Caps at Senators Pregame: Gimme Something Good

March 22, 2016 2:05 pm

Photo: Amanda Bowen

The Caps come into Ottawa tonight to face a Senators team that they should beat, despite the fact that the Sens have the league’s best defenseman, Erik Karlsson, on their roster.

The Senators aren’t a very good team. If the Caps struggle, it’s another concerning performance to add to the list that’s been growing longer at an alarming rate.

But let’s not talk about that. Let’s talk about something good. I’ve compiled a wishlist for tonight’s game:

The Caps end the first period with the lead.
Braden Holtby gives up two or fewer goals.
The Caps are the better possession team.
The Caps score a PP goal.
Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin find their way onto the score sheet.

I’ll take a win that involves any three of these wishlist items. What’s on your wishlist for tonight?

7:30 faceoff on CSN.

Team	Record	Possession	PDO	Power Play	Penalty Kill
Washington Capitals	51-15-5	51.2%	101.6	23.0% (2nd)	84.1% (5th)
Ottawa Senators	34-31-8	46.7%	101.2	16.4% (26th)	75.4% (29th)

Projected Lineup

Via ya girl Izzy:

Ovechkin – Backstrom – Williams
Burakovsky – Kuznetsov – Oshie
Chimera – Johansson – Beagle
Winnik – Richards – Wilson

Alzner – Niskanen
Orpik – Orlov
Weber – Chorney

Holtby

Gimme Something Good

With all that talk of wishlists in the intro, I bet y’all thought I might drop Pearl Jam’s Wishlist, from their 1998 album Yield, on you. Wrong. It’s Ryan Adams time. Because, when I want to channel positive thoughts about my favorite sports team, I think of Mr. Sunshine, Ryan Adams.

Storylines

This Caps team is cruising for another playoff letdown if they don’t flip the switch soon.
Who are you and what have you done with the Nick Backstrom we know?
Evgeny Kuznetsov is interested in winning the cup.
Last week wasn’t all bad for the Caps. Here’s a plus from the week (okay, and a minus).
“…spending money doesn’t ensure you’ll win, but not spending money essentially thwarts your chances of legitimately competing.”
Holtby’s concerning play is concerning.
Vogs with some quotes from the team about moving on from Pittsburgh.
Some Caps dudes who need to step it up for their team.
Barry Trotz is all about family, but believes that kids should not be around the team all the time.

Can You Even?

Sorry we dropped some dark posts on you guys today. Here are some rottweiler puppies as a peace offering. Side note: if you have a rottweiler, let’s be friends.

Oh, and then there’s also this:

So, we good now?

The Caps As A Boy Band

Oh, we’re not? How about this image.

👌#CapsSens #RockTheRed pic.twitter.com/v38cdW5uCy

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 22, 2016

Look at Chorney and Latta being all chill af. There’s Evgeny Kuznetsov putting his hand up like “no photographs, please.” Then there’s Smiling Nate Schmidt just being happy, and Matt Niskanen in the background being all emo and introverted. What a pic.