nhl.com/capitals/news/caps-recall-boyd-and-vanecek-from-hershey-assign-samsonov-and-lewington/c-311381504.

*UPDATED* The Haves and the Hab-Nots: Washington Capitals vs Montreal Canadiens

Washington Capitals (14-2-4) vs Montreal Canadiens (10-5-4)

 Predicted Goaltender Record GAA / SV% / # SO
Washington CapitalsIlya Samsonov5-1-12.45 / .915% / 0
Montreal CanadiensCarey Price9-4-22.65 / .916% / 1

Coming off a thrilling shootout win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night, the Washington Capitals are fired up to face-off against the Montreal Canadiens tonight back in DC. In the past, the first night of a back-to-back has treated Washington well. For some context, Washington played 12 back-to-backs last season. Eight of the ‘first-night’ games resulted in wins, and on three occasions, the Caps were able to win both games (HockeyReference). During the 2018-19 season, the Capitals defeated the Habs in 2 of 3 meetings, once at home, and once on the road. The last time these two teams played, Washington beat Montreal 2-1, with the first goal of the night coming from former-Canadien Lars Eller. That win also guaranteed another Metropolitan Division title for the Capitals.

The Washington Capitals, who lead the league in points, goal-scoring, wins, and goal-differential, have scored at least two goals in every game, and that streak also continued tonight (NHL.com). Wednesday nights’ smack-down with the Flyers definitely wasn’t their best performance of the season, but the Capitals still managed to snag two points with a 2-1 shootout win. Caps’ defenseman Radko Gudas expressed his desire to ‘stick it’ to his former team, and he did just that. Gudas committed five hits of his own, tied for the most in one game with captain Alex Ovechkin. Just past the six-minute mark of the first period, Brendan Leipsic scored his 2nd goal of the season, giving the Capitals a lead that would hold as the only goal of the game, for 48 minutes (NHL.com, Washington Capitals). John Carlson was credited with the primary assist, and improved his record to points in 16 of 20 games. Washington held the Flyers to just five shots on goal in the first period, whereas the Caps more than tripled up theirs. Claude Giroux, who I reported only had four goals through 17 games, finally got the Flyers on the board, six minutes and 38 seconds into the final frame. The goal came on the Flyers’ 4th power play of the game, after Nic Dowd went off for tripping. Jakub Vrana served the minor penalty, as Dowd suffered a hand injury prior to committing the penalty. Sometimes, the best player on the ice will be your goalie, and that was certainly the case last night. In the second, Philadelphia doubled up 12 shots to the Caps’ six. At the end of regulation, Braden Holtby had allowed just one goal on 27 shots faced, his best showing of the season thus far. Tied at one goal apiece, the Capitals and Flyers would head to overtime for what felt like the 100th time in 20 games. Although both teams had a handful of prime opportunities, both Braden Holtby for the Capitals and Carter Hart for the Flyers were simply unbeatable in the overtime period. Sudden death 3-on-3 overtime concluded without a winner, so for the third straight game for Philadelphia, a shootout would decide who will steal an extra point with the win. The Washington Capitals have gone to overtime or a shootout five times in their last eight games, and the Philadelphia Flyers, five in their last six. Jakub Voracek would shoot first, but Braden Holtby successfully stopped his attempt. Versus the Coyotes, TJ Oshie missed his attempt, but this time, he snuck the puck past Carter Hart, giving the Capitals a one-nil advantage. Claude Giroux, who scored the single Flyers’ goal, tricked Holtby with his questionable stop-on-a-dime deke. Luckily for the Capitals’, Evgeny Kuznetsov would beat Hart, and Holtby would stop Philadelphias’ third shot attempt, securing Washingtons’ 14th win. The win would assure that a 12-game point streak was extended to 13. Ilya Samsonov, who still has just one regulation loss (a game in which he was calling in to relieve Holtby), is expect to start tonight for the Capitals.

The Montreal Canadiens were last active on Tuesday night, where they defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets, also in a shootout. Montreal currently ranks 6th in goals for, scoring an average of 3.44 goals per game, as compared to Washingtons’ 1st place 3.85 goals for. The Habs rank 9th in shots on goal at 33.5%. but are 10th in shooting percentage, which is good for the Capitals and their goalies. Montreals’ special teams aren’t spectacular, with their power play operating at 20.7% efficiency, good enough for 14th overall, and their abysmal penalty kill, at 73.7% (28th place) (TheScore, Montreal Canadiens). Only the Los Angeles Kings (31st in standings), Winnipeg Jets (13th in standings), and Detroit Red Wings (29th in standings) have worse penalty kill percentages (NHL.com, NHL Hockey Standings). Joel Armia leads the team with three power play goals, and Tomas Tatar, Shea Weber, and Jeff Petry each have two. Impressively enough, the Canadiens have eight players with 10 or more points, and all but four players on their roster have at least one goal. Brendan Gallagher leads with eight goals, closely followed by Jonathan Drouin (7G). In their meeting with Columbus, Eric Robinson for the Blue Jackets would start the scoring, tallying his first NHL career goal. The entire second period was fairly uneventful, though the Canadiens successfully killed off two Columbus power plays. At the 3:27 mark of the third period, Brendan Gallagher would score for Montreal, tying the game 1-1. With just under two minutes remaining, Zach Werenski broke the tie, giving Columbus a one-goal lead. However, Tomas Tatar, in scoring his 6th goal of the season, re-established a tie-game, nearly guaranteeing at least a single point for Montreal. The 3-on-3 overtime period was scoreless, though Columbus registered three shots on goal to Montreals’ zero (TheScore, CBJ @ MTL). In the shootout, both Cam Atkinson and Paul Byron missed their shots, and Gustav Nyquist missed in the second round. Jonathan Drouin successfully scooped the puck past Blue Jackets’ back-up goaltender Elvis Merzlikins. With both third round shooters failing their attempts, the Montreal Canadiens would be the winner of this match, 3-2. Veteran goaltender Carey Price ended the night with a .943 save percentage, having stopped 33 of 35 shots faced, and is expected to start tonight (TheScore, Carey Price).

Nic Dowd and Carl Hagelin are both listed as day-to-day with upper body injuries. Earlier today, we reported that Dowd skated solo this morning, and Hagelin was first on the ice for the Capitals’ optional practice. Neither Nic nor Carl are slated for tonights’ lineup. As of 3:00pm this afternoon, the Washington Capitals have called up defenseman Tyler Lewington from the Hershey Bears. This post will continue to be updated as we obtain more thorough information regarding the status of Dowd and Hagelin. The Montreal Canadiens are without Jesperi Kotkaniemi (DL-Groin).

Coverage of the game begins at 6:00pm with Caps Faceoff Live, followed by Caps Pregame Live at 6:30pm, all on NBCSN/NBCSWA, with puck drop shortly after 7:00pm.

References:

Hershey Bears Hockey. (2019). Capitals Recall Tyler Lewington. Retrieved from https://www.hersheybears.com/news/detail.php?id=6021.

HockeyReference. (2019). 2018-19 Washington Capitals Schedule and Results. Retrieved from https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/WSH/2019_games.html.

TheScore. (2019). Carey Price: Stats, Age, News. Retrieved from https://www.thescore.com/s/12465602.

TheScore. (2019). Columbus Blue Jackets @ Montreal Canadiens. Retrieved from https://www.thescore.com/nhl/events/21999.

TheScore. (2019). Montreal Canadiens News & Stats. Retrieved from https://www.thescore.com/nhl/teams/3.

NHL.com. (2019). NHL Hockey Standings. Retrieved from https://www.nhl.com/standings/2019/league.  

TheScore. (2019). Washington Capitals News & Stats. Retrieved from https://www.thescore.com/nhl/teams/15.

NHL.com. (2019). Washington Capitals – Philadelphia Flyers. Retrieved from https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/wsh-vs-phi/2019/11/13/2019020283#game=2019020283,game_state=final.

A Battle in the City of Brotherly Love: Washington Capitals vs Philadelphia Flyers

Washington Capitals (13-2-4) vs Philadelphia Flyers (10-5-2)

 

 Predicted Goaltender Record GAA / SV% / # SO
Washington CapitalsBraden Holtby8-1-33.25 / .898% / 0
Philadelphia FlyersCarter Hart6-3-12.71 / .893% / 1

 

The Washington Capitals made the short drive up to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to take on the Flyers before heading right back to DC to face the Canadiens on Friday. Despite dropping their last game versus the Arizona Coyotes, the Capitals have not lost in regulation since mid-October, and are riding a 12-game point streak, of which they’ve picked up at least one point (TheScore, Washington Capitals). The last time the Capitals played the Flyers was back in March, where they defeated Philadelphia 3-1 at Wells Fargo Center.

The Washington Capitals lost 4-3 in the shootout to the Arizona Coyotes on Monday night. With just two wins in their last six games, Arizona played desperate. Clayton Keller of the Coyotes started off the scoring at the 14:15 mark of the first period, establishing a 1-0 lead. Each team received a power play in the first period, but neither the Caps nor the Coyotes converted. To start the second, Christian Fisher scored his first goal of the season, a goal that, much to the surprise of fans in attendance, would be reviewed, and ultimately ruled as a good goal. Just 30 seconds later, on what seemed to be the Coyotes 100th breakaway of the game thus far (hyperbole), Michael Grabner scored, adding to Arizona’s already-cushy lead. Just by looking at the score, it would be easy to assume that rookie goal-tender Ilya Samsonov was exclusively at fault for the three goals by the Coyotes, but fatal defensive breakdowns and falling behind plays directly led to each goal. Swallowed whistles by the referees allowed Arizona to take advantage of missed calls, and the Capitals suffered. Evgeny Kuznetsov would score the Capitals’ first goal of the game at the 8:47 mark of the second, re-instilling some of the hope that Caps’ fans had seemed to lose. The Capitals would receive a late second period power play, but did not score in the last 30 seconds of the period, or the first 1:30 of the final frame. Kuznetsov would score his second of the game two minutes and 23 seconds into the third period, bringing the game within reach for the first time of the night. Washington held the Coyotes to just 6 shots on goal in the third, and Samsonov stopped all six. With under a minute and a half remaining, and the Caps’ down by one, TJ Oshie would score the game-tying goal, his 9th of the season. Capital One Arena exploded, and the fans broke out into chants of ‘TJ OSHIE! *clap clap clap*’, as it seemed that Washington truly could complete another monumental comeback. For the 5th time in 8 games, extra time would be required. Just over halfway through the overtime period, TJ Oshie scored his second of the night, a goal that fans and teammates alike believed to be the overtime game winning goal. Exuberant joy that was, after what seemed like an eternity, fleeting. Officials determined that the preceding play was off-sides, and thus the goal was overturned. The remainder of the overtime period expired, and now an individual skills competition would be what decided the winner and the loser. At that moment, the Capitals’ fate was all but sealed. Although the Capitals had won their last shootout, Arizona had too, and backup goaltender Antti Raanta stopped nearly every shot he faced. Shootout hero TJ Oshie missed his shot, and Nick Schmaltz made his. Evgeny Kuznetsov missed, and Conor Garland was then the one to win it for Arizona. Ilya Samsonov stopped 32 of 35 shots faced, excluding shootout attempts, ending the night with a .914 save percentage (TheScore, ARI @ WSH). The Capitals are hoping to come back from the loss tonight, and Braden Holtby is expected to start.

The Philadelphia Flyers are riding a four-game win streak, after defeating the Boston Bruins on Sunday. Their second consecutive shootout win came on the second night of a back-to-back, where the night prior they had defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in a shootout. This was Philadelphia’s third consecutive game requiring extra time. Interestingly enough, each of those three wins came from 3-2 victories. This is the first time that Washington will play against former defenseman Matt Niskanen after trading him for Radko Gudas in the off-season. Niskanen, the only Stanley Cup champion on the Flyers’ roster, has established himself as a difference-maker for Philadelphia, scoring two goals of his own, and tallying six assists through 17 games (NHL.com). The Flyers are 6-1-1 at home, and boast the second-best face-off percentage (yes, again) at 54% of all face-offs taken (TheScore, Philadelphia Flyers). In their game versus the Bruins, Philadelphia actually established a two-goal lead in the first period that would hold until the six-minute mark of the third period. Travis Konecny scored his 8th of the season just short of the 14-minute mark of the first and Phillipe Myers, his 3rd at the 17:56 mark. Konecny leads the team with 19 points, and is tied with Oskar Lindblom for most goals with eight (TheScore, Philadelphia Flyers). Three of Lindbloms’ goals and two of Konecnys’ have come on Philadelphia power plays. Flyers’ veterans Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier have just 9 goals between the two of them. Only three penalties were called in all of regulation, and neither team converted on their respective power plays. Danton Heinen would score Bostons’ first goal of the night six minutes into the final frame, and everyone’s favorite Brad Marchand scored the game-tying goal, his 11th of the season, at the 12:22 mark of the third. The overtime period saw a power play for the Flyers, but would expire with 2 shots on goal by Philadelphia, and one by Boston. Flyers rookie Joel Farabee, in his 2nd shootout appearance, would ultimately win the game in the shootout for Philadelphia. Both teams were held to less than 30 shots throughout the entire game, and Carter Hart tallied his 6th win of the season, stopping 26 of 28 shots faced, excluding the shootout (TheScore, PHI @ BOS). Hart is expected to start versus the Capitals tonight.

Carl Hagelin did not practice yesterday, and did not travel with the team to Philadelphia. He is still listed as day-to-day with an upper body injury, but speculation is mounting regarding if and when he will return to the lineup. Philadelphia will be without Scott Laughton (DL-finger), Samuel Morin (OUT-knee), and Nolan Patrick (IR-NR-head).

Coverage of the game begins at 6:30pm with Caps Faceoff Live, followed by Caps Pregame Live at 7:00pm, all on NBCSN/NBCSWA, with puck drop shortly after 7:30pm.

 

 

References:

NHL.com. (2019). Matt Niskanen Stats & News. Retrieved from https://www.nhl.com/player/matt-niskanen-8471702.

TheScore. (2019). Arizona Coyotes @ Washington Capitals. Retrieved from https://www.thescore.com/nhl/events/21996.

TheScore. (2019). Philadelphia Flyers @ Boston Bruins. Retrieved from https://www.thescore.com/nhl/events/21993.

TheScore. (2019). Philadelphia Flyers News & Stats. Retrieved from https://www.thescore.com/nhl/teams/9.

TheScore. (2019). Washington Capitals News & Stats. Retrieved from https://www.thescore.com/nhl/teams/15.

Veteran’s Day Showdown in DC: Washington Capitals vs Arizona Coyotes

Washington Capitals (13-2-3) vs Arizona Coyotes (9-6-2)

 

  Predicted Goaltender Record GAA / SV% / # SO
Washington CapitalsIlya Samsonov5-1-02.38 / .915% / 0
Arizona CoyotesAntti Raanta2-1-23.12 / .912% / 0

 

The Washington Capitals are the team to beat. Leading the league in wins, points, goal-scoring, goal differential, shot percentage, and riding a six-game win streak, Washington has set franchise records and established themselves once again as a dominating powerhouse in just a month and a half’s’ time. Tonight, the Capitals will face the Arizona Coyotes, who are 9-6-2 and just a smidgen over .500 on the season. The last time Washington faced the desert dogs was in December 2018, where the Caps won 4-2.

On Saturday night, the Washington Capitals defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 5-2 at Capital One Arena. Many speculated there would be some fist-throwing between Tom Wilson and the infamous Ryan Reaves, and during the Caps’ pregame skate, the two exchanged pleasantries. Although the two did not drop the gloves, there was plenty of beef between the 2018 Stanley Cup Champions and the 2018 Stanley Cup Losers. Less than 60 seconds past puck drop, Evgeny Kuznetsov scored his 6th goal of the season, giving the Capitals an early 1-0 lead. Four minutes later, Tom Wilson scored his third goal in two games, thus adding to the Caps lead, and extending his three-game point streak to four. With all of the first period scoring coming within the first 10 minutes, Max Pacioretty scored his 5th of the season, cutting the Caps’ lead in half. Washington received two power plays in the first period, but were unable to convert on either. Radko Gudas was called for interference with just seconds remaining in the period, and therefore, Vegas would start the second on the power play. Fortunately, the Capitals were able to kill off the remainder of the Gudas penalty. 15 minutes into the second period, Jonas Siegenthaler, on the anniversary of his NHL debut, scored his first NHL goal, re-establishing the Capitals’ 2-goal lead. Siegenthaler leads the team in blocked shots (39) and has been absolutely pivotal in the retooling of the penalty kill (NHL.com, Jonas Siegenthaler). Shortly thereafter, Garnet Hathaway would be called for elbowing, and the Golden Knights would receive their second power play, but this time, Riley Smith would sneak the puck past Braden Holtby, once again cutting into Washingtons’ lead. After the horn signaling the end of the second period, both the Capitals and Golden Knights got into it, and Vegas again, would start the subsequent period on a power play. The Capitals again successfully killed off the two-minute roughing minor, and kept Vegas off the board for the remainder of the game, holding them to just two goals. At the 11:30 mark, Nicklas Backstrom would score the Capitals singular power play goal of the night, doubling up 4-2 over the Golden Knights. Vegas head coach Gerard Gallant would elect to pull Marc-Andre Fleury with two minutes remaining in the game, and after about 10 shot attempts, Nicklas Backstrom would score his second of the game, an empty-net goal, sealing the Caps’ 6th consecutive win. Braden Holtby ended the night with a .938 save percentage, allowing just two goals on 32 shots. Ilya Samsonov, who has not lost a single game of those he has started, is expected to play tonight versus the Arizona Coyotes.

The Arizona Coyotes, having also played on Saturday, lost to the struggling Minnesota Wild after blowing a three-goal lead in the second period. The Coyotes haven’t been awful to start off the season, though they have lost their last three, won just two of their last six, and are 5-4-1 in their last 10. Michael Grabner and Jakob Chychrun gave Arizona a two-nil lead heading into the first intermission. However, the Minnesota Wild, who have been bad thus far, rallied together, scored three in the 2nd, and a fourth in the final frame, to defeat the Coyotes, 4-3. A power play goal from Mikko Koivu brought the game back within reach for the Wild, and although Vinnie Hinestroza scored the Coyotes’ third goal five minutes later, that would be the last goal scored by Arizona. Kevin Fiala and Matt Dumba both scored before the second period expired, tying the game at three goals each. Ryan Hartman would score the eventual game-winning goal less than five minutes into the final frame. Last season, Arizona boasted one of the best power play and penalty kill units in the league, but just a year later, both are ranked 20th and 22nd respectively (TheScore, Arizona Coyotes). The Coyotes, however, are tied for second fewest goals allowed at 2.41, compared to the Capitals’ 3.06, good enough for T-18th (TheScore, Arizona)(TheScore, Washington). Nick Schmaltz, who was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks last November in exchange for Dylan Strome and Brendan Perlini, leads Arizona in points and assists with 15 and 11, respectively. Conor Garland, in his second season in the NHL, leads the Coyotes with 7 goals. Former Hershey Bears defenseman Aaron Ness was acquired by Arizona, and in 7 games, has just one point, courtesy of a single assist. Darcy Kuemper, who has struggled with injuries in recent years, is 7-5-0 in 12 games played, but back-up goaltender Antti Raanta is expected to start for Arizona tonight.

Yesterday, the Washington Capitals placed defenseman Tyler Lewington on waivers, with the intent to send him back down to Hershey. Roster space was needed, as Richard Panik, who has been on injured reserve, is expected to play tonight. Panik last played October 16th, versus the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he suffered an upper body injury. Carl Hagelin and Travis Boyd were not present for today’s morning skate. The Arizona Coyotes will be without the services of Niklas Hjalmarsson (DL- lower leg), and Marian Hossa (IR-NR, illness). Jason Demers, who is listed as day-to-day with a lower body injury, is undetermined.

Coverage of the game begins at 6:00pm with Caps Faceoff Live, followed by Caps Pregame Live at 6:30pm, all on NBCSN/NBCSWA, with puck drop shortly after 7:00pm.

 

References:

NHL.com. (2019). Jonas Siegenthaler Stats & News. Retrieved from https://www.nhl.com/player/jonas-siegenthaler-8478399.

TheScore. (2019). Arizona Coyotes News & Stats. Retrieved from https://www.thescore.com/nhl/teams/24.

TheScore. (2019). Washington Capitals News & Stats. Retrieved from https://www.thescore.com/nhl/teams/15.

UPDATED: Nighty-Knight: Washington Capitals vs Vegas Golden Knights

Washington Capitals (12-2-3) vs Vegas Golden Knights (9-5-3)

  Predicted Goaltender Record GAA / SV% / # SO
Washington Capitals Braden Holtby 7-1-3 3.36 / .895% / 0
Vegas Golden Knights Marc-Andre Fleury 9-3-1 2.40 / .924% / 1

 

After an abbreviated one-game road trip, the Washington Capitals are back in D.C. to take on the Vegas Golden Knights as they try to extend their win-streak to six games. Through 17 games played, 10 have been on the road, and the Capitals have only failed to snag a point just once. The Capitals last played the Golden Knights almost a full year ago, in Vegas, where they ultimately lost 3-5. Fans will never forget the game, as it was during that game when infamous goon and press-box regular Ryan Reaves targeted Capitals’ winger Tom Wilson, committing a blind-sided headshot that knocked Wilson out of commission. Following that game, it had been rumored that Reaves had agreed to sign photos of Tom Wilson laid out on the ice after the hit, where I then personally contacted the memorabilia shop in Las Vegas to confirm the allegations. But tonight, the Capitals will be out to avenge the Knights, and re-establish themselves as the better of the two teams. Besides, one of these teams are Stanley Cup Champions, and the other allowed four goals on a five-minute power play.

The Washington Capitals defeated the Florida Panthers for just the second time in eight meetings on Thursday night. Many anticipated that, like in games past, this would be a high-scoring affair, despite decent goaltending on both sides. Thursday’s match was the first time Washington would face former winger Brett Connolly, since the Panthers signed him to a 4-year/$14 million dollar contact as a free agent in Summer 2019. It was also the Caps’ first opportunity to face goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky since having signed with Florida as well. Characterized by early and late goals, this game was arguably the fastest, most physically demanding game yet for the Capitals. Defenseman John Carlson tallied his 8th goal of the season just 25 seconds into the first period, establishing an early Washington lead. But before the game was two minutes old, Frank Vatrano had tied the game. But that was just the start. Brett Connolly would ultimately add to Florida’s lead, as he scored his 6th goal of the season, with just over five minutes remaining in the first period. The second period was extremely penalty-heavy, but the Capitals improved penalty kill was able to hold the Panthers to just one power play goal on five opportunities. Aleksander Barkov established a two-goal lead 27 seconds into the second. Alex Ovechkin brought the Capitals within one on the power play, and six minutes later, he would score his 13th of the season, and second of the game, tying the game at 3-3. A late goal by Evgenii Dadonov re-established Florida’s lead, but that lead was short lived. Tom Wilson scored the game-tying, and singular, goal of the third period, with his 6th goal coming just 44 seconds after puck drop. The Capitals would hold off the Panthers for the remaining 19 minutes, and yet again, this match would require overtime. After a game-changing stop by Braden Holtby in the Caps’ defensive end, John Carlson gained possession and skated back towards Bobrovsky, with the eventual-game-tying goal scorer Tom Wilson. A perfect pass drew Florida’s goaltender out and allowed Tom Wilson to lift the puck over Bobrovsky, winning it for Washington. Braden Holtby’s 32 save performance improved his record to 7-1-3, and he is expected to start for the Capitals tonight versus the Vegas Golden Knights.

Vegas last played on Thursday as well, where they lost 1-2 in overtime to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Watching this game was like watching paint dry. The Golden Knights are 5-2-3 in their last 10 and have dropped four of their last six. Toronto received two power plays in the first, and two in the second, but were unable to score, even on Vegas’ backup Malcolm Subban. The Golden Knights received one power play in each period, but likewise, were unable to score. It took 44 minutes for either team to score the first goal of the game. Max Pacioretty scored in the fourth minute of the final frame to put the Golden Knights on the board, but four minutes later, Auston Matthews finally scored on a Leafs power play, re-establishing a tie, but this time, with actual goals. Like the Capitals, this game as well would need overtime, and it was John Tavares who scored the game-winner at the 2:33 mark of the 3-on-3 period. Mark Stone, who proved to be a worthy mid-season acquisition for the Golden Knights last year, leads the team with 18 points, and Riley Smith leads with 9 goals. The Vegas penalty kill, at 89.2%, is 2nd in the league, but the Golden Knights also accumulate the 3rd most penalty minutes, averaging 10.7 per game (TheScore, Vegas).

UPDATED: Carl Hagelin will not play tonight, as he is currently day-to-day with an upper body injury. Nic Dowd is expected to play tonight, which would be his first game since October 29th, where he suffered a lower body injury and did not finish the game. Richard Panik, who has been on the injured reserve list since the middle of October, is eligible to play versus the Arizona Coyotes on Monday (TheScore, Washington). Vegas forward Valentin Zykov is in the middle of serving a 20-game suspension for performance enhancing drugs, a fate that Nate Schmidt faced last season. Alex Tuch is out (again) with an upper body injury that he suffered versus Winnipeg on November 2nd  (NHL.com, Alex Tuch). His first injury of the 2019-20 season came on September 19th versus the LA Kings, an injury that sidelined him until Halloween.

Coverage of the game begins at 6:00pm with Caps Faceoff Live, followed by Caps Pregame Live at 6:30pm, all on NBCSN/NBCSWA, with puck drop shortly after 7:00pm.

 

 

References:

NHL.com. (2019). Alex Tuch Stats & News. Retrieved from https://www.nhl.com/player/alex-tuch-8477949.

TheScore. (2019). Vegas Golden Knights News & Stats. Retrieved from https://www.thescore.com/nhl/teams/102.

TheScore. (2019). Washington Capitals News & Stats. Retrieved from https://www.thescore.com/nhl/teams/15.

Going Streaking in Sunshine, Florida: Washington Capitals vs Florida Panthers

Washington Capitals (11-2-3) vs Florida Panthers (7-3-4)

  Predicted Goaltender Record GAA / SV% / # SO
Washington Capitals Braden Holtby 6-1-3 3.30 / .895% / 0
Florida Panthers Sergei Bobrovsky 6-2-3 3.36 / .882% / 1

 

The Washington Capitals are currently riding a four-game win streak, and are hoping to extend that to five games when they take on the Florida Panthers tonight at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida (TheScore, Capitals). Last year, the Panthers were the team that the Capitals just couldn’t figure out. Their last meeting came April 1st, as the Caps fell to the Cats 3-5. Prior to that loss, Washington lost 5-4 in overtime in February. Their first meeting, which came October 19, 2018, saw goalie changes for both teams. After allowing four goals in the first period, Pheonix Copley came in to relieve Braden Holtby. The Capitals came back and scored four unanswered goals in the second, and the Panthers ultimately pulled Jeremy Reimer, and sent in Michael Hutchinson. In the third, the Panthers would score again, as would the Caps, and the game went into overtime. Neither team would score in overtime, and Copley would see his first career shootout, in which Jonathan Huberdeau would score the game winner (NHL.com, Capitals). This will be the first time the 2019-20 Capitals play against former Cap Brett Connolly, and former Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. Can the Capitals rewrite history against the Panthers?

On Sunday, the Washington Capitals extinguished the Calgary Flames in a 4-2 home victory. Prior to puck drop, the Capitals held an on-ice celebration to honor the World Series Champions Washington Nationals. Through the course of the last three seasons, the two teams have expressed outrageous support for one-another, attending games for the respective teams. From chugging beers through t-shirts, pouring beer into fans mouths, and shirtless Zamboni rides, this was a game you really didn’t want to miss. Jakub Vrana would score his first career hat-trick (TheScore, Calgary Flames @ Washington Capitals). Andrew Mangiapane would actually score first, as he put the Flames up 1-0 just under six minutes into the first period. However, at the 11:01 mark, Jake ‘The Snake’ Vrana would start off an unforgettable night of goal-scoring as he tallied his 7th goal of the season. Four minutes later, he scored his 8th goal. While fans were hyped and excited for all the games’ festivities, the nerves never seemed to disappear. Seconds before the end of the 1st, Elias Lindholm tied the game at two goals apiece. 15 minutes into the second period, Vrana would score his third of the night, rounding out his first hat-trick of his career, giving Washington a 3-2 lead. Lars Eller scored his 5th goal of the season on the power play 2 minutes and 20 seconds into the third, re-establishing Washingtons’ 2-goal lead. The period would remain goal-less for the Flames, and the Capitals walked away with their 11th win of the season. Ilya Samsonov picked up his 5th win, and is actually undefeated in games he has started (TheScore, Calgary Flames @ Washington Capitals). Samsonov’s only loss came versus the Colorado Avalanche when he relieved Braden Holtby of his duties, after allowing 3 goals on 3 shots. Braden Holtby is expected to start tonight versus the Panthers.

The Panthers have not played since Saturday November 2nd, where they shut out the Detroit Red Wings 4-0. Goals from Brett Connolly and Aleksander Barkov in the first, and two goals from Jonathan Huberdeau, one in the second and third, gave Florida their second consecutive win for only the second time through 14 games. The Panthers rank second overall in shots on goal (34.8), but they allow 29.4 shots against (TheScore, Florida). Jonathan Huberdeau leads the team in goals and points with 9 and 18 respectively, but former Capitals winger Brett Connolly isn’t far behind. Through 14 games, Connolly boasts 5 goals and 5 assists for 10 points (TheScore, Florida). After signing an absolutely massive contract worth $70 million over seven years with the Panthers back in July, expectations were high for goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. However, his start in the Sunshine State hasn’t been stunning. His first shutout of the season improved his record to 6-2-3, but Bobrovsky only faced 22 shots on goal from Detroit, and his GAA and save percentage needs some work. He was pulled and replaced by backup Sam Montembeault versus the Vancouver Canucks after allowing 2 goals on 6 shots. The Cats ultimately lost that game 7-2. He is, however, expected to start for the Florida Panthers tonight.

The Florida Panthers are without Jayce Hawryluk (OUT, upper body), and centers Vincent Trocheck and Noel Acciari are both day-to-day with lower body and undisclosed injuries, respectively. Nic Dowd and Richard Panik, who have been out of the lineup with injuries, both skated with the team the other day, and Dowd may make the lineup tonight for the Capitals. Panik cannot be activated off of injured reserve until November 11th, when the Capitals play the Arizona Coyotes.

Coverage of the game begins at 6:00pm with Caps Faceoff Live, followed by Caps Pregame Live at 6:30pm, all on NBCSN/NBCSWA, with puck drop shortly after 7:00pm.

 

Sources:

NHL.com. (2019). Washington Capitals Schedule. Retrieved from https://www.nhl.com/capitals/schedule/2018/ET/fullseason.

Sports Illustrated. (2019). Sergei Bobrovsky Agrees to Seven-Year, $70 Million Contract With Panthers. Retrieved from https://www.si.com/nhl/2019/07/01/sergei-bobrovsky-contract-free-agency-panthers.

TheScore. (2019). Calgary Flames @ Washington Capitals. Retrieved from https://www.thescore.com/nhl/events/21944.

TheScore. (2019). Florida Panthers News & Stats. Retrieved from https://www.thescore.com/nhl/teams/13.

TheScore. (2019). Washington Capitals News & Stats. Retrieved from https://www.thescore.com/nhl/teams/15.

Through the Fire and the Flames, We Carry On: Washington Capitals vs Calgary Flames

Washington Capitals (10-2-3) vs Calgary Flames (7-6-2)

 Predicted GoaltenderRecordGAA / SV% / # SO
Washington CapitalsIlya Samsonov 4-1-02.46 / .913% / 0
Calgary FlamesCam Talbot1-2-02.46 / .908% / 0

Tonight, the Washington Capitals will take on the Calgary Flames in their second of three meetings this season. Prior to puck drop, there will be a pregame celebration to congratulate the Washington Nationals to celebrate their very first World Series Championship win in franchise history. On October 22, 2019, the Caps’ beat the Flames 5-3 on the road, with two goals coming from defenseman John Carlson. Since that game, Carlson has tallied two more goals, and one assist. Less ideally, the Flames have lost two, and won two, with both wins coming in overtime or the shootout.

On Friday night, the Capitals kicked off the month by dominantly defeating the Buffalo Sabres, 6-1. For the Sabres, this match was a litmus test of sorts, to see just how good they are to start the season. Buffalo, sitting in third place heading into Friday’s match, with the second best power play overall, had started off the 2019-20 season similarly to last season. However, it took less than 10 minutes for Buffalo to realize they definitely have some work to do. Four goals were scored in just four minutes, two of which came off the stick of Jakub Vrana. Chandler Stephenson’s second goal of the season came 42 seconds after Vrana’s 5th, and his 6th came two and a half minutes after that. #13 Jakub Vrana’s first goal, assisted by #43 Tom Wilson came with 13:43 remaining in the period. Brendan Leipsic’s speed and impressive puck-handling finally paid off, as he scored his first goal of the season one minute and fifteen seconds after Vrana’s second. Buffalo received one power play during the first period, but the Capitals’ improved penalty kill kept them off the board. Both the Capitals’ penalty kill and power play are 5th overall, as they have killed off 85.7% of penalties taken, and are operating at 25% efficiency on the power play. Washingtons’ special teams are much improved over last seasons’ numbers (TheScore, Washington). Henri Jokiharju scored his first, and ultimately the only goal for Buffalo, just over halfway through the game, but six minutes later, Tom Wilson scored his 5th goal, re-establishing the Caps’ 4-goal lead. TJ Oshie, at the 13:43 mark, scored his 8th of the season, all but guaranteeing the Capitals’ 10th win of the season. Braden Holtby tallied his 5th win in 6 starts, stopping 29 of 30 shots faced, allowing the fewest number of goals in all 11 starts. Holtby ended the night with a .967 SV%, but backup Ilya Samsonov, who has only one loss in 5 starts, it expected to start versus the Calgary Flames (TheScore, Buffalo Sabres).

The Calgary Flames played last night, as they shutout the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-0. Goals in each period gave the Flames their 8th, and second consecutive, win of the season. Sean Monahan scored just under four minutes into the first period, a goal that would be the eventual game winning goal. Calgary did have two power play opportunities, but they were unable to convert on either. Sam Bennett added to the Flames 1-0 lead in the second, and Matthew Tkachuk scored his 7th goal of the season, an empty net goal, completing the shutout for Calgary. Elias Lindholm, who leads his team in goals, registered two assists last night, and has goals in the last three games of October, versus Winnipeg, Carolina, and Nashville (NHL.com). He also scored against the Capitals back on October 22nd. Columbus peppered Rittich with 43 shots on goal, but the veteran goaltender stopped every single one. Despite that perfect showing by Rittich, Cam Talbot is expected to start tonight, the second night in a back-to-back for the Flames.

Nic Dowd (DTD, lower body) and Richard Panik (LTIR, upper body) skated prior to Caps’ official practice yesterday, which seems to be a step in the right direction. The Calgary Flames are still without Austin Czarnik (DL, lower body) and Juuso Valimaki (IR-NR, knee).

Coverage of the game begins at 6:00pm with Caps Faceoff Live, followed by Caps Pregame Live at 6:30pm, all on NBCSN/NBCSWA, with puck drop shortly after 7:00pm.

 

Sources:

NHL.com. (2019). Elias Lindholm Stats and News. Retrieved from https://www.nhl.com/player/elias-lindholm-8477496.

TheScore. (2019). Buffalo Sabres @ Washington Capitals. Retrieved from https://www.thescore.com/nhl/events/21923/.

TheScore. (2019). Washington Capitals News and Stats. Retrieved from https://www.thescore.com/nhl/teams/15.

Hi-Ho, Back to Washington We Go: Washington Capitals vs Buffalo Sabres

Washington Capitals (9-2-3) v Buffalo Sabres (9-2-2)

 

Predicted Goaltender Record (W-L-OTL) GAA / SA%/# of SO
Washington Capitals Braden Holtby 5-1-3 3.55 / .888 / 0
Buffalo Sabres Carter Hutton 6-1-1 2.21 / .926 / 2

 

After a very successful five-game road trip, the Washington Capitals will kick off a home-game-heavy November schedule tonight as they take on the Buffalo Sabres. Nine of their 14 games in November will be played at Capital One Arena, so now is the chance for Washington to establish some good home-ice performances. The last time these two teams met was back in February, where the Sabres bested the Caps 5-2 in Buffalo. However, Washington did beat Buffalo two weeks in a row last December, during the peak of their season, 4-3 the day after beating Carolina 6-5, and the following Friday 2-1, where they then shutout the Ottawa Senators 4-0 the very next day. Like last year, Buffalo is in the midst of another strong start, but for how long?

The Washington Capitals rounded out their annual October road-trip by defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 4-3 win on Tuesday, courtesy of an Alex Ovechkin overtime slapshot from The Office. Andreas Johnsson scored his 4th goal of the season just 40 seconds into the game. Back to back goals from John Carlson, with the second coming on the power play, gave Washington a one-goal lead. However, Auston Matthews would tie the game with approximately thirty seconds remaining in the second period, bringing Caps’ fans to the edges of their seats once again. Less than a minute and a half into the final frame, the Leafs would receive their 7th power play of the night, thanks to another botched call made by the infamous Tim Peel. 19 seconds later, Auston Matthews would strike again, re-establishing the Leafs lead. Between the two teams, 34 penalty minutes and 15 power plays were doled out (TheScore, WAS @ TOR). Alex Ovechkin tied the game shortly after Matthews’ goal, and the Capitals were able to keep Toronto off the board for the remainder of the period. Once again, extra time was needed to decide the victor in Canada. Twenty-one seconds into the overtime period, William Nylander was called for tripping, and the Capitals received a much-needed power play. Washington was able to establish possession of the puck, and although they did not score on the first two-minute minor against Toronto in overtime, the Capitals would get a second chance. Just as the penalty against Nylander expired, Mitch Marner would be called for high-sticking, and the Caps went up an extra man for another two minutes. With 60 second remaining in overtime, Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin would score the game-winning goal, guaranteeing the 9th of 10 possible points available this road-trip. The OT-GWG would mark Ovechkins’ 11th goal of the season. Despite a rough start, Braden Holtbys’ numbers are improving overall, with the veteran goaltender stopping 28 of 31 shots faced, and tallying his 5th win of the season versus Toronto. Braden Holtby is expected to start versus Buffalo tonight.

The Buffalo Sabres are off to very similar start to last year, but with a slightly different roster. Through trades and off-season acquisitions, the Sabres added Marcus Johansson (yes, that Johansson), Henri Jokiharju, and Jimmy Vesey to their lineup. Buffalo dropped their last game to the Arizona Coyotes in a 3-2 shootout loss, but are 7-2-1 in their last 10 starts. But so are the Washington Capitals. Jack Eichel leads the team in points (17), and is tied for most goals at seven with fellow forward Jeff Skinner. It would only make sense that the two of them are perhaps the most consistent goal scorers on the roster. Jack Eichel and Jeff Skinner scored the first two goals of the game, giving the Sabres a 2-0 lead, but Conor Garland and former Avalanche center Carl Soderberg tied the game 2-2. Only Nick Schmaltz would pot the puck in the shootout, winning the game for Arizona. Buffalo’s power play is no joke; operating at 29.8% efficiency, the Sabres are second only to the Boston Bruins (31%) (TheScore, Boston)(TheScore, Buffalo). Their penalty kill, however, is 20th at just under 80% (79.2%) and the team allows the 5th most shots on goal at 33.5. Although both Buffalo goalies have incredible numbers, netminder Carter Hutton allowed just 2 goals on 44 shots versus the Coyotes, sans the shootout goal, and is expected to start for the Sabres.

The Buffalo Sabres are still without the services of Zach Bogosian (IR-NR, hip), Matt Hunwick (IR-NR, neck), Marco Scandella (lower body), Brandon Montour (DL, hand), and Jimmy Vesey (upper body) (TheScore, Buffalo). Early this morning, the Capitals recalled center Liam O’ Brien from the Hershey Bears. It is unclear who he will fill in for today. Yesterday, Evgeny Kuznetsov took a maintenance day after an awkward head/shoulders first collision in Tuesdays’ game, but is expected to play. Nic Dowd is listed as day-to-day, but did skate before practice yesterday.

Coverage of the game begins at 6:00pm with Caps Faceoff Live, followed by Caps Pregame Live at 6:30pm, all on NBCSN/NBCSWA, with puck drop shortly after 7:00pm.

 

Sources:

TheScore. (2019). Boston Bruins News and Stats. Retrieved from https://www.thescore.com/nhl/teams/1

TheScore. (2019). Buffalo Sabres News and Stats. Retrieved from https://www.thescore.com/nhl/teams/2

TheScore. (2019). Washington Capitals @ Toronto Maple Leafs. Retrieved from https://www.thescore.com/nhl/events/21906

Avalanche Captain Out ‘Indefinitely’

Per the Colorado Avalanche, left winger Gabriel Landeskog is expected to miss significant time due to a lower-body injury (Hunter). Colorado is already struggling without Mikko Rantanen, who suffered a leg injury approximately one week ago. Landeskog has just seven points through 11 games, and is posting a -4 rating (HockeyReference). Last season, the Swede scored a career-high 34 goals through 73 games, and helped lead his team into the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season. However, the Avalanche ultimately fell to the San Jose Sharks in seven games.

 

HockeyReference. (2019). Gabriel Landeskog Stats. Retrieved from https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/l/landega01.html.

Hunter, T. (2019). Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog out indefinitely with a lower-body injury. Retrieved from https://www.milehighhockey.com/2019/10/29/20938205/colorado-avalanche-captain-gabriel-landeskog-out-indefinitely-with-a-lower-boy-injury .

Topping It All Off: Washington Capitals vs Toronto Maple Leafs

Washington Capitals (8-2-3) v Toronto Maple Leafs (6-5-2)

  Predicted Goaltender Record (W-L-OTL) GAA/SA%
Washington Capitals Braden Holtby 4-1-3 3.64/.886
Toronto Maple Leafs Frederik Andersen 6-2-1 2.94/.904

 

Tonight, the Washington Capitals will round out their five-game road trip as they face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto has struggled considerably to start off the season, and Washington’s performance this October, particularly on the road, should bode well for tonight’s match. For comparisons’ sake, here are some stats from recent seasons, through nine games;

2017-18 (Stanley Cup Champions); 4-4-1, 9 points

2018-19 (Eliminated in Round 1, 7 games); 4-3-2, 10 points

2019-20 (???); 5-3-1, 11 points

  • Through 13 games; 8-2-3, 19 points

The Washington Capitals are coming off a thrilling monumental comeback win versus the Vancouver Canucks last Friday night. Caps’ fans are very familiar with blown third period leads this season, but this time it was the Vancouver Canucks that ended up on the receiving end of that blown lead. For only the fourth time in franchise history, and for the first time since 1991, the Capitals overcame a four-goal deficit to ultimately win the game. More impressively, it was only the third time that Washington has overcome a four-goal deficit to win with 21 minutes or less remaining in a game. Despite ranking 6th in the Pacific Division, the Canucks had actually won six of their last seven games prior to their meeting with the Caps. Evgeny Kuznetsov put the Caps on the board first, just three minutes into the game. However, Brock Boeser and Tim Schaller came back to score two shortly thereafter, one coming on the power play and the second coming short-handed, to give Vancouver a 2-1 lead heading into the 2nd frame. What seemed to be a manageable game, quickly turned south as Elias Pettersson, Tim Schaller, and Jake Virtanen added to the Canucks’ lead to establish a dominant 5-1 lead halfway through the game. It was certainly justified for fans to feel like throwing in the towel, but Todd Reirdens’ Capitals team had different plans. Evgeny Kuznetsov’s timely buzzer beater goal gave the Capitals life as they headed into the third period down by three goals. It was at this moment that the tides changed in British Columbia. Fortunately for Washington, and unfortunately for the home team, an early third period power play for the Canucks led to a short-handed goal by Lars Eller, bringing the Caps within two. Asserting that Michal Kempnys’ return to the lineup (after missing the second half of last season with an injury) was crucial for the Caps would prove to be a MASSIVE understatement. Kempny has three goals and two assists in five games, two of which couldn’t have come at a better time (TheScore, Michal Kempny). Back-to-back goals from the defenseman within three minutes of Ellers’ goal, and within four minutes of Kuznetsov’s goal TIED what once seemed to be an impossible deficit. The Capitals were able to hold off the Canucks for the remainder of the third period, and for the second time in as many games, extra hockey was needed to determine if the third period comeback would be enough. Despite a number of great opportunities by the Capitals, neither team would score the game-winning goal in overtime. Shootout star TJ Oshie gave Washington the advantage through one attempt, but in the second round, a missed shot attempt by Evgeny Kuznetsov, and a success by Elias Pettersson tied the two teams. It was, of course, none other than Nicklas Backstrom who once again won it for the Capitals in the shootout, as he so dominantly snuck the puck past Canucks’ goal tender Jacob Markstrom. In fact, neither the fans watching nor most of the players on the bench realized that Backstrom won it for Washington. Perhaps the most interesting detail of the night was just how much secondary scoring depth the Capitals have this season. The entire Caps’ top line of Ovechkin-Backstrom-Oshie had -2 ratings for the night, Tom Wilson -1, and John Carlson -3 (TheScore, Washington). All five goals and respective assists came from bottom nine forwards and defensemen. Rookie goal-tender Ilya Samsonov won his first career shootout, and improved his record to 4-1-0. One of those four wins for Samsonov came versus Toronto earlier in the season in a 4-3 win at Capital One Arena. Braden Holtby, however, is expected to start tonight versus the Leafs.

The Toronto Maple Leafs, on the other hand, are off to a rough start this year. With four losses in their last six starts, John Tavares out with a broken finger, Zach Hyman on injured reserve with a knee injury, and Morgan Reilly having not shown up to practice for three days, Mike Babcocks’ Leafs seem to be imploding. Toronto dropped their last game 2-5 to the Montreal Canadiens, where defenseman Jake Muzzin and Andreas Johnsson scored the only two goals for the Leafs. Offensively, Toronto is roughly among the middle of the pack, with a power play operating at 21.1%, good enough for 16th, and ranking 6th in goals scored per game (3.54) (NHL.com). Auston Matthews leads the team in goals with nine, and Mitch Marner in assists with 12, but overall, the teams’ goal differential is a measly +1. However, their defense is among the worst in the league. Allowing an average of 32.8 shots and 3.38 goals against, the Leafs rank 7th worst in both categories. However, defenseman Travis Dermott is expected to make his season debut tonight, playing his first game since May, after undergoing shoulder surgery. Due to Michael Hutchinsons’ rocky start, we expect to see veteran Frederik Andersen start for the Maple Leafs tonight.

Coverage of the game begins at 6:00pm with Caps Faceoff Live, followed by Caps Pregame Live at 6:30pm, all on NBCSN/NBCSWA, with puck drop shortly after 7:00pm.

 

Sources:

NHL.com. (2019). Toronto Maple Leafs Stats. Retrieved from https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/stats/regular-season.

TheScore. (2019). Michal Kempny: Stats, Age, News. Retrieved from https://www.thescore.com/nhl/players/5579.

TheScore. (2019). Washington Capitals at Vancouver Canucks. Retrieved from https://www.thescore.com/nhl/events/21886.