Photo: @Capitals
After a great weekend that saw the Capitals get two big wins, the team got a much deserved day off before returning to the ice this morning. Tonight, the Capitals will take on the Carolina Hurricanes with puck drop at 7 PM.
MORNING SKATE
With the team on a roll lately there wasn’t any changes made to the lineup. Here is what the lines will look like tonight:
Status quo at Capitals morning skate pic.twitter.com/TbH7OuUD9y
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) February 7, 2017
Braden Holtby was the first goalie to come off the ice at practice this morning, signifying he will get the start tonight. Tonight is the second of a four game homestand for the Caps. The Capitals will be off for a bye week following the homestand.
“We’ll get a couple of practices in. I think it’ll be good for us going into the bye week. We want to put some work in and hopefully, that work, we’ll remember it a week later,” head coach Barry Trotz told reporters. “We’ll do a couple of things that will set us up hopefully for success when we come out on the other side (of the break).”
The Capitals will hold practice tomorrow (11:30 a.m.), a morning skate Thursday (10:30 a.m.), and a practice Friday (11:30 a.m.).
AROUND THE LEAGUE
While many Bostonians were celebrating the Patriots recent Super Bowl win there was a big change on the hockey side of things for the Bruins. The team announced that they had fired head coach Claude Julien. Julien helped lead the Bruins to a Stanley Cup in 2011. Assistant coach Bruce Cassidy will take over the head coaching duties for the remainder of the season. Cassidy is no stranger to Capitals fans. He coached Washington from 2002-04 and led the Caps to the playoffs during the 2002-03 season.
“Claude is a good friend… I texted and talked to him today and said ‘you’re gonna be out of a job for about five minutes’ and I’m sure he’s probably got offers right now,” said Trotz.
METROPOLITAN DIVISION STANDINGS
CAROLINA IN MY MIND
Even though the Hurricanes are last in the Metropolitan Division, the Capitals cannot take them lightly. Carolina enters tonight’s contest riding a three-game winning streak, and have already beat the Caps this season.
“They play us tough,” Trotz said. “They play with a lot of speed. They attack you with a lot of pressure. They’re great on their counters and they play a 200-foot game so we just gotta make sure we’re playing the right way, make sure we’re focused on what we need to do against Carolina tonight.”
SCENE FROM KETTLER
10 minutes before the start of #Caps morning skate, most of the NHL’s top team is on the ice for a skills session… pic.twitter.com/sUqLJg8G7Q
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikCSN) February 7, 2017
GAME CHIPS
- Tonight is the fourth and final meeting between the Capitals and Hurricanes this season.
- The Capitals are 2-1-0 against the Hurricanes this season.
- For a preview of tonight’s game click here.
SHAVINGS
- The Capitals have earned a point in 11 of their last 14 games against the Hurricanes with a 10-3-1 record. (Tarik El-Bashir/CSN)
- Since 2014, there have been coaching changes for 24 out of the 30 NHL teams. (David Amber)
- The Capitals have won nine consecutive games at Verizon Center.
- The Capitals have scored four or more goals in 14 of their last 19 games and are 23-0-1 this season in games when they score four or more goals.
- The Capitals lead the NHL in goals-against per game (2.08) and five-on-five goals against (66) this season.
- The Capitals have tallied a point in 18 of their last 20 games (16-2-2) and have posted a 23-4-3 record since Dec. 5.
- Braden Holtby has posted an 11-0-0 record in his last 13 games with three shutouts, a 1.93 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage.
- The Capitals have scored five or more goals in eight straight home games.
DAILY LINKS
Barry Trotz Pregame 2/7/17 (Monumental Sports Network)
Game Notes vs. Carolina, 2/7/17 (Capitals PR)
Capitals Players and Significant Others To Host Wish Upon A Par to Benefit Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic (Capitals PR)
Caps Continue Homestand vs. Canes (Mike Vogel)
Settling Down: Trotz’ “Random Line Genrator” and the Method to His Madness
SKATE SHAVINGS: News and Notes From Caps’ Morning Skate (Mike Vogel)
THIS DAY IN CAPITALS HISTORY
Flashback Friday: Snovechkin’s Hat Trick vs. Penguins 2/7/10
Today #Caps history (Feb.7,2010): #Caps rally from 4-1 down & beat #Pens 5-4 (14th-straight win). Knuble OT GWG. #Snowmageddon #Snowvechkin pic.twitter.com/jBuS8hH2BC
— Ben Raby (@BenRaby31) February 7, 2017
INTERVIEWS
Rinkside Update: John Carlson
Rinkside Update | Caps Defenseman @JohnCarlson74 sits down with @vogscaps about his 500th NHL game last weekend #RockTheRed pic.twitter.com/ySroWpqOk9
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 7, 2017
Nate Scmidt
Caps Defenseman Nate Schmidt talks about consistency after today’s #CapsCanes morning skate. pic.twitter.com/k2Sc57f1Sm
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 7, 2017
CAPITALS IN THE COMMUNITY
Fatima is in DC! She’s at the UAE Embassy trading gifts with ambassador Youssef Al Otaiba. See you at #CapsCanes tonight, Fatima! #CapsHIFE pic.twitter.com/TBZ0jifrDc
— MonumentalSportsNet (@MonSportsNet) February 7, 2017
By Michael Marzzacco
Follow @marswaggo
