The Capitals host the Red Wings tonight with puck drop at 7 PM. This morning, Washington held an optional skate to get ready for tonight’s contest.
MORNING SKATE
11 players were on hand for the optional skate today. Those players were Daniel Winnik, Brett Connolly, Jay Beagle, Zach Sanford, Andre Burakovsky, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Dmitry Orlov, Nate Schmidt, Taylor Chorney, Braden Holtby, and Philipp Grubauer.
#Caps LH Dmen working on taking puck from right boards w/ backhand. Notable bc only real trade deadline target I see for the team is RH Dmen
— JJ Regan (@JJReganCSN) February 9, 2017
The lines tonight remain status quo. Grubauer was the first off the ice but he’s not starting. Instead it’ll be Holtby. Chorney and Sanford will be the scratches tonight.
SCENE FROM KETTLER
🤔 indeed… #CapsWings morning skate pic.twitter.com/V2wwRL48w1
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 9, 2017
GAME CHIPS
- Tonight’s game between the Capitals and Red Wings is the second of three meetings between the teams this season.
- The Capitals won the first meeting back in November at Verizon Center 1-0. Washington will travel to Detroit on Feb. 18 for their first game after the bye week.
- For more on tonight’s game check out our game preview here.
SHAVINGS
- The Capitals penalty kill is 10-for-10 over their last three games. (Tarik El-Bashir/CSN)
- Braden Holtby is 12-0-0 since Jan. 1. (Tarik El-Bashir/CSN)
- The Capitals have scored five or more goals in nine straight home games.
- The Capitals have won 10 consecutive games on home ice.
- Washington has tallied a point in 19 of their last 21 games (17-2-2) and have posted a 24-4-3 record since Dec. 5.
- Nicklas Backstrom sits four points shy of becoming the fourth player in Capitals history to record 700 points.
- Holtby has a 7-2-0 record lifetime vs. the Red Wings.
- The Capitals have scored four or more goals in 15 of their last 20 games and are 24-0-1 this season in games when they score four or more goals.
DAILY LINKS
Game Notes vs. Detorit, 2/9/17 (Capitals PR)
Red Hot Caps Host Red Wings (Mike Vogel)
Barry Trotz Pregame 2/9/17 (Monumental Sports Network)
SKATE SHAVINGS: News and Notes From Caps’ Morning Skate (Mike Vogel)
INTERVIEWS
Rinkside Update: Dmitry Orlov
Rinkside Update | @orlov_09 talks with @vogscaps about playing with Nisky and his increased role this season. #CapsWings pic.twitter.com/vewleDlXfp
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 9, 2017
By Michael Marzzacco
Follow @marswaggo
