Notes from Capitals Morning Skate: Bring on the Isles

Posted on November 2, 2017 by

The Capitals look to turn around their poor home start beginning tonight as they host the Jason Chimera and the Islanders. Some interesting things happened today at the morning skate, with a familiar face from Hershey skating with the team. Here’s what went down today at Kettler Capitals Iceplex. 

NEWS
Prior to the morning skate, the Capitals recalled Liam O’Brien from the Bears while sending Anthony Peluso down the Hershey. O’Brien partook in the skate. More here.

THE MORNING LINES

The lines today were as follows:
Vrana-Backstrom-Oshie
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-DSP
Stephenson-Eller-Wilson
Walker-Beagle-Chiasson
Djoos-Carlson
Orpik-Bowey
Orlov-Chorney
Holtby was in the starter’s net.

The only real change is Nathan Walker on the fourth line that was occupied by Peluso last game. On the defense, it’s now flipped from the second pair and third pair of Oprik-Bowey and Orlov-Chroney. O’Brien and Aaron Ness were the healthy scratches but Trotz told reporters that O’Brien will see some playing time while he’s up here with the Caps.

SCENES FROM THE SKATE

Tyler Graovac, Chandler Stephenson, and Aaron Ness were the first people out on the ice. Graovac was in a grey jersey indicating he would be doing limited contact as he recovers from an upper body injury.

Chandler Stephenson worked on some puck deflections.

The rest of the team would shortly come onto the ice and get to work. Jay Beagle, the fan favorite, gets a goal at the end of this video.

Then it was onto the power play. The second unit had a difficult time figuring out Braden Holtby.

While the top power play unit was putting in work on the other side.

Then it was on to shots. The defensemen worked on shots from the top of the key as well as one-timers while skating towards the net.

As were the forwards on the other side with some great moves by Nathan Walker and Alex Chiasson.

SHAVINGS

  • The Capitals are hosting Hockey Fights Cancer Night presented by Leidos tonight with several initiatives going on throughout the evening. More here.
  • In 18 career games against the New York Islanders, Braden Holtby is 12-3-3 with a 2.28 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage.
  • The Capitals are 104-87-13-6 all-time against the Islanders and 10-4-3 over the last 17 meetings.
  • Alex Ovechkin has tallied 50 points (34 goals, 16 assists) in 46 career games against the Islanders, including 15 points (12 goals, three assists) in his last 14 games against them.
  • Washington has earned a point in 11 of their last 14 games against the Islanders (8-3-3) including a point in five of their last six home games against them (4-1-1).
  • The Capitals are 18-8-4 in their last 30 games against Metropolitan Division teams.

TEAM STORE ITEMS OF THE DAY

My personal favorite is the “Rink Rat” tee.

RINKSIDE UPDATE

Mike Vogel chats with Tom Wilson for today’s Rinkside Update.

CAPS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

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1 Response to Notes from Capitals Morning Skate: Bring on the Isles

  1. Jon Sorensen says:
    November 2, 2017 at 1:23 pm

    Walker back in lineup tonight.

    Reply

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