We’ve now entered the seemingly endless and bleak portion of the season known as mid-January. I tell you this in case you stepped outside, noticed it’s 72 degrees, and thought we were in the second round of the playoffs. No, sir, we are not. Another way you can tell we’re not in the playoffs yet is by tonight’s opponent: the New Jersey Devils. Yikes. Let’s get some power plays going.
Puck drop is at 7:00 PM. Your recap services come courtesy of Chris Cerullo.
  |
 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Record | 15-21-7 | 30-10-5 |
| Shot Attempt % | 46.8% | 52.0% |
| PDO | 98.2 | 101.0 |
| Power Play | 14.8% (30th) | 21.0% (12th) |
| Penalty Kill | 79.9% (19th) | 83.7% (4th) |
Projected Lines
No changes.
Ovechkin – Backstrom – Wilson
Vrana – Kuznetsov – Oshie
Hagelin – Eller – Panik
Leipsic – Dowd – Hathaway
Kempny – Carlson
Orlov – Jensen
Siegenthaler – Gudas
Holtby
So Here’s JR
— Jeremy Roenick (@Jeremy_Roenick) January 11, 2020
I debated whether this belonged in its own article or not. I don’t think so. So here’s Jeremy’s competently scripted and bloodshot apology. He hasn’t been on the air since before Christmas.
Storylines
- Christian Djoos has been returned to Hershey.
- Braden Holtby has given up the dream.
- The Caps are making changes to the power play.
- No MacKenzie Blackwood for the Devils tonight. He’s hurt.
- You’re running out of time to vote Oshie (and Jake) into the All-Star Game. Of course, if you don’t, they can just have a little vacation instead. That’d be fine too.
- We’re on Team Ken.
- Gerardo Parra‘s Nats tattoo rules.
Torts: Hero
Before the season, me and Ian guessed that Columbus head coach John Tortorella would be first to lose his job. It’s now the new year, the Blue Jackets are in the playoff hunt, and Torts is looking pretty secure. And now he drops this quote on me?
Torts: “there is no more overrated stat than plus-minus.” 😍
— Alison (@AlisonL) January 11, 2020
Anyway, good luck tonight, Nick Jensen.
Full RMNB Coverage of Caps vs Devils
Headline photo: @KuzyBeCackling
