Photo: @Capitals

After a tough loss on Monday to the Islanders, the Capitals responded in a big way the following night. Their 5-2 win over Colorado put them in a tie with the Blue Jackets for first place in the Metropolitan Division. Now the Caps are in Boston looking to continue their dominance over the Bruins. It won’t be easy though. Like the Capitals, the Bruins have been on a roll as well. Here are the news and the notes from morning skate at TD Garden. 

THE MORNING LINES

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Wilson
Vrana-Kuznetsov-Chiasson
Connolly-Eller-Burakovsky
Stephenson-Beagle-DSP
Orpik-Carlson
Orlov-Niskanen
Djoos-Bowey
Starting goalie: Braden Holtby

NEWS
There were no changes to the lines this morning. Braden Holtby will get the nod in goal tonight. Holtby is 12-2-0 all-time against the Bruins with a .944 save percentage, a 1.81 goals-against average and three shutouts.

The Bruins are coming off a thrilling comeback win in Detroit and have won nine of their past 11 games. The Capitals won the first meeting earlier this season 3-2 on November 4. That game was also played at TD Garden and the Capitals have won six of the past seven meetings in Boston. For more on tonight’s game, click here for our game preview.

INJURY UPDATE
T.J. Oshie did not make the trip up to Boston and will miss his fifth consecutive game but he continued his rehab back at Kettler. Oshie continued to skate today. Trotz pointed out that there is a possibility he could practice with the team tomorrow but didn’t want to commit to that. If he does practice, he could potentially return to the lineup on Saturday night when the Caps host the Ducks.

Trotz said Oshie skated today and there’s a “possibility” he practices with the team tomorrow. Didn’t want to commit to that.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) December 14, 2017

CAPS RED LINE

🎶 We’re shippin’ up to Boston OooooOooooOoooo 🎶

The @Capitals have won their last 5️⃣ in Beantown, can they make it 6️⃣ tonight? Watch #CapsBruins #CapsRedLine and tune in at 7:00 pm on @NCBSWashington#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/EZ7l998gcf

— MonumentalSportsNet (@MonSportsNet) December 14, 2017

SHAVINGS

• The Capitals have beaten the Bruins in 10 consecutive meetings, dating back to 2014.
• During this 10 game stretch vs. the Bruins, Washington has outscored Boston by a combined 33-13 (Tarik El-Bashir/NBC Sports Washington).
• The Capitals are 9-2-0 in their last 12 games while the Bruins are 9-2-0 in their last 11.
• Jakub Vrana’s nine goals is tied for sixth in rookie goal scoring overall and first among Eastern Conference rookies (Tarik El-Bashir/NBC Sports Washington).
• No other NHL team has a perfect record with double-digit wins against any other team over the last four seasons than the Capitals 10 straight wins over the Bruins.
• The Capitals have killed all 18 penalties they’ve faced over the last eight games and are one of three teams to kill every opposing power play since the month of December (Bruins, Penguins).
• Additionally, the Capitals have killed 25 of their last 26 opponent’s power plays.
• Nicklas Backstrom has earned 35 points (6 goals, 29 assists) in 32 career games against the Bruins and has earned a point in nine of his last 10 games against Boston (2 goals, 12 assists).

CAPITALS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Stretch it out. Game Ready. #CapsBruins #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/zQgcziHJ9H

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 14, 2017

By Michael Marzzacco
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