Following a big shootout win in Carolina, the Caps headed home. This morning the team held an optional morning skate ahead of their game against the Canadiens. Puck drop is at 7:00.
What happened last night?
Last night the Capitals got a big come from behind win over the Hurricanes on the road. Trailing 1-0 in the second, the Caps got a power-play goal from their captain, Alex Ovechkin, to tie the game. The Caps grabbed the lead on a tally from Justin Williams. Carolina tied it at two just before the middle frame ended.
In the third, Nicklas Backstrom was called for holding and Teuvo Teravainen’s power play goal would give Carolina the lead just 40 seconds in. At 13:56, a shot by Dmitry Orlov was tipped into the net by T.J. Oshie. That tied the game at three. The game would require a shootout to decide the winner and goals by Oshie and Evgeny Kuznetsov would seal the game for Washington. Philipp Grubauer got the win.
It’s the Craig Laughlin #AlumniBowl as #Habs visit #Caps tonight 7pm @CSNCapitals & @CapitalsRadio. A classic! pic.twitter.com/GAzoW3DgLo
— Ben Raby (@BenRaby31) December 17, 2016
Morning Skate
The Capitals have recalled Zach Sanford from Hershey. Sanford and Andre Burakovsky were first out on the ice this morning.
Zach Sanford and Andre Burakovsky already out on the ice this morning. #Caps
— JJ Regan (@JJReganCSN) December 17, 2016
This move leaves the Caps with just $237 in cap space which was pretty much how much money was in my bank account back while in college.
When you’ve got more money to burn than the Washington Capitals pic.twitter.com/9D84oxYYOr
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) December 17, 2016
The Caps had eight players out on the ice for the optional skate. Those players were Sanford, Braden Holtby, Nate Schmidt, Jakub Vrana, Daniel Winnik, Brett Connolly, Burakovsky, and Taylor Chorney. You can check out our game preview of tonight’s game here.
Holtby, Sanford, Schmidt, Vrana, Winnik, Connolly, Burakovsky and Chorney are on the ice for the optional morning skate.
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikCSN) December 17, 2016
After Grubauer started last night, Holtby will indeed get the start tonight. One big storyline for tonight is the man in the net for the opposition. Carey Price was pulled from the game last night after giving up four goals to the Sharks. The Habs lost that game 4-2. Despite all of that, he will get the start tonight for Motreal.
Carey Price stares down the Habs bench after getting pulled. Shades of Patrick Roy pic.twitter.com/yLaVHUFB4a
— Michael Mazzei (@MichaelMazzei3) December 17, 2016
As Price headed for the dressing room, he gave head coach Michel Therrien a glare. Hockey fans of the older generation who are reading this might remember Habs legend Patrick Roy’s infamous stare down.
Roasted pic.twitter.com/N4ARo7TvUM
— manu 🎨 (@MoeninGlory) December 17, 2016
Interviews
Zach Sanford
Caps Forward @zachsanford21 talks about his time with @thehersheybears and being called back up to the big club. #RockTheRed pic.twitter.com/9yVd1QtuhN
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 17, 2016
Mike Vogel and John Walton take it away with their Two-Man Advantage
Two-Man Advantage – @vogscaps and @waltoncaps preview tonight’s #CapsHabs matchup. pic.twitter.com/VWqudkoBpD
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 17, 2016
Game Links
Caps Host Habs on Saturday Night (Mike Vogel)
Shavings
- After struggling much of the season with the man-advantage, the Capitals have scored a power-play goal in six of their last seven games.
By Michael Marzzacco
Follow @Marswaggo
