The Washington Capitals have traveled north to play the Toronto Maple Leafs and to say this game is huge for both sides is an understatement. Not only is this a night for Alex Ovechkin to repeat over and over again to reporters that he is going to the Olympics, but a large amount of clinching could be happening.
On the Maple Leafs side, if they beat the Capitals tonight in regulation or overtime AND the Lightning lose to the Bruins, they will clinch a playoff spot. They could also clinch a playoff spot if they beat the Capitals in a shootout and the Lightning lose to the Bruins in regulation.
On the flip side, there is a chance for the Capitals to clinch the Metro division title, the Eastern Conference, and the Presidents’ Trophy tonight. All they will have to do is beat the Maple Leafs in regulation or overtime and the Blue Jackets will need to defeat the Penguins. They can also win all these things if they beat the Maple Leafs in a shootout and the Blue Jacket beat the Penguins in a shootout. Get it? Got it? Good.
Join us for this extravaganza at 7:30 PM on CSN.
| Team | Record | SA% | PDO | Power Play | Penalty Kill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Capitals | 52-18-8 | 53.0% | 102.8 | 23.4% (3rd) | 84.2% (7th) |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 39-24-15 | 50.9% | 101.0 | 24.3% (2nd) | 83.0% (8th) |
Projected Lines
From our trusty gal at the Washington Post, Miss Isabelle Khurshudyan. Only change is Grubauer in net:
Ovechkin – Backstrom – Oshie
Johansson – Kuznetsov – Williams
Connolly – Eller – Burakovsky
Winnik – Beagle – Wilson
Alzner – Carlson
Orlov – Niskanen
Orpik – Shattenkirk
Grubauer
Auston Matthews
You know when your friend says, “Oh my god you HAVE to see this movie” or “Oh my goodness, go to this place. It’s the BEST” so you go see the movie or eat at the place and it ends up being extremely underwhelming? Well, I don’t have friends so I don’t know that feeling, but that is NOT Auston Matthews. He had so much hype surrounding him when he entered the league and has only delivered for the Leafs. Check out some tweets below that might strike your fancy about this wonder boy.
Auston Matthews of the @MapleLeafs set a single-season NHL record for goals by a U.S.-born rookie, eclipsing Neal Broten in 1981-82 (38). pic.twitter.com/lOCg56rYb8
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 4, 2017
┻┳|
┳┻|
┻┳| Auston Matthews
┳┻| _ is 6 career goals behind
┻┳| •.•) of Connor McDavid
┳┻|⊂ﾉ with 46 games in hand
┻┳|— Adam Wylde (@AdamWylde) April 4, 2017
Auston Matthews now has more goals in his rookie season than Phil Kessel’s career high.
The tank worked.#TMLtalk
— Filipe Dimas (@FilipeDimas) April 2, 2017
With his 39th goal of the season, Auston Matthews is now the top-scoring rookie in Maple Leafs history pic.twitter.com/puC7pGCkEb
— Yahoo Canada Sports (@YahooCASports) April 3, 2017
Storylines
- “I didn’t change my mind,” says Alex Ovechkin about the Olympics. We are shocked by this development.
- The Hershey Bears made a sweet ATO signing to this Caps draft pick. His name is Beck and I really love Beck the musician so I’m sure this guy is perfect.
- Turns out, Braden Holtby is the NHL’s most consistent goaltender who is also good at the same time. So very good.
- An “Impeach Trump” sign was unfurled at the end of the Nats game. If you don’t want to read the piece, just read the comments. They’re fun.
- AHL Player of the Month was none other that the Bears’ Christian Djoos with 16 points in 13 March games.
- Speaking of stars, we’re super proud that the NHL named their second star of the week to our boy Marcus Johansson.
- Everyone has probably heard the news at this point but the NHL announced it won’t participate in the 2018 Olympic Games.
- Nobody is happy about the Olympic decision especially the NHLPA who were “extraordinarily disappointed”.
- ONE MISTAKE. ONE MEASLEY MISTAKE. That’s all it will take to cost the Caps their playoff run, according to Barry Trotz.
Zamboni Baby
Look at this baby driving a baby zamboni at the Tampa Bay game the other day. Just trying to do his job and clean the ice. Unbelievable.
Headline image: Blair Bunting
