The Capitals wrapped up preparations for game 4 this morning at CONSOL Energy Center. Puck-drop for game 4 is tonight at 8:00 PM. The Caps will return to Northern Virginia tonight immediately following the game.
MORNING SKATE:
Coach Trotz made the morning skate optional for the team this morning. Players in attendance at morning skate:
Michael Latta
Stan Galiev
Mike Weber
Dmitry Orlov
Brooks Orpik
Nate Schmidt
Taylor Chorney
Jay Beagle
Justin Williams
Daniel Winnik
Jason Chimera
Andre Burakovsky
Tom Wilson
Evgeny Kuznetsov
Mike Richards
Caps ready for game 4 #CapitalsTalk pic.twitter.com/vY7rETQaoa
— Jill Sorenson (@JillCSN) May 4, 2016
With an optional skate, it was difficult to determine Marcus Johansson‘s status for tonight’s game 4, but it sounds like he will be ready to go:
Optional skate. Marcus Johansson, TJ Oshie, Matt Niskanen playing soccer instead of hockey right now. #CapitalsTalk pic.twitter.com/2qT63j3VKx
— Chuck Gormley (@ChuckGormleyCSN) May 4, 2016
Early indications are that Mike Weber will replace Nate Schmidt on the 3rd line tonight.
So, a third pair of Weber-Chorney is what I’d expect tonight.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 4, 2016
Asked about benching Schmidt and playing Weber, Trotz said, “warmup.” I guess he wants us to watch that, which we all do every game anyway.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 4, 2016
NEWS AND NOTES:
General
- The Capitals will be holding a viewing party at Verizon Center for game 4 on Wednesday night. More information and RSVP here:
- Game 5 is set for Saturday night at Verizon Center. Puck-drop is 7:15 PM.
Capitals at Penguins
- Pens Kris Letang will serve his one game suspension tonight for his hit on Marcus Johansson in game 3.
- Penguins Coach Mike Sullivan says Forwards Bryan Rust and Eric Fehr, and defenseman Olli Maatta are all game time decisions vs Capitals tonight.
Steve Okeksy could be in Pens lineup tonight with Kris Letang serving 1-game suspension. #CapitalsTalkpic.twitter.com/ziVfKLiJfx
— Chuck Gormley (@ChuckGormleyCSN) May 4, 2016
By The Numbers
- Alex Ovechkin registered two points (1g, 1a) in Game 3 against Pittsburgh on Monday, marking his franchise-leading 20th career multi-point playoff game.
- Braden Holtby has posted four shutouts, a 1.82 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage in 43 career playoff games. Braden Holtby’s playoff numbers this season: 1.44 GAA .949 Save %
- Teams that go up 3-1 in a best-of-7 win 90.3% of the time (261-28)
“Do or do not. There is no try.” #CapsPens#MayThe4thBeWithYoupic.twitter.com/dkImODnVoi
— MonumentalSportsNet (@MonSportsNet) May 4, 2016
Only Pierre.
(Via @AndyCole84) pic.twitter.com/4eKxzBC8JC
— Doc Emrick (@DocInRealLife) May 3, 2016
RINK LINKS
Caps Look to Get Even (Mike Vogel)
Barry Trotz pre-game interview (Video) (Monumental Sports)
The Noon Number: To the Nines (Japers’ Rink)
Capitals Vow to Keep Pounding the Rock (CSNMA)
Tom Wilson wants to keep the Caps-Penguins series ‘clean and hard’ (WaPo)
Hendricks to captain U.S. at Worlds for second straight year (NBC)
With NHL suspensions, does the punishment fit the crime or the injury? (WaPo)
Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov goes from scratch to skating with John Carlson (WaPo)
Discipline, firing on all cylinders and a fired-up No. 8 can get it done for the Washington Capitals (ESPN)
