The Caps held practice at 11:30 this morning at Kettler. The team will hold a morning skate tomorrow morning (Saturday) at 11:30AM to finalize preparations for game two against the Flyers tomorrow night.
Practice lines at morning skate:
Offensive lines:
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Oshie
Burakovsky-Kuznetsov-Williams
Chimera-Richards-Johansson
Winnik-Beagle-Wilson
Defensive pairs:
Orpik-Carlson
Alzner-Niskanen
Orlov-Schmidt
All Caps players were present for practice this morning. No changes to the lines were made as well.
Datta Datta Dah … #CapsFlyers#RockTheRed#RefYouSuckpic.twitter.com/tTp1Hysy5p
— Lori Donaldson (@lorimitsu) April 15, 2016
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Former Capitals’ defensemen John Erksine showing his support for the Caps yesterday on Twitter:
Most exciting time of the year starts tonight! #StanleyCupPlayoffs@washcaps#RockTheRed#LetsGoCaps#missthegame
— john erskine (@johnerskine04) April 13, 2016
The DC Fire Department getting in the swing of things this afternoon in the District.
#DCFD in full #RockTheRed mode for the #WashingtonCapitals and the #nhlplayoffs pic.twitter.com/FYvD80h6Zi
— Scott Bell (@SBellDC) April 15, 2016
News and Notes
- National viewers of Caps-Flyers got the Philly feed for game 1; they’ll get the D.C. feed for game 2.
- Braden Holtby has allowed no more than one goal in 14 of his 17 career playoff wins. His playoff Goal Against Average (GAA) is 1.86.
- Braden Holtby’s 3rd playoff shutout passes Don Beaupre & Semyon Varlamov for 2nd most in Capitals history. Olie Kolzig had 6.
- The Flyers held optional skate at Verizon Center today.
- The Flyers announced than Sean Couturier is out for two weeks. Injured on hit by Alex Ovechkin. Scott Laughton is likely Game 2 replacement. More here:
- Congratulations to Chris Bourque of the Hershey Bears who has been voted the AHL’s MVP!
- Head Coach Barry Trotz addresses the media after Friday’s practice to discuss the Caps Game 1 shutout victory and preparations for game 2. View video here:
- Jay Beagle post-practice interview from today talks about Caps and penalties and preparing for game 2. More here (Video)
- Tom Wilson post-practice interview discusses last night’s game, “weathering the storm” tomorrow night and preparing for game 2. More here (Video)
- During this year’s NHL playoffs, babies born at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Georgetown University will be given Capitals bibs, onesies and tiny baby caps courtesy of the Washington Capitals. More here.
My Playoff Moment video by the NHL:
Not a bad way to get things started, @WashCaps… #MyPlayoffsMomenthttps://t.co/sJMNEIFJij
— #StanleyCup Playoffs (@NHL) April 15, 2016
Caps owner Ted Leonsis getting in the swing of things as well:
Before you ask, yes I am growing a playoff beard. pic.twitter.com/iekeTmXpdo
— Ted Leonsis (@TedLeonsis) April 11, 2016
Jay Beagle on NHL tonight last night:
#Caps forward Jay Beagle joined NHL Tonight Arena Cam after the 2-0 win in Game One. #CapsFlyers #RockTheRedhttps://t.co/5IrYckkZqm
— #RockTheRed (@washcaps) April 15, 2016
Ticket Status:
As of 3:00 PM on Friday, there were 1,096 tickets for tomorrow’s game 2 available on StubHub. Prices range from $118 for Section 409 Row P to $1,671 for glass seats (Row A) in section 112.
Cancel tomorrow night’s plans. The @WashCaps are playing. #RockTheRedpic.twitter.com/Tanpx5n0Ke
— CSN Capitals (@CSNCapitals) April 15, 2016
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Caps announcer Wes Johnson is in post-season form:
First Fury of the Playoffs. @andreburakovsky 😂!! #RockTheRedhttps://t.co/S8Sq4bGm7b
— #RockTheRed (@washcaps) April 15, 2016
Game-shot of the day:
Assistant Coach Lane Lambert during last night’s game communicating with coaches upstairs in the press box. (Photo: @Kaylin2025)
Other Stories
Caps Blank Philly 2-0 in Game 1 (Mike Vogel)
Rink Rank: Weigh-In on how each of the Caps did in the season opener (Japers Rink)
Capitals Rewind: Caps shutout Flyers in physical Game 1 (Video) (CSN)
Wilson criticizes Schenn, hopes he didn’t ‘wake up’ Simmonds (CSN)
The Great Wait: After 11 seasons Alex Ovechkin may finally win Cup (SI)
Best and worst from the Capitals’ Game 1 victory over the Flyers (WaPo)
Daniel Winnik has no trouble adjusting in Washington (WaPo)
To beat the Flyers, Caps should be lovers (of good hockey), not fighters (WaPo)
The Caps flipped the switch and put their end-of-season struggles behind them (WaPo)
Flyers C Sean Couturier could be out for remainder of series with shoulder injury (WaPo)
The Caps’ playoff bandwagon is booming with newborn babies (WaPo)