Photo: @dckerNBC4
The Capitals host the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight at Verizon Center. Puck-drop is 7:00 PM.
Morning Skate
Nicklas Backstrom returned to the line rushes this morning. In addition, John Carlson and Brooks Orpik were reunited as a defensive pair. The lines at morning skate:
Offensive Lines
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Oshie
Burakovsky-Kuznetsov-Williams
Chimera-Johansson-Wilson
Winnik-Richards-Beagle
Defensive Pairs
Alzner-Niskanen
Orpik-Carlson
Orlov-Schmidt
This lineup could very well be the lineup for game one of the playoffs.
Looks like Nicklas Backstrom is in tonight vs Penguins. New D pairings: Orlov w/Schmidt and Orpik w/Carlson. #CapitalsTalk
— Chuck Gormley (@ChuckGormleyCSN) April 7, 2016
Photo: @dckerNBC4
Penguins @ Capitals Notes
Pittsburgh (47-25-8) comes into Verizon Center on a hot streak, with 13 wins in their last 14 games and a seven-game winning streak both on the road and overall. Pittsburgh still has something to play for: that being winning second place in the Metropolitan Division, which would mean home ice advantage for the first round. Braden Holtby will start for in goal for the Caps. Matthew Murray will get the start for the Pens. The Pens Marc-Andre Fleury is out indefinitely with a concussion. Holtby hasn’t lost consecutive starts in over a year. Check out NoVa Caps comprehensive game preview here:
Andre Burakovsky at the Swedish Embassy yesterday. Photo: @SwedenInUSA
New and Notes
- With 47 wins on the season, Braden Holtby will once again be looking to tie Martin Brodeur’s single season win record tonight.
- Holtby has earned 47 wins in 64 games this season, while Brodeur earned 48 wins in 78 games during the 2006-07 season.
- The latest version of Caps Red Line is available. Cruisin’ with Ovi to Capitol Hill. Watch it here:
- On “Caps Talk” today, former Cap Eric Fehr, Alan May and more, today from 4-6PM on Caps radio.
- Joe ‘B’ Bingo is tonight. Play along at home! More information here:
Other Stories
Caps, Holtby Seek to Chill Hot Pens (Mike Vogel)
News and Notes from Morning Skate (Mike Vogel)
Barry Trotz pre-game 4/7/16 (Video) (Monumental Sports)
Justin Williams pre-game 4/7/16 (Video) (Monumental Sports)
Braden Holtby pre-game 4/7/16 (Video) (Monumental Sports)
Two-man Advantage (Video) (Monumental Sports)
Capitals could learn first-round opponent tonight (CSNMA)
Why Holtby will get only two cracks at Brodeur’s record (CSNMA)
The Noon Number: A Player Who is Due (Japers’ Rink)
Nicklas Backstrom returns to the lineup against Penguins (WaPo)
Alex Ovechkin getting hot at the right time for the Capitals (WaPo)
Worried about Braden Holtby’s record pursuit? Capitals don’t even know what it is (WaPo)
Play-Off Status
The Capitals have secured the best record in hockey for the 2015-2016 season and home ice advantage for the upcoming playoffs. The Capitals will face the second Wild Card team in the opening round of the playoffs, scheduled to start on or around April 14th. If the playoffs started today the Capitals would face the Philadelphia Flyers.
