After a big overtime win over the Blackhawks, the Capitals will play their second of back-to-back road contests tonight as they head to the capital of North Carolina to take on the Hurricanes. Puck-drop is at 7:00 PM and you can catch the game on both CSN + and now on both CSNMidAtlantic.com and the NBC Sports app.
CAROLINA
The Hurricanes (3-6-4) are coming off a 4-2 loss to the Ducks on Thursday night on home ice. Trailing 3-0, a goal by Teuvo Teravainen late in the second and a tally by Victor Rask early in the third pulled the Canes within one before an empty net goal by Ryan Kesler with 26 seconds left put an end to any hope of a comeback. The loss was Carolina’s third in a row.
Home Cooking: Tonight’s contest is the second game of a five-game homestand for Carolina. They hope to rebound from that tough loss to Anaheim the other night. The Hurricanes are sitting in eighth place in the Metropolitan Division with 10 points. The Hurricanes are 1-3 at PNC Arena. Following tonight’s game, the remainder of the homestand will have San Jose, Montreal, and Winnipeg visiting Carolina.
Other Notes: The Hurricanes recalled forwards Brock McGinn and Derek Ryan from the Charlotte Checkers yesterday. With Charlotte, McGinn has five goals and three assists for eight points and Ryan leads the team in scoring with 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in nine games played.
Defenseman Justin Faulk was placed on injured reserve Friday with an upper body injury from their game on Monday and won’t be in the lineup tonight. He did however skate this morning with no contact. Forward Bryan Bickell was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and will be sidelined tonight.
WASHINGTON
The Capitals (9-3-1) got a big overtime win in Chicago 3-2, snapping the Blackhawks’ seven game winning streak. After Marian Hossa tied the game with 22.3 seconds left in regulation, the Capitals won it in overtime on a slapshot goal by Marcus Johansson.
The Caps didn’t hold a morning skate this morning so official lines haven’t been announced but expect to see Philipp Grubauer in between the pipes tonight with Holtby starting last night.
MoJo has mojo– Marcus Johansson scored the game-winning goal last night in overtime which marked his first career overtime goal. He once again leapfrogs to first in goals (7) and points (12) for the Capitals.
Beagle on the loose! – Jay Beagle tallied two goals in the first period on Friday night which marked his third career multi-goal game and the first time he’s scored two goals in a period. His two points also marked his eighth career multi-point game. Beagle now has three goals on the season. The first goal he scored came down a man who was his first career shorthanded goal and the Caps first shorthanded goal of the season.
On the offensive from the defensive – John Carlson, Matt Niskanen, and Dmitry Orlov each earned an assist last night in Chicago. The Capitals’ defensemen have earned a point in 11 of the their 13 games this season and have each combined to register 26 points. Carlson has gotten the most shots among the blueline and is tied for 11th in the NHL in that category with 37.
THE MATCHUP
Tonight’s game marks the first of four meetings between the Metropolitan Division rivals. The Capitals won three of four meetings last year against Carolina (3-1-0)
Series Flashback
SHAVINGS
- The Capitals are 5-1-1 on the road this season.
- The Capitals have earned a point in 20 of their last 23 games against Metropolitan Division opponents dating back to last season with a 14-3-6 record in that stretch.
- The Capitals are tied for 18th in the league in goals scored (36) and tied for second in the league in goals against (28).
- The Capitals power-play unit has one goal in its last 15 chances. The second unit hasn’t scored at all this season.
- Alex Ovechkin is three power-play goals shy of becoming the 18th player in NHL history to score 200 power-play goals.
- John Carlson passed Rod Langway (177) for eighth place on the Capitals assists by a defenseman list, Nov. 3 vs. Winnipeg.
- The Capitals are 3-0-0 in back-to-back games this season and will play 16 back-to-back sets.
- Washington has scored a goal in the first period in 10 of their 13 games this season and has outscored opponents 15-6 in the first period this season.
GAME LINKS:
Caps Today and Top Game Notes, 11/12/16 (Capitals PR)
Game Notes at Carolina, 11/12/16 (Capitals PR)
Caps Clash with Canes in Carolina (Mike Vogel)
Pregame notes: Alzner-Niskanen pair limiting opportunities for opposing top lines (WaPo)
By Michael Marzzacco
