Capitals Daily Report: Maple Leafs Get a Defenseman Back While Caps Could be Without One Tonight

Posted on April 17, 2017 by
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Photo: @Capitals

The Capitals look to return to winning ways and take back home ice advantage in the series with a win in Game 3 tonight. It won’t be an easy task, as they face the Maple Leafs in a hostile road environment. The Leafs will be getting one of their key defenders back while one of the Capitals most durable defenseman has a consecutive games streak that could be in jeopardy. Puck drop is at 7 PM. 

MORNING SKATE
Everybody was on the ice for the Capitals morning skate except for Karl Alzner. According to Capitals PR, he was taking a maintenance day and he’ll be a game time decision. Nate Schmidt was taking rushes in Alzner’s place on the top defensive pair with John Carlson.

Evgeny Kuznetsov looked ready for Game 3:

The other players, when asked by the media, were unsure of Alzner’s status for tonight. Barry Trotz reiterated that it will be a game time decision. All the other pairs remained the same:

Forwards
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Oshie
Johansson-Kuznetsov-Williams
Connolly-Eller-Burakovsky
Winnik-Beagle-Wilson

Defense
Schmidt-Carlson
Orlov-Niskanen
Orpik-Shattenkirk

SCENES FROM TORONTO

BEHIND ENEMY LINES
Leafs defensemen Nikita Zaitsev was on the ice skating this morning and will play tonight in Game 3 after missing the first two games of the series with an upper body injury. He was paired with Jake Gardiner on the second defensive pair. Defensemen Roman Polak will be out for the remainder of the playoffs after he collided with Brooks Orpik during Game 2. He injured his right leg on the collision.

Forwards
Komarov-Kadri-Brown
Martin-Boyle-Kapanen
JvR-Bozak-Marner
Hyman-Matthews-Nylander

Defense
Rielly-Hunwick
Gardiner-Zaitsev
Marincin-Carrick

SHAVINGS

  • The last three Stanley Cup champions (Penguins, Blackhawks, Kings) each lost Game 2 in the opening playoff round.
  • Braden Holtby has posted two shutouts, a 1.72 goals-against average and a .940 save percentage in his playoff career following a loss.
  • Holtby’s 47 saves on Saturday night tied his postseason career high (5/2/12 vs. NYR). In addition, his 47 saves are tied for the fifth most in a game in franchise playoff history.
  • Alex Ovechkin scored a power play goal on Saturday, passing Peter Bondra (13) for first place on the Capitals playoff power play goals list.
  • Nicklas Backstrom scored a goal on Saturday, marking his 21st carer playoff goal. He’s now tied with Dino Ciccarelli (21) for fourth place on the Capitals playoff goals list.
  • Justin Williams has registered eight points (three goals, five assists) in eight career playoff games against Toronto including three points (two goals, one assist) in two games this series.
  • Ovechkin has earned 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in 13 career Game 3’s.
  • The Capitals scored two power play goals in Game 2, marking the 34th time in franchise postseason history Washington has scored two or more power play goals in a game.

DAILY LINKS
Game Notes at Toronto, 4/17/17 (Capitals PR)
Scene Shifts to Toronto for Game 3 (Mike Vogel)
After series split in Washington, Barry Trotz declares ‘It’s on’ (J.J. Regan/CSN)

INTERVIEWS
Alex Ovechkin

Barry Trotz

Rinkside Update: John Carlson

By Michael Marzzacco

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1 Response to Capitals Daily Report: Maple Leafs Get a Defenseman Back While Caps Could be Without One Tonight

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