The Washington Capitals held a morning skate at MedStar Capitals Iceplex prior to their game against the Carolina Hurricanes tonight. Action from Capital One Arena can be seen on NBC Sports Washington beginning at 7 PM Eastern. Here are all of the news from the Capitals’ return to the ice following the NHL’s holiday break:
Center Nic Dowd draws out of the lineup for forward Devante Smith-Pelly, who was scratched in the Capitals’ 4-0 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday in their last game before the holiday break.
Everything you need to know about tonight’s #CapsCanes tilt brought to you by @vogscaps and @waltoncaps #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/KClEZeiyjy
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 27, 2018
Defenseman Brooks Orpik took contact for the first time and will get his first full practice with the team since late October tomorrow, according to Capitals head coach Todd Reirden. He will travel with the team for the rematch against the Senators on Saturday night. Orpik, 38, has not played since October 27 due to a knee injury. He underwent surgery on November 20.
Reirden said Orpik will get a full practice in tomorrow and will almost certainly travel to Ottawa and skate there. But indicated that the defenseman probably won’t play until Dec. 31 vs. Nashville.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) December 27, 2018
Capitals Lines vs. Hurricanes
Caps expected lineup vs. Hurricanes
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Oshie
Vrana-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Burakovsky-Eller-Connolly
Stephenson-Boyd-DSPKempny-Carlson
Orlov-Niskanen
Siegenthaler-BoweyHoltby
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) December 27, 2018
Shavings
-Since November 16, the Capitals have allowed a league-low 42 goals; during that span, goaltender Braden Holtby is 9-3-0, and his 2.31 goals against average ranks fourth among goalies with at least 10 games played during that time frame, while his .928 save percentage is tied for second
-In the month of December, the Capitals have a 51.21 shot attempt percentage at five-on-five (464 shot attempts for, 442 against), the 10th-best percentage in the NHL during that time frame
-The Capitals have have held a lead in their games in 289:31 out of a possible 600 minutes in December, the third most time in the NHL (Columbus: 332:04; San Jose: 298:07)
-Washington’s 442 allowed shot attempts at five-on-five in December is the seventh lowest total in the NHL
-The Capitals are 14-5-1 in their past 20 games vs. Carolina
-Captain Alex Ovechkin’s 39 goals and 88 points in 74 career games against the Hurricanes are each the second-most he’s tallied against a single team (47 goals, 91 points in 64 career games vs. Winnipeg Jets)
-Center Evgeny Kuznetsov enters Thursday’s game vs. Carolina three points shy of 300 in his career
Capitals Today
CAPS TODAY: Since Nov. 16, the Capitals have allowed a League-fewest 42 goals. More info on Braden Holtby, Pheonix Copley, the Capitals and the Capitals’ practice schedule at https://t.co/HecIC0ECg1 pic.twitter.com/FSWilIaacG
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) December 27, 2018
By Harrison Brown
