The Bears had a pair of home games this weekend. On Saturday they would fall to the Syracuse Crunch 4-1 with Stan Galiev scoring the only goal.
Bears/Crunch Video:
However, the Bears were able to get a win tonight beating the St. John's Ice Caps 1-0 with again Stan Galiev scoring the loan goal and Philip Grubauer getting the shutout. I will post those highlights when available.
The Bears are sitting at 7th in the Eastern Conference with a 11-8-1 record to start the season. However, they are only two points behind the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for 1st in the East Division.
The Caps decided not to show up last night. So, I really don't have much to say about last night's game. The other teams in the Metro Division keep winning while the Caps continue to struggle to keep afloat. Here are the highlights of what was a long night in Toronto.
Caps/Leafs Highlights:
Whats Next: Tues. Dec. 2nd vs. Vancouver 7 p.m on CSN
The Caps are in looking to win their second in a row as they head to the Air Canada Centre to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs. With the Caps flying into Toronto last night I will just make a few notes on what to what tonight.
What to Watch:
*With it being the second of back to back games I expect we will see Justin Peters in net tonight. Peters hasn't played in a while because this is the first back to back in a couple of weeks.
*I will be interested to see if Brooks Laich will play again, if he does then he has shown the coaches that he truly ready to be back in the lineup and that he survived last night's game.
*I was very happy to see Evgeny Kuznetsov break out last night, I hope that he is given a chance to play on the second line for a extended period of time. Hopefully last night gave him some confidence.
*Andre Burakovsky scored on a powerplay, even though he is on the 4th line but I think playing with Brooks Laich might help the young kid learn a couple things.
*Jack Hillen has played well in Mike Green's absence and I expect Green to be out a little longer.
*I will be busy today, with the Caps not having a morning skate I suggest going on Twitter about a half hour before faceoff and look up Alex Prewitt who covers the Caps for the Washington Post. He will have their lineup.
The Caps played one of their best game of the season last night and were able to get 3 out of a possible 4 points against the Islanders in the home and home series. Here are the highlights.
Caps/Islanders Highlights:
My Thoughts:
*Evgeny Kuznetsov was promoted to the second line and broke out with a goal and assist. Kuz played his best game of the season as he played with energy and it helped he was on a scoring line.
*I said before the game that the Caps centermen had to have a strong game. Well they did as Kuznetsov had a goal and assist, Andre Burakovsky had a goal, and Nick Backstrom had an assist.
*Brooks Laich returned to the lineup and looked good, hopefully he can stay in the lineup for an extended period of time as the Caps win when he's in the lineup.
*Matt Niskanen had a great game picking up 3 assists while playing a good bit on the powerplay.
*Again I felt like Braden Holtby played a strong game, after giving up two goals late in the 1st period Holts was strong the rest of the way.
*Marcus Johansson got back in the goal category as a beautiful wrist shot beat Chad Johnson.
The Caps will have Brooks Laich back in the lineup, as well as Evgeny Kuznetsov getting promoted to the second line. The Islanders will have their backup Chad Johnson in the pipes, and Johnny Boychuk is out with an upper body injury. Here is the Caps lineup.
The Caps and Islanders meet again in a early evening start time. The Islanders got a overtime powerplay goal by John Tavares to beat the Caps 3-2 on Wednesday night. With it being a 5 p.m start time today I'm pretty sure there will not be a morning skate. I will update the lineup when I can but here are a few notes for today.
What to watch:
*Alex Ovechkin scored twice in the loss the other night. Both were on powerplays where the Islanders left him wide open. The Caps need to work hard in the Isles zone to draw some penalties.
*The Islanders will try to agitate the Caps into taking dumb penalties, but the Caps did a good job on Wednesday to not playing into that. Biggest example is when Anders Lee attacked Tom Wilson, Lee got the extra penalty and the Caps scored on the powerplay.
*I expect Braden Holtby to play tonight but we will have to wait and see because the Caps are playing back to backs again this weekend with a trip to Toronto for tomorrow night.
*Jack Hillen should be back in the lineup tonight after playing for Mike Green on Wednesday. I haven't heard any update on Green's status.
*The Caps need more production from the center position, not Nick Backstrom he's doing just fine. However, Andre Burakovsky, Jay Beagle, and Evgeny Kuznetsov need to get going.
*The Islanders are very strong forchecking, the Caps have to get puck out of their zone quick. Have to try not to defend the whole shift.
*Jaro Halak I would think would be in net again for the Islanders.
*Gametime 5 p.m on CSN, Caps Pregame live on at 4:30
The Islanders were given a gift last night after a horrid call on Nick Backstrom in overtime lead to the game winner by John Tavares with 24 seconds left in the extra session. No discrediting the Islanders I was very impressed by the way their team plays. However, the officials let two calls go right before the call on Backstrom. One where Troy Brouwer was basically tackled in the neutral zone right before OT and they could have call a trip right before Backs got his penalty. Regardless all should have been just let go. Before that it was a great game to watch though the Caps fell short.
Caps/Islanders Highlight:
My Thoughts:
*Alex Ovechkin was good last night with his two powerplay goals. Ovechkin was not a lock to play in this game after leaving practice early on Tuesday but played and played well.
*Jack Hillen and Liam O'Brien returned to the lineup last night. Both played fine though O'Brien didn't see a lot of ice time.
*Nick Backstrom had two assists and played very well, I believe he has been the most consistent forward this season.
*Again I feel that Braden Holtby played a great game. He is doing a great job but the record has not turned around yet. However, if he continues to play well the Caps might be able to make a run.
*Andre Burakovsky is struggling a little bit. Lately he has been turning pucks over in his own zone and is not producing as much offensively. Trotz at times last night put Eric Fehr with Marcus Johansson and Troy Brouwer.
*Still nothing from Evgeny Kuznetsov as he barely plays enough to do anything. I'm not at practices and from what I hear Barry Trotz likes what he's seeing from him just hasn't broken out yet.
*The Caps had a lot of trouble getting puck out of their zone last night. The Islanders forcheck was suffocating and I wish the Caps can do that. I think they will eventually under the Barry Trotz system.
*The Hershey Bears beat Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 2-1 in a shootout last night. The Bears got a goal from Stan Galiev and got a strong performance in net from Philip Grubauer.
Whats Next: Fri. Nov. 28th vs. New York Islanders 5 p.m on CSN
The Caps are in Long Island for the first of 2 big games this week against the New York Islanders. The Caps currently are 9 points behind the Islanders and Penguins in the Metropolitan Division and are in danger of putting themselves out of the race early on. However, a strong week can put them back in the race. Now the Caps only have 9 players on the ice for a optional morning skate so I can't tell what the lineup will be till warmups.
What to Watch:
*I do expect Braden Holtby to start for the Caps tonight. Holtby has played very well and is going to need to be very good to beat the Islanders.
*Alex Ovechkin is questionale for tonight's game after leaving practice early on Tuesday with a upper body injury. If Ovechkin can't play then it's possible Andre Burakovsky might play on the top line as he was on that line during practice Tuesday.
*Mike Green has a upper body injury and is day to day. So, that mean Jack Hillen will get into the lineup for the first time since opening night. Hillen has been nothing but a class act since becoming a healthy scratch on a nightly basis.
*The Caps will have to keep John Tavares and Brock Nelson under wraps. The Islanders defense has gotten better with the addition of Johnny Boychuk and Nick Leddy. Also the Caps should see Jaroslav Halak in net for the Isles.
*The Islanders speed will be tough for the Caps but also take the active boards of Nassau Coliseum into consideration. That can also benefit the Caps as well as be something that can hurt them.
*Brooks Laich most likely will not play again tonight, though it seems that he is nearing a return. Barry Trotz and company are not going to force him back this time.
In 2012 Filip Forsberg was taken with the #11 pick in the draft by the Caps. Considered a steal at that pick that the Caps acquired from Colorado in the Semyon Varlamov trade. However, at the 2012 NHL Trade deadline George McPhee traded Forsberg to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Martin Erat and Michael Latta. Two years that trade is proving to be the wrong one for the Caps.
Filip Forsberg in his first year as a full time NHL player is the lead candidate for Rookie of the Year. Forsberg, has 9 goals and 13 assists for 22 points in his first 20 games. As well as having a solid plus 20 rating. Along with Seth Jones the Predators now have two young guys to start building a good nucleus.
Meanwhile the addition of Martin Erat was less than stellar. Erat would score 2 goals in 62 games as a Cap. Forced to play his off wing and at many times center, Erat would be one of the least affective Caps players. Michael Latta, who is playing his first full season as a Cap is proving to be a solid 4th line player.
This trade is the reason why George McPhee was fired. If he would have just kept his calm and didn't panic the Caps would have 3 top flight prospects in their lineup along with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Andre Burakovsky. Instead McPhee traded for a guy that they would not put in the right position and wanted out as soon as he got in. Now Michael Latta is turning into a good grinder but is not near the talent Forsberg is.
I know that George McPhee was trying to put the Caps in position to win a Cup. However, that 1st round exit was not as costly as this trade was and it could make Caps fans feel worse. The Predators are 13-5-2 and playing really well to start the season. Whereas the Caps are 9-8-3 and as of now treading water in the Metro Division.
As a fan I am reminded on a nightly basis that Filip Forsberg is starting to have his career take off. While the Caps are waiting for Evgeny Kuznetsov to break out. Not that Kuz won't be a great player, but how fun would it have been to watch Forsberg, Kuznetsov, Burakovsky, and Wilson grow up together. We will never know how great it could have been.
The Cap outshot the Sabres 44-26 and in my opinion played a good game. However, two lucky plays for the Sabres and zero luck for the Caps made Saturday's 2-1 loss the most frustrating of the 2014-2015 season. Well to this point.
Caps/Sabres Highlights:
My Thoughts:
*Matt Niskanen played his best game as a Cap as he was able to score his first goal as a member of the Washington Capitals when he tied the game in the 3rd period.
*Braden Holtby again was good in net and gave the Caps a chance to win, the problem was the Caps didn't give him any run support.
*Jhonas Enroth simply stole the game from the Caps. Maybe the Caps could have had more net presence however Enroth still made 43 saves.
*Andre Burakovsky in my opinion is in a little bit of a rut. He is only 19 but I think Trotz might want to give Evgeny Kuznetsov a chance to play a little more.
*I noticed that Mike Green after he took a hit in the 1st period did not play much in the 2nd, and from my knowledge didn't play in the 3rd. Will have to monitor that this week leading up to their game against the Islanders on Wednesday.
*I was at the game last night and Nick Backstrom is a pleasure to watch. I know Ovechkin is the main guy, but Nick Backstrom is such a great player and is just as important to the Caps as OV.
*The Hershey Bears got a win last night and Chris Brown scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over the Worcester Sharks. Philip Grubauer made 38 saves in a shutout for the Bears who host the St. Johns Ice Caps today.
Whats Next: Wed. Nov. 26th at. New York Islanders 7 p.m on CSN
The Caps are back home tonight to try to win their 3rd game in a row as somehow despite all the snow the Buffalo Sabres are in town. The Sabres are struggling out the gate with a 5-13-2 record. So on paper the Caps are the favorite but it's the NHL and anything can happen. Here's the lineup this morning.
Defense and Goalies:
Orpik-Carlson
Alzner-Niskanen
Schmidt-Green
Holtby
Peters
What to Watch:
*It is unknown as of now who will be in net for the Sabres weather it will be Jonas Enroth or former-Cap Michael Neuvirth. The Caps are expected to go with Braden Holtby tonight.
*Liam O'Brien was participating in the morning skate but from what is on Twitter the lineup will be the same as it was the last two games. Chris Brown was not at the morning skate so that means O'Brien and maybe even Brooks Laich are close to coming back. So, Brown might be heading back to Hershey.
*Jason Chimera is on a two game point streak, and Jay Beagle has 4 points in his last 6 games. I look for that line to have a big impact on the outcome of tonights game.
*Andre Burakovsky has hit a bit of a wall the last couple game, it is possible if his mini slump continues that Evgeny Kuznetsov could get a couple shifts on that 2nd line.
*The top line of Ovechkin-Backstrom-Wilson played very well in the win in Colorado. I expect them to continue that tonight. Their success in my opinion has to do with how well Tom Wilson is developing. His physicality is really making a difference and he has good speed for as big as he is.
*As I mentioned earlier Braden Holtby is expected to start tonight. Holtby is starting to play very well and the last 5 games he has been great. If he continues to play well the Caps have a chance to rattle of a couple more wins.
*Tonight is a big game because the Caps don't play again till Wednesday on Long Island against the surprising Islanders. It's important the Caps have a strong game tonight and get two points because next week is a big week.
*The Hershey Bears will host the Worcester Sharks at the Giant Center tonight.
The Caps pick up a big win last night in Colorado after captain Alex Ovechkin scored on a 4 on 4 situation in the 3rd period. The Caps now have won 2 in a row and 4 out of their last 6 going into this weekend. Here are the highlights.
Caps/Aves Highlights:
My Thoughts:
*Alex Ovechkin played a great game, he had the game winner along with a nice assist on the Nick Backstrom goal. Not only that he played a solid defensive game as he blocked a couple shots and was in good positioning.
*Brooks Orpik made an impact on the game too. Orpik had an assist on OV's game winner but also had 6 hits and 6 shot blocks.
*Jason Chimera has had a rough start to the season but is heating up after getting an assist in Arizona he got his 2nd goal of the season last night. That line of Chimera-Beagle-Ward were the best line on the ice last night as they cycled in the Avalanche zone almost every shift.
*Nate Schmidt had a little bit of a rough night but he has overall played very well in the first 19 games of this season so I will give him a pass.
*Braden Holtby again was very good, the two goals against were tough but he is coming up with big saves when the team needs them. I expect him to be back in the cage Saturday as well.
*I thought the Caps as a whole played very well last night even after the Avalanche were able to tie the game twice. They played two solid games this week so far and with a winnable game at home on Saturday the Caps have a chance to get on a bit of a role. The key is not letting one go like they did against New Jersey last week when they should atleast got a point in that game.
*Tom Wilson I thought played well again as that first line is clicking right now. If he keeps forchecking the way he has been it's going to pay dividends. Wilson and Burakovsky are developing nicely, they just need Evgeny Kuznetsov to get going and then the Caps will have 4 solid lines.
The Caps will take on the 6-8-5 Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center tonight. The Caps are coming off a 2-1 OT win on Tuesday in Arizona. Here is what the lineup will be tonight.
Defense and Goalies:
Orpik-Carlson
Alzner-Niskanen
Schmidt-Green
Holtby
Peters
What to watch:
*Braden Holtby will be back in net for the Caps tonight after his solid performance in Arizona. It does help that the Caps do not have back to back games this week.
*Chris Brown will be a scratch tonight as Michael Latta will return to the lineup.
*Liam O'Brien is still being bothered by a lower body injury and did not participate in the morning skate. No timetable to his return.
*Brooks Laich I think is hoping to be back Saturday at home against Buffalo, however I think that is still too soon.
*The Caps PK has killed off their last 14 penalties, hopefully that continues tonight.
*The Avs are having a tough start to their season but they still have a very talented team so this will be a tough game for the Caps. Last year it was the Avalanche speed that the Caps could not handle.
*Jay Beagle played well with Chimera and Ward the other night. So Barry Trotz is keeping him there for the time being.
*Jerome Iginla is a Colorado Ave, that is still kind of weird for me to think about. Iginla, has been one of the best wingers in the NHL in his career.
*The Hershey Bears lost in a shootout last night in Lehigh Valley by a score of 3-2. Dane Byers and Kris Newbury scored for the Bears and Philip Grubauer was in net.
The Caps got a big win last night as Eric Fehr was the hero in overtime to give the Caps 2 big points in the standings. Here are the highlights.
Caps/Coyotes Highlights:
My Thoughts:
*The Caps had solid first period and took a 1-0 lead when Jason Chimera found Jay Beagle on a 3 on 2. Beagle would fire the puck past Mike Smith.
*The second period was not great for the Caps has they were unable to get any sustained pressure against the Coyotes and Oliver Ekman-Larsson tied the game.
*Eric Fehr would win the game in overtime after Brooks Orpik shot from the point was stopped but Fehr was there to put the rebound in.
*Braden Holtby was solid last night, the only goal he gave up was not his fault. He made saved that he needed to make.
*Tom Wilson again set the tone of the game with his hits. He has been a energizer for the Caps. Once he gets his offensive game going he has the ability to be a good power forward. Have to remember he is only 20 years old.
*The Caps powerplay was unable to score however they did a great job of having it in the Coyotes zone. They had plenty of chances just didn't go in.
*The penalty kill came up with some big kills, there was plenty of calls against the Caps. However, atleast this time the Caps where given a couple powerplays.
The Caps are on the road this week, first a stop in Glendale to try to avenge an early season loss to the Coyotes. The Caps are 7-7-3 on the season and are on a 2 game losing streak. Here is what the lineup will be tonight.
Defense and Goalies:
Orpik-Carlson
Alzner-Niskanen
Schmidt-Green
Holtby
Peters
What to watch:
*Braden Holtby will be back in net tonight for the first time since last Friday's 1-0 loss to the Devil's where he basically gave the only goal to them. With no back to back games this week it looks like Braden can get some work in this week. The Coyotes will have Mike Smith in tonight.
*Eric Fehr is back in the lineup and will play RW with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Chris Brown. Looks like Trotz is trying a new look with Michael Latta going to be a scratch and Liam O'Brien still banged up.
*Jay Beagle will be the next to try to center the Chimera-Ward duo. Beagle has played on every line this season it seems.
*Tom Wilson was the best player on the ice Saturday in St. Louis according to Barry Trotz. We will see how he does tonight in his 2nd game back from a minor injury.
*Shane Doan played well when the Coyotes where in DC, the Caps will have to keep him off the score sheet tonight.
*The Caps powerplay needs to score, in St. Louis they didn't get much of a chance. However, it was not good against New Jersey so the Caps need to play in the Coyotes zone and draw some penalties.
*Gametime 9 p.m on CSN, NO Capitals Pregame tonight with College Basketball on before the game.
So the Caps end the weekend with 0 points, and now a 3 game winning streak has turned into a 2 game losing skid. They scored a grand total of 1 goal in 2 games. Here's the highlights.
Caps/Blues Highlights:
My Thoughts:
*Caps played most of the game in their own zone, the Blues came at them in waves and didn't let up. Justin Peters did his best to keep the game close but he too made a mistake that lead to a goal. Even with that I believe he did his best and don't blame him.
*The best player on the ice last night according to Barry Trotz was Tom Wilson. Wilson was flying around with bone crushing hits and took some Blues players out of their game. However, Trotz mentioned he wised other players would stick up for Wilson. As Willy was the only one and no one else came along.
*Joel Ward scored his 8th goal of the season which tied the game in the second period. That was during a stretch where the Caps were starting to get their legs but still were unable to turn the game in their favor.
*The Caps have a tough couple games in Arizona on Tuesday and at Colorado on Thursday. Though they are tough I do consider both winnable.
The Caps are in St. Louis to take on a tough Blues squad. There is no morning skate so I will do my best with the projected lineup. Tom Wilson and Liam O'Brien are both gametime decisions.
*Justin Peters is expected to start tonight, the Blues will counter with Brian Elliot.
*Tom Wilson may return to the lineup, if he does he could either be on the top line or the 4th. If he is on the 4th I expect Jay Beagle to play with OV and Backstrom.
*Chris Brown was called up last minute to play in last night's game as Liam O'Brien has a lower body injury that is bothering him.
*After giving away last night's game the Caps will enter a tough environment tonight. Like the Chicago game this can be a confidence boost if they are able to win tonight.
*The Caps could not beat the Devil's defense last night, hopefully tonight they are able to get on the board.
*The Powerplay can play a major role tonight, the Caps were 0-4 against a penalty kill that was considered below average last night. They need to score on the chances they get. Playing in St. Louis don't expect many calls.
*Hershey lost in Syracuse 5-1 last night with Kris Newbury scoring the only goal.
The Caps winning streak ended last night after a mistake by Braden Holtby lead to Mike Cammelleri's game winner in the 3rd period. Here are the highlights
The Caps will look to make it 4 in a row tonight as they take on the Devils at the Verizon Center tonight. The Caps beat the Devils the last time they came to DC last month. Here is tonight's lineup.
Defense and Goalies:
Orpik-Carlson
Alzner-Niskanen
Schmidt-Green
Holtby
Peters
What to Watch: * Tom Wilson will not play tonight but there is a chance he returns to the lineup in St. Louis tomorrow. Brooks Laich will probably not play this weekend at all as his shoulder might take some time.
*Braden Holtby will start in net tonight while the Devils will give Cory Schneider his 17th consecutive start.
*The Caps have to be aware of Mike Cammalleri and his speed. Defensemen will have make sure they know where he is and not pinch to the point where it gives him an advantage.
*I would like to see Jason Chimera have a good game, he only as 1 goal and 1 assist so far this season. At times that third line has been good but I think Chimmer is due for a goal.
*I don't talk about him much but Nate Schmidt has had a great season so far. I had him slated for Hershey this season, instead he has been a solid addition to the defense corp.
*The line of Johansson-Burakovsky-Brouwer has had a couple solid games, I would like to see them continue that. Especially Marcus Johansson who is playing the best hockey of his career.
*The Hershey Bears are in Syracuse tonight to take on the Crunch.
*We will see if the Caps can keep up the momentum, this weekend can be a springboard for them to battle for the Division.
The Caps have won 3 in a row with a hard fought 4-2 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets last night at the Verizon Center. Alex Ovechkin and Marcus Johansson each had 2 goals.
Caps/Blue Jackets Highlights:
My Thoughts:
* Marcus Johansson is having the best year of his career so far. He scored two goals and is up to 8 goals, already the amount he had a year ago. I have said it more than once but his new shoot first mentality is working.
*Alex Ovechkin also scored twice and played a solid game. His first goal was on a 5 on 3, and the second on a beautiful play from Nick Backstrom to Jay Beagle who made a great pass for OV to finish.
*The Caps didn't play a perfect game though, they did let the Jackets stay in the game till Marcus Johansson put it away in the third period. Also, I think both goals Braden Holtby gave up are shots he should have had but he did make a couple big saves to win the game.
*Caps had a 5 on 3 goal, but the way they played on that sequence was very good. They put on pressure the entire time and the Columbus penalty killers just got worn out and OV finished it off.
*Andre Burakovsky played a quiet but effective game with 2 assists, he is growing as a center. For 19 years old he is contributing and playing a major role for this team.
*It is possible that Tom Wilson and Brooks Laich may return Friday, however I believe that it is more likely to see Wilson than Laich. Brooks Laich's shoulder mat need more time, I believe he needs to let it heal so he can be 100 percent when he comes back.
*I feel that the 3rd line of Chimera, Ward, and Fehr are starting to find their chemistry again. That is a good thing because they were the Caps best line last year. It will be interesting when Brooks Laich does come back where they will play him.
*Jay Beagle played a strong game last night and has done pretty well on the top line, now I do believe that Tom Wilson is the best option at this point when he is healthy. However, Jay Beagle can play big role on all the lines.
What's Next: Friday Nov. 14th vs. New Jersey 7 p.m on CSN
The Caps are back home again tonight to take on the struggling Columbus Blue Jackets. The Caps will look to make it 3 in a row. Here's the lines from this morning's skate, so expect the lineup to look like this.
Defense and Goalies:
Orpik-Carlson
Alzner-Niskanen
Schmidt-Green
Holtby
Peters
What to Watch:
*With the injury to Tom Wilson which I consider day-to-day Jay Beagle will take his turn with the top line.
*Braden Holtby will be back in net for the first time since his great performance against Chicago last Friday.
*Eric Fehr once again will center Jason Chimera and Joel Ward. Fehr scored in the win over Carolina on Saturday.
*It is important tonight for the Caps to jump on the Blue Jackets right away. Columbus has not had a good start to the year. This is a big chance for the Caps to start a winning streak before a tough weekend ahead at home against New Jersey and then in St. Louis the night after.
* I need to see more from Evgeny Kuznetsov, he isn't going to get a lot of ice time on the 4th line but he needs to make that and his powerplay time count. Michael Latta will move over to RW tonight so that Kuz can stay at center.
*I would like to say Happy Veterans Day in the USA today. I also would like to thank all men and women of our military for their service.
I am a little late on this but Alex Ovechkin is now the leading scorer in Washington Capitals history with his assist against Calgary this past week. OV has been a special once in a lifetime player for the Caps the last 9 years. Just wanted to post a couple videos of our Captain Alex Ovechkin.
The Caps again blew a 2 goal lead in the 3rd period but the team showed character last night as Nick Backstrom scored off a rebound on a Alex Ovechkin shot to beat the Hurricanes 4-3 in OT. Now the Caps have earned 5 points out of a possible 6 in the last 3 games.
Caps/Canes Highlights:
My Thoughts:
*Caps got some puck luck last night, especially on the first three goals. The Caps were having those bounces go against them so it's nice they are getting some good bounces now.
*Tom Wilson left the game with a lower body injury. It happened while it looked like he was starting to turn. Hopefully it is not too serious.
*Brooks Laich was out of the lineup again, from what I read he may have re-injured his shoulder.
*Eric Fehr played very well last night centering Jason Chimera and Joel Ward. Fehr scored his second goal of the season.
*Michael Latta played well last night, he has a great chance to score but was stopped on a mini breakaway.
*Jay Beagle scored his first of the new season, after Wilson left the game he got some more time with the top line like he did in Chicago.
*The Caps I thought for the most part played well. They could have put the game away early but just couldn't. At the end of a day you never take a win for granted so it is an important 2 points in the standing for the Caps.
*Hershey rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Hartford Wolf Pack 4-2. The Bears got 3rd period goals from Chris Brown, Conner Carrick, and two from Kris Newbury to complete the comeback.
What's Next: Tuesday Nov. 11 vs. Columbus 7 p.m. on CSN
With a busy day ahead and no morning skate I will do my best to show you what the lineup will look like when the Carolina Hurricanes make a visit to our nation's capital tonight. Here's what the lineup should look like. If I know the lineup is different before game time I will post the real lineup later.
Defense and Goalies:
Orpik-Carlson
Alzner-Niskanen
Schmidt-Green
Peters
Holtby
What to Watch:
*Justin Peters should be in net tonight to take on his former team. Peters struggled against Arizona last Sunday and will look to bounce back.
*I expect the lines to be the same to start the game, but last night Brooks Laich and Jay Beagle did get some shifts with other lines. Coach Trotz likes to change things around on the fly.
*I would like to see how Andre Burakovsky and Marcus Johansson build off of their performances last night.
*I believe the Hurricanes will be getting Jiri Tlusty tonight as the Hurricanes are playing a lot better lately so tonight the Caps will have to come out strong.
*If the Caps win tonight they will then have 5 of a possible 6 points in their last 3 games which will change the feeling from the last couple weeks. Tonight's game is very important with a winnable game on Tuesday against Columbus.
*Brooks Laich played a solid game in Chicago last night, he looked like he was skating very well and I have always thought you should have him with Chimera and Ward. We will have to see how he does on the second of a back to back.
*Matt Niskanen played great last night and I will like to see him build off that game. Remember he is still getting acclimated to his new teammates.
The losing streak is over after an impressive comeback in Chicago. After falling down 2-0 Andre Burakovsky, Marcus Johansson, and Joel Ward would give the Caps a lead headed into the 3rd. Braden Holtby would stand up strong and the Caps leave Chicago with a much needed win.
Caps/Blackhawks Highlights:
My Thoughts:
*Andre Burakovsky and Marcus Johansson played a major role in changing the course of the game. Both had a goal and assist to tie the game.
*Matt Niskanen in my opinion played his best game as a Cap so far last night with two assists. I thought he had his first goal but Joel Ward deflected the 3rd goal.
*Speaking of Joel Ward he is heating up of late and leads the Caps with 7 goals.
*Jay Beagle got some time with top line because Barry Trotz said he thought Tom Wilson had heavy legs last night. Trotz has done this a lot this year where he makes adjustments during the game.
*Mike Green was playing with Nate Schmidt last night, Schmidt has been an underrated player for the Caps this season and played very well last night.
*Braden Holtby was on his game last night, and especially in the third period when the Blackhawks were tilting the ice. Holtby stood strong and that was needed to end the long losing streak.
*I thought Brooks Orpik played a solid game last night, his physicality was another positive for the Caps.
*The Hershey Bears started their weekend with a 3-2 OT loss at Wilkes Barre/Scranton. Hershey would have a 2-0 lead with goals from Jon Landry, and Casey Wellman. However, they were outshot 34-16 and couldn't hold on to the lead.
What's Next: Tonight vs. Carolina 8 p.m. on CSN Plus
The Caps will head to the Madhouse on Madison tonight as they will take on the Blackhawks. The Caps have lost 5 in a row and will look to right the ship this weekend as this will be the first of back to back games this weekend. Here's the lineup for tonight:
Defense and Goalies:
Orpik-Green
Alzner-Niskanen
Schmidt-Carlson
Holtby
Peters
What to Watch:
*Brooks Laich returns to the Lineup tonight, he will replace Evgeny Kuznetsov. The Caps are 3-0-2 when Laich is in the lineup.
*Braden Holtby will face Corey Crawford tonight. That makes sense as it looks like Justin Peters will get to play against his former team tomorrow.
*No word on the defense pairings but I do expect them to be the same as the other night with Mike Green now playing with Brooks Orpik. If not then Green will be with Nate Schmidt and Carlson will be back with Orpik.
*The Blackhawks are going to be without Patrick Sharp for a few weeks, however the Hawks are still loaded and it will be a challenge for the Caps to end their losing streak. A win in Chicago could be the perfect chance for the Caps to turn things around.
*I'm not happy about Evgeny Kuznetsov being a scratch, but Kuz has had a good attitude about it saying he wants to practice more and get better. Barry Trotz has repeatedly spoke highly of Kuznetsov and his skill set.
*This again will be an important weekend as the Caps are in Chicago tonight, and at home against the Carolina Hurricanes tomorrow. This is a very important weekend because other teams in the Metro Division are starting to pull away already.
*I am excited to watch Tom Wilson tonight, he has played very well with Ovechkin and Backstrom with 3 points in 2 games.
*We will also see if the 4th line of O'Brien, Latta, and Beagle can continue to bring energy and keep the Blackhawks in their own zone.
The Caps losing streak continues, after a great effort the Caps again blew a lead and lost in overtime. You know you are in a losing streak when the tying goal was on a fluke clearing attempt that hit Troy Brouwer and past Braden Holtby. So, the frustration continues.
Caps/Flames Highlights:
My Thoughts:
*The Caps had a good effort even thought they fell short. Hopefully that effort continues and they will eventually break out of their slump. Remember the Flyers had rough start last year and made the playoffs. So the Caps can too, they just have to turn it around soon.
*Tom Wilson had a great game again. He had an assist and played well with Ovechkin and Backstrom. He should have had the game winner at the buzzer but Jonas Hiller robbed him. That's the luck the Caps have had lately.
*Mike Green was promoted as he was taking a lot of shifts with Brooks Orpik while John Carlson was with Nate Schmidt.
*I though Nick Backstrom was the best player on the ice last night. He has been arguably the Caps MVP so far this season.
*Alex Ovechkin past Peter Bondra for the Caps all time leader in points. Ovechkin had two assists, Bondra was in the owner suite with Ted Leonsis. Congrats to OV! It's been fun to watch you, now time to turn this thing around and get one big prize.
*Marcus Johansson scored on a shot that went off the end boards and came back out and went off Hiller and in. Johansson so far along with Wilson have been the most improved Caps this year.
*Joel Ward scored on a 5 on 3 and is playing better, now I think it's time for Jason Chimera to break out.
*The Caps 4th line of Liam O'Brien, Michael Latta, and Jay Beagle were a pleasure to watch last night. They forchecked hard and kept the Flames in their own zone. They also were able to generate scoring chances. If I were Barry Trotz I would keep those 3 together.
Whats Next: Friday Nov. 7 at. Chicago 8:30 p.m on CSN
The Caps will host the Flames tonight at the Verizon Center. The Caps beat the Flames in Calgary 3-1 a couple weeks ago. The Caps look to end their losing streak against a Flames team that has a few injuries. Here is what tonight's lineup should look like against the Flames.
Defense and Goalies:
Orpik-Carlson
Alzner-Niskanen
Schmidt-Green
Holtby
Peters
What to Watch:
*Alex Ovechkin can pass Peter Bondra for the most points in Washington Capital history.
*After a great game against Arizona Tom Wilson will play on the top line with Ovechkin and Backstrom tonight. Wilson got a goal and assist against the Coyotes and was one of the very few bright spots in the 6-5 loss Sunday night.
*It looks like Liam O'Brien will be back in the lineup tonight, Eric Fehr is expected to be a healthy scratch.
*Brooks Laich returned to practice today and is hoping to be back this weekend. The Caps are 3-0-2 with Laich in the lineup, just 1-5-0 without him.
*Barry Trotz made it clear that that Caps behavior is unacceptable and needs to change or he will make changes. So, we will see if the players respond tonight.
*Braden Holtby will face Jonas Hiller tonight.
*Key to the game for the 5th game in a row, cut down turnovers. That has been the major reason why the Caps have lost lately. They haven't been getting pucks out of the defensive zone and their outlet passes are finding the wrong sticks. We will see if that changes tonight.
*Gametime 7 p.m on CSN, Capitals Pregame Central at 6:30
The Caps again lose by making the same mistakes over and over again. A team that has plenty of talent to compete is coming up short. Despite an attempt to pull off a miracle the Caps now fall to 4-5-2 and are not living up to Head Coach Barry Trotz expectations. The locker room was closed to the media as Coach Trotz made it clear that their play is unacceptable.
Caps/Coyotes Highlights:
My Thoughts:
* I have said the last few games that the Caps need to watch there turnovers, well again turnovers lead to goals and the Caps lose.
*The defense that was suppose to be better gave up 6 goals against a team that has been struggling to score goals. Justin Peters didn't help the cause either.
*I thought that Evgeny Kuznetsov played well, however he did take two penalties.
*Alex Ovechkin had a 4 point night and is now tied with Peter Bondra for the franchise lead in points. However, he had a turnover that lead to a goal and the team lost.
*The Penalty Kill has been a weakness for the last few years, and it continues to be.
*Tom Wilson played his best game of the young season with a goal and assist. He was rewarded with time on the top line with Ovechkin and Backstrom.
*The Caps need more from Jason Chimera and Joel Ward, these guys were the Caps best forwards last year and though Ward got a goal I don't feel they are controlling shifts like they did last season.
*Barry Trotz made it clear that if the players don't fix this then he will. We will see what they are made of Tuesday when the Calgary Flames come to town.
*The Hershey Bears lost to the Manchester Monarchs 3-1. The Bears lost 2 of 3 this weekend. Bears got a goal from Kris Newbury who is having a great season do far.
The Caps are back home tonight has the Coyotes come to town. Tonight I consider a important early game for the Caps who have lost 3 in a row and 4 of the last 5. No morning skate so I will take my best shot at what the lineup will look like. Note that Tom Wilson may be held out since he played last night.
Defense and Goalies:
Orpik-Carlson
Alzner-Niskanen
Schmidt-Green
Peters
Holtby
What to Watch:
*Karl Alzner and Matt Niskanen were a -3 last night, I expect them to have a bounce back game tonight.
*Justin Peters should be in the net tonight considering Holtby played last night in Tampa.
*I am thinking Tom Wilson will get tonight off and that Liam O'Brien will be back in. I will be surprised if Wilson plays back to back nights.
*Martin Erat will make his return to the Verizon Center with the Coyotes.
*Caps special teams had a good game last night as they were 1-2 on the PP, and were perfect on the PK.
*Alex Ovechkin will look to get out of his goal scoring slump, note Burakovsky has been playing with OV and Ward but don't be surprised if Backstrom gets moved up a line, especially if they Caps fall behind.
*The key to tonight's game is simple, keep plugging away. The Caps can't get too frustrated if things don't go well. Play hard for 60 minutes and play smart.
The Caps lost yet another game last night to make it now 4 losses in their last 5 games. They have now fallen to 4-4-2 in their first 10 games which is not the fast start they wanted to start the season.
Caps/Lightning Highlights:
My Thoughts:
*Alex Ovechkin ended his scoreless streak with an assist on the Marcus Johansson goal in the first period. He had 6 shots on net last night but still is struggling to find the net. I thought he played better last night then in the last couple but still needs to work his way out of this slump.
*Marcus Johansson has been a positive this season. He had a goal, as well as assisting on Troy Brouwer's PP goal. Johansson is clearly shooting the puck more and I am very happy he is because he always use to force passes.
*Eric Fehr was a scratch against Detroit but was back in the lineup and played better last night. Fehr scored a goal and his energy level was much better on the puck.
*Caps keep having the same problems which are frustrating. Turnovers are definitely one problem. However, the lack of faceoff wins is hurting as it has lead to goals and allowing the other teams to get puck possession.
*The Caps feel like they are playing decent hockey but are not getting results. Nick Backstrom has said thats hockey and they need to work through it. After being angry last night I took sometime to think and truth is the team isn't playing completely terrible. They have are losing close games and still learning how they want things under Trotz so still need to be patient.
*Hershey fell to the Worcester Sharks 5-4. Bears got goals from Joel Broda, Cam Schilling, Kris Newbury, and Steve Olesky. Pheonix Copley who has been great so far this season had his first rough game as a pro.
The Caps have the first of back to back games this weekend as they take on the Lightning in Tampa tonight. The Caps have lost 3 of 4 and need to have a strong weekend. Here is the lineup for tonights game.
Defense and Goalies:
Orpik-Carlson
Alzner-Niskanen
Schmidt-Green
Holtby
Peters
What to Watch:
*Braden Holtby gets the start tonight, I assume that Ben Bishop will get the start for Tampa. Justin Peters is expected to get the start tomorrow night at home against Arizona.
*Liam O'Brien will be a healthy scratch for the first time this season as Eric Fehr returns to the lineup on the 3rd line with Chimmer and Kuz.
*One major thing tonight will be trying to keep Steven Stamkos in check tonight. So, the Caps have to stay out of the penalty box tonight. The Penalty Kill has not gotten much better and need to stay 5 on 5 as much as possible.
*Again the Caps need to cut down on turnovers, they have been beating themselves of late. So, if they can cut down on turnovers that means less odd man rushes for the Lightning.
*Hershey continues its hot start with a 4-0 win in Manchester last night. The Bears got goals from Dane Byers, Casey Wellman, Chris Brown, and Steve Olesky. Philip Grubauer got the shutout.
*Gametime 7 p.m on CSN Plus tonight because of Wizards Home Opener
