From Caps Instagram: “My name is Alex Ovechkin, I lead the nhl in goals.”
The Capitals have had the Penguins number so far this season, and that number is zero. In 120 minutes of hockey, Washington has outscored Pittsburgh seven goals to none.
But the Penguins of February 17 are healthier than previous versions, and Holtby has been averaging 3 goals against over the last 10 days. It’d be a nice trick to end the road trip with another blowout over a division rival, but the Caps are gonna have to bring the ruckus to get it done.
The lineup makes me think they might pull it off. Puck drop at 7 PM on CSN.
| Team | Record | Possession | PDO | Power Play | Penalty Kill |
| Washington Capitals | 30-17-10 | 52.0% | 100.3 | 23.1% | 80.8% |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 32-15-9 | 53.1% | 100.4 | 20.7% | 85.7% |
Projected Lineup
I wrote a thousand words on how tough it is for coaches to make the lines and how easy it is for us to trash them for it, and then Trotz gives us a damn good lineup. From Prewitt:
Ovechkin – Backstrom – Burakovsky
Johansson– Kuznetsov – Brouwer
Laich – Fehr – Ward
Beagle – Latta – Wilson
Orpik – Carlson
Alzner – Niskanen
Hillen– Green
Holtby
Best Thing on the Internet Today
Crud BoneMeal! Crunch ButtSteak!
Storylines
- This is the final game of the Capitals’ longest road trip of the season.
- Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby have yet to get a point on the Capitals this season. Actually, that goes for the whole Pittsburgh team. Holtbyyyyyyyy.
- And also injuryyyyyy. The Pensblog reports that the Penguins are healthier now than they were in the previous two matchups.
- No Joe B tonight– he’s still down with laryngitis. Al Koken will be calling the game. He’s a nice guy but I bet his suit is atrocious.
- Old friends collide.
Kris Letang had a friendly chat w/ex-Penguins assistant Todd Reirden, now with Washington, outside the visiting dressing room. Still chummy.
— Seth Rorabaugh (@SethRorabaugh) February 17, 2015
- Alex Ovechkin and Ryan Getzlaf: Two divers sniping at each other about diving. Ovi’s sniping is a lot funnier.
- Doctor please-don’t-call-him-an-actual-doctor Ovechkin.
- I hate Vingan’s headlines, but I’m linking to this anyway. Discussion about the points race and trading Mike Green.
- How bad do we want Aaron Ekblad to win the Calder?
What You’re Missing on TV Tonight
Tonight’s episode of Parks & Recreation is titled The Johnny Karate Super Awesome Musical Explosion Show, so if I’m cranky tonight it’s because I’m missing that.
