The Washington Capitals will host the San Jose Sharks at Capital One Arena on Tuesday night, their last home game until December 14. Washington is looking to extend their winning streak to five games and end San Jose’s recent winning ways.
Head coach Spencer Carbery is sticking with what’s been working for the Capitals, as the only change to the team’s lineup will come in net. Logan Thompson will retake the crease from Charlie Lindgren and get his 13th start of the season.
“No [changes], LT will start,” Carbery said. “Everything should be the same, barring anything unforeseen.”
Thompson has won his last two starts and is 10-1-1 on the season with a 2.56 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage. He is 3-1-1 against the Sharks in his career with a 1.78 goals-against average, a .938 save percentage, and one shutout.
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After losing their first nine games of the season, the Sharks have rebounded to go 9-6-3 in their last 18 games. They’ve had a potent offense recently, scoring 22 goals over their previous four games and winning three of those outings.
“We’re going to need to be dialed in tonight,” Carbery said. “It’s not going to be something where, weeknight game in our building, that we can’t take our foot off the gas whatsoever.”
Despite the Sharks’ lack of regular-season success in recent years, the Capitals have still struggled to take two points from them while at home. San Jose has won two of the last three matchups in DC.
“They’re on a bit of a hot run right now,” Carbery added. “Pucks are going in for them. When a team’s feeling it – you need to be even tighter against those teams, because anything that they put on net, because when you’re feeling it, you’re feeling it, and we don’t want to leave anything to chance.
“They have the skill with some of those young guys, but also some of the veteran guys, too. If you give them an inch, so to say, or you give them a little bit of space to enter a slight odd-man rush, they can make you pay. And they’ve shown that over the last few games.”
See you soon for #CapsSharks#ALLCAPS | @MedStarHealth pic.twitter.com/VWOSDhJ7c9
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 3, 2024
One of the primary drivers of San Jose’s recent offense is rookie center Macklin Celebrini. The 18-year-old center was recently named the NHL’s First Star of the Week after recording seven points (4g, 3a) in his last four games. He has 14 points (8g, 6a) in 15 games this season.
“Celebrini looks like he’s gonna be a heck of a player,” Carbery said. “So, since he’s come back into the lineup, he’s been a real positive for them, and it seems like he’s helped their whole group.”
The 2024 first-overall draft selection will center the team’s top line, featuring William Eklund and Fabian Zetterlund on the wings. Per NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti, Mackenzie Blackwood is slated to start for San Jose in goal.
