It all starts tonight! The Capitals will begin their quest for the cup when they take the ice in front of 18,506 red clad fans that have been starving for a championship for so long. Puck drop is at 7 PM.
MORNING SKATE
The Capitals held an optional skate this morning to prepare for their contest with the Maple Leafs. The players who were on the ice: Paul Carey, Andre Burakovsky, Tom Wilson, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Nate Schmidt, Taylor Chorney, Brett Connolly, Daniel Winnik, Braden Holtby and Philipp Grubauer. Chorney and Schmidt took the scratches’ skate at the end.
While John Carlson wasn’t on the ice for the optional skate, Trotz told reporters that barring setbacks, he’ll take warmups. His status for the game will be determined following that. Photos from Nova Caps’ Joe Noyes can be found here.
Highlights:
Daniel Winnik and Tom Wilson out here for the optional skate @NoVa_Caps pic.twitter.com/MUsJFlPXRb
— Michael Marzzacco (@Marswaggo) April 13, 2017
Winnik and Wilson skating around before the optional skate officially begins.
Taylor Chorney, Nate Schmidt, Lars Eller and both goaltenders are present for the optional skate @NoVa_Caps pic.twitter.com/AAPQRzQj12
— Michael Marzzacco (@Marswaggo) April 13, 2017
Chorney, Schmidt, and Eller getting some shots up.
Great save by Holtby at the end @NoVa_Caps pic.twitter.com/JDKl223PiM
— Michael Marzzacco (@Marswaggo) April 13, 2017
The Caps then did some 2-on-1 work, Holtby makes a great save towards the end.
The two blueliners out here working on slapshots @NoVa_Caps pic.twitter.com/1D8ckiXpUG
— Michael Marzzacco (@Marswaggo) April 13, 2017
Schmidt and Chorney worked on slapshots on one end of the ice.
Winnik working on one timers while Burakovsky is working on snapshots @NoVa_Caps pic.twitter.com/Zif1IOxnJD
— Michael Marzzacco (@Marswaggo) April 13, 2017
While Winnik was working on one timers and Burakovksy was getting some snapshot reps in.
SHAVINGS
- Braden Holtby has posted four shutouts, a 1.87 goals-against average, and a .937 save percentage in 46 career playoff games.
- Alex Ovechkin is making his ninth career playoff appearance. He has registered 82 points (41 goals, 41 assists) in 84 career playoff games and ranks first in franchise history in playoff points and goals, ranks tied for first in power play goals (13), and is tied for fifth in assists.
- Ovechkin has recorded 60 points (33 goals, 27 assists) in 42 career games against the Maple Leafs, marking the fifth-most points he has earned against an NHL team in his career.
- Nicklas Backstrom has earned 62 points (20 goals, 42 assists) in 83 career playoff games.
- The Capitals have won four of their last five Game 1’s and are 25-16 all-time in the opening game of a playoff series.
- Washington is 17-8 all-time in Game 1’s on home ice.
- The Capitals have won seven of their last eight games against the Maple Leafs and have won seven consecutive games at Verizon Center against Toronto.
- Two Capitals have played more than 100 career playoff games and each has won a Stanley Cup: Justin Williams in 2006 with Carolina and in 2012 and 2014 with Los Angeles, and Brook Orpik in 2009 with Pittsburgh.
DAILY LINKS
Game Notes vs. Toronto, 4/13/17 (Capitals PR)
Caps and Leafs Tangle in Game 1 (Mike Vogel)
Look, the Capitals actually deserve to win the Stanley Cup this time (Dan Steinberg/Washington Post)
INTERVIEWS
Rinkside Update: Brett Connolly
Rinkside Update | Potential X-factor, Brett Connolly, set to play in his first career #StanleyCup Playoff game tonight. #RockTheRed pic.twitter.com/xu3jTHxOZp
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 13, 2017
Barry Trotz
“This is the time where players make names for themselves.” – Coach Trotz before Game One tonight #RockTheRed pic.twitter.com/QP7w1K6OOW
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 13, 2017
By Michael Marzzacco
Follow @marswaggo
