Photo: @Laughlin18
The Capitals held an optional skate this morning at Bell Centre in preparation for their game tonight against the Montreal Canadiens. Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m. The game will feature round two of the great goaltending matchup between Braden Holtby and Carey Price. Lars Eller also makes his first return to Montreal since being traded to Washington.
The Capitals are aiming for their sixth win in a row and coming off a win in Ottawa Saturday night. You can check out our game preview here. It was a cold morning in Montreal…
#Gr8 degrees in Montreal! #CapsHabs #RockTheRed pic.twitter.com/bLJyiMlYlw
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 9, 2017
Caps Red Line
The @Capitals search for their 6th straight win tonight in Montreal. Get ready with Crash the Net, presented by @Geico. pic.twitter.com/uEG7ixFvrO
— MonumentalSportsNet (@MonSportsNet) January 9, 2017
MORNING SKATE:
Tom Wilson and T.J. Oshie weren’t at practice yesterday but were present on the ice this morning, which is great news for Caps fans.
Will @TJOshie77 play tonight? Still on the ice with Carey, O’Brien, and Chorney. @CSNCapitals @Laughlin18 @JoeBpXp pic.twitter.com/ZE9TbpsMTg
— steve farrell (@capsbigbossman) January 9, 2017
Looking better than the last time we saw him. @tom_wilso at morning skate. @CSNCapitals @Laughlin18 @JoeBpXp pic.twitter.com/15ODPRps3X
— steve farrell (@capsbigbossman) January 9, 2017
#Caps have an optional skate this morning. Oshie and Wilson were injured last game. If both play tonight lineup should look like this: pic.twitter.com/4sJdpqSzlJ
— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) January 9, 2017
Ovechkin spelling aside, this is a cool way to tweet the projected lines! In other news, the Capitals have recalled Paul Carey from Hershey for the third time this season.
Tom Wilson told reporters after practice that he’s good to go for tonight’s game. Meanwhile, Oshie won’t play tonight and there is no indication yet on who will be in his place. It could be Paul Carey or Liam O’Brien, Trotz wouldn’t say. Trotz said Oshie is day-to-day.
Oshie is not playing tonight. And even though he skated, @CapitalsPR is not making him available.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) January 9, 201
Here’s my guess at a Caps lineup for tonight:
8-19-10
90-92-14
28-20-65
26-83-43
27-74
9-2
44-88— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) January 9, 2017
MILESTONE WATCH:
- Alex Ovechkin is 4 points from 1,000.
- Barry Trotz is 2 wins from passing Pat Quinn for 7th (684).
- With shutouts the last two games, Braden Holtby now has 28 for his career. He is eight behind Olaf Kolzig’s record of 35 with the Capitals.
SHAVINGS:
- Braden Holtby has posted an 8-1-2 career record against Montreal, including two shutouts, a 1.64 GAA, and a .942 save percentage
- Nicklas Backstrom is the first player in Caps franchise history to record 500 career assists and the first player from the 2006 Draft class to do so.
- The Capitals have earned a point in seven of their last nine games against the Canadiens.
- Barry Trotz sits one game shy of his 1,400th NHL game.
- Holtby has been named the NHL’s Third Star of the Week with three wins, two shutouts and a .967 save percentage.
DAILY LINKS:
Game Notes at Montreal, 1/9/17 (Capitals PR)
Caps Conclude Trip Seeking Sixth Straight Win (Mike Vogel)
Lars Eller is ‘very motivated’ in first game back in Montreal since trade to Capitals (Washington Post)
SKATE SHAVINGS: News and Notes From Caps’ Morning Skate (Mike Vogel)
INTERVIEWS:
Barry Trotz
Oshie out, Wilson in, and more from Coach Trotz after #CapsHabs morning skate. pic.twitter.com/ZhAcP5NaKV
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 9, 2017
Caps Pregame Locker Room: Braden Holtby, Tom Wilson, Lars Eller
Braden Holtby, Tom Wilson and Lars Eller on tonight’s matchup with the Montreal Canadiens. #CapsHabspic.twitter.com/NKpqRvBVvo
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 9, 2017
Two-Man Advantage
Two-Man Advantage | @vogscaps and @waltoncaps preview tonight’s #CapsHabs tilt from Montreal, Québec. pic.twitter.com/FfQBSBRTMa
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 9, 2017
THIS DATE IN CAPITALS HISTORY
This date #Caps history (Jan.8,1998): Dale Hunter records 1000th point to become 1st player in NHL history w 300 goals, 3,000 PIMs & 1000pts pic.twitter.com/5BQZFsNHrV
— Ben Raby (@BenRaby31) January 9, 2017
By Michael Marzzacco
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