After three straight at home, the Caps start a three game road trip tonight in Chicago against the Blackhawks, who just so happen to be on a seven game winning streak. It’s also Veterans Day and the 98th anniversary of the first World War ending.
The last time you saw the Caps they were handed a 3-0 loss by the San Jose Sharks, ending a five game winning streak of their own. It’ll be a tough one in Chi-Town as the United Center is always rocking and the Caps are looking to get back into the W column.
The Blackhawks sit atop both the Central division and the Western Conference with a total of 21 points. They are on fire of late, as mentioned previously, and hold three of the NHL’s top 10 scorers on their roster in Patrick Kane, Artem Anisimov and Artemi Panarin. I think all of that just means that they’re due for a loss. What say you Capitals?
The puck is dropped at 8:30 PM on CSN+ because time zones and the Wizards have to lose again on CSNMA.
| Team | Record | Possession | PDO | Power Play | Penalty Kill |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 10-3-1 | 50.17% | 105.9 | 18.6% | 67.3% |
| Washington Capitals | 8-3-1 | 54.27% | 102.4 | 13.2% | 81.8% |
Projected Lines
Taylor Chorney gets his first start of the season. Barry Trotz was noncommittal in regard to to his 4th line, proceed with caution
Ovechkin – Backstrom – Oshie
Johansson – Kuznetsov – Wilson
Burakovsky – Eller – Williams
Sanford – Beagle – Winnik
Alzner – Niskanen
Orlov – Carlson
Orpik – Chorney
Holtby
What’s on TV?
There was an empty space in my heart when Game of Thrones wrapped up it’s 6th season on HBO, but fear not my fellow Throners, I have found a show to fill the void.
Westworld. A show about a futuristic theme park populated by artificial human beings, set in the American West just after the Civil War. Rated TV-MA, no children allowed.
You’re welcome. The Walking Dead sucks, don’t @ me.
Storylines
- The Caps will be wearing American flag stickers on the back of their helmets tonight for Veterans Day.
- US gold medal Olympian Aly Raisman holds up a Capitals jersey in a photo op.
- Evgeny Kuznetsov’s favorite actor, Steven Seagal was granted Russian citizenship.
- Alex Ovechkin’s Funko Pop! is available online and in select stores. Still going to have to paint his laces yellow though.
- Caps prospect Connor Hobbs got involved in some rough stuff in Saskatoon.
- Adam Stringham is feeling pretty optimisitic about the Caps.
- About that PP, though…
- Blues fans sang the national anthem together, which was pretty sweet.
- If you didn’t already know, Braden Holtby won the bobblehead election. Get to the Verizon Center on March 21st if you want one.
- The Hershey Bears did the mannequin challenge.
- After a 52 point season last year, Justin Williams is struggling to start this year with only 2 points in 12 games played.
Change
As life goes on we experience change and the world around us does as well. For many, some change can rightfully bring about a sense of trepidation, especially since no human being can time travel (sorry Michael J. Fox) to see what their future holds. As trivial as it may seem, I believe that we as fans of hockey can take solace in the fact that we know that the puck is going to be dropped from October to June. There’s nothing realistic that can change in the NHL to make hockey any less awesome. That’s pretty cool in my book.
Photo by Bill Smith
