Fresh off a thrilling win on Saturday night over the Blue Jackets, the Capitals enjoyed some time off yesterday before hitting the ice Monday morning to get to work on the third game of their season-long five-game homestand. Tonight the Capitals will take on the San Jose Sharks. Washington looks to reverse some misfortune against San Jose and secure their first home win over the Sharks since the 2009-10 season.
THE MORNING LINES
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Wilson
Vrana-Kuznetsov-Oshie
Boyd-Eller-Connolly
DSP-Beagle-Chiasson
Orpik-Carlson
Orlov-Niskanen
Djoos-Bowey
Starting goalie: Philipp Grubauer
NEWS
Sunday afternoon the Capitals recalled forward Travis Boyd from the Hershey Bears. Boyd has recorded 20 points (three goals, 17 assists) in 23 games with the Bears this season, including eight multi-point games. During Monday’s skate, Boyd was playing at the left wing position on the third with Lars Eller and Brett Connolly. Boyd will make his NHL debut tonight.
Travis Boyd (@Tboyd93) making his NHL debut tonight in DC. #CapsSharks #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/lfCRu4H2gP
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 4, 2017
Andre Burakovsky, after spending last week doing some on-ice rehab stints with strength and conditioning coach Mark Nemish, was practicing with the team in a normal contact jersey. He didn’t take any line rushes but his presence back on the ice is a big positive as he gets closer to his return to the lineup.
Philipp Grubauer was the first goalie off the ice and will get the start in goal tonight for the Capitals. Grubauer is 0-1-1 all-time against San Jose with a .911 save percentage and a 2.43 goals against average.
Washington has one regulation win in their last 25 meetings with San Jose. Trotz talked to the media after the morning skate about how every team has a “unicorn team”.
“Every team has a unicorn team…it’s hard to find,” Barry Trotz on the #Caps’ persistent struggles vs. the #Sharks. #CapsSharks pic.twitter.com/IZfnvWosOY
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikNBCS) December 4, 2017
INJURY UPDATES
Chandler Stephenson left Saturday’s game in the second period with an upper-body injury. He is currently listed as day-to-day.
The only update Trotz gave on Stephenson was that he’s “day-to-day” and will “probably be back fairly soon.”
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) December 4, 2017
Burakovsky has been out of the lineup since October with a left thumb injury and was slated to miss six-to-eight weeks. His return is looking like it’s going to be ahead of schedule. He will fully practice with the team tomorrow and the target for him is to play early next week.
“It’s kinda like starting all over again,” #Caps F Andre Burakovsky said of regaining his timing. Good news is he’s ahead of schedule and could be back pretty soon. pic.twitter.com/FWp0rufUKF
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikNBCS) December 4, 2017
SHAVINGS
- The Capitals have lost to the Sharks six consecutive times on home ice.
- The Sharks have shut out the Capitals twice in the last two meetings in DC (5-0 on Oct. 13, 2015 and 3-0 on Nov. 8, 2016).
- Alex Ovechkin scored his 218th career power play goal on Saturday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets, passing Mike Gartner and Jaromir Jagr for 10th place on the NHL’s all-time power play goals list.
- In addition, Ovechkin’s goal was his league-leading 21st of the season and tied Mark Recchi (577) for 20th place on the all-time goals list.
- Since entering the league in 2010-11, Holtby co-leads NHL goaltenders in save percentage at home (.927) and is tied for third in goals against average (2.14) among goalies with at least 100 starts on home ice.
- Matt Niskanen recorded an assist and co-led the team with four shots on goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, the second time in a row Niskanen has led or co-led the team in shots on goal.
- Ovechkin has registered 12 points (7 goals, 5 assists) in 16 career games against the Sharks and has earned five points in his last five games against San Jose.
- Nicklas Backstrom has earned nine points (1 goal, 8 assists) in 12 career games against the Sharks and has tallied five assists in his last five games against San Jose.
CAPS RED LINE
Coach @CourtneyNBCS thinks the PK is a major part of the Sharks’ success. Watch #CapsRedLine to find out how the @Capitals can find a W in front of the home crowd tonight.
Tune it at 7:00 pm on @NBCSWashington. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/zDGAU8Vy5n
— MonumentalSportsNet (@MonSportsNet) December 4, 2017
CAPITALS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
As we noted over the weekend, Andre Burakovsky has indeed returned to practice (today’s morning skate). He’s wearing a normal jersey but not taking line rushes. #Caps pic.twitter.com/KfLeLuJHPy
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikNBCS) December 4, 2017
Grubi stretching early this morning. Looks like he’ll get the start tonight. #CapsSharks pic.twitter.com/UZznLiGzNG
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 4, 2017
.@andreburakovsky sighting at morning skate! #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/zS0YIHUdyu
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 4, 2017
Puck drop tonight is at 7 PM from Capital One Arena. The Capitals are scheduled to practice tomorrow at 11:30 a.m.
By Michael Marzzacco
Follow @marswaggo