The Washington Capitals season-long five-game, 10-day road trip comes to a close tonight in Toronto when the Capitals and Maple Leafs square-off at Scotiabank Arena. Puck drop is set for just after 7:00PM. Here is the latest news from morning skate:
MORNING SKATE
The Capitals lines at morning skate. Travis Boyd will start in place of Chandler Stephenson at 4RW.
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Oshie
Vrana-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Hagelin-Eller-Hathaway
Leipsic-Dowd-Boyd
Kempny-Carlson
Orlov-Gudas
Siegenthaler-Jensen
Holtby
Braden Holtby is expected to get the start in goal for the visiting Capitals. Holtby’s stats so far this season: 4-1-3, 3.64 GAA, 0.886 SV%, 0 SO. His career vs the Maple Leafs: 9-5-1, 2.39 GAA, 0.925 SV%, 1 SO.
Scenes from “the 6”:
They’re on the ice here in Toronto! 5-game roadie finishes up tonight… I know there are other things happening tonight (#STAYINTHEFIGHT) but keep an eye on this one, think it’s gonna be a good one. #ALLCAPS @NBCSCapitals pic.twitter.com/LoOwwsfbP1
— Ryan Billie (@arrdog1) October 29, 2019
FROM THE OTHER SIDE
Frederik Andersen will get the start in goal tonight for the Leafs. Andersen’s stats so far this season: 6-2-1, 2.94 GAA, 0.904 SV%, 0 SO. His career versus the Capitals: 5-2-1, 2.82 GAA, 0.913 SV%, 2 SO.
Frederik Andersen will start for #LeafsForever vs #ALLCAPS#NHL pic.twitter.com/97uwYXG2pM
— Dave McCarthy (@DaveAMcCarthy) October 29, 2019
The starting lines and defensive pairs for the Leafs tonight. After undergoing shoulder surgery in May, defenseman Travis Dermott will draw back into the lineup for the first time in Tuesday’s clash with the Capitals.
#LeafsForever projected lineup:
Johnsson – Matthews – Nylander
Mikheyev – Kerfoot – Marner
Moore – Spezza – Kapanen
Timashov – Shore – GauthierMuzzin – Barrie
Rielly – Ceci
Dermott – HollAndersen starts
Hutchinson— Maple Leafs News (@budsallday34) October 29, 2019
POST-SKATE INTERVIEW WITH ALEX OVECHKIN
Captain Alex Ovechkin meeting with the swarm of Toronto media:
Scene: Crowd of media in Toronto surrounds Ovechkin’s stall. Ovechkin asks if he should sit or stand. Someone says whatever he wants, he can stay sitting.
Ovechkin: “Thank you guys, thank you. Old body you know? Need to rest all the time.”
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) October 29, 2019
Ovechkin on the current state of the Maple Leafs:
Alex Ovechkin on if #LeafsForever can learn from playoff scars like #ALLCAPS:
“They’re still young group of guys. I hope they’re gonna learn. But it’s up to them how they want to do it. If they want to play for themselves or if they want win Cup, they have to play differently.”
— Dave McCarthy (@DaveAMcCarthy) October 29, 2019
Ovechkin on Auston Mathews:
Ovechkin on Matthews’ desire, at young age, to be better defensively: “I think he should call Dale Hunter and ask him advice.” #Leafs
— Terry Koshan (@koshtorontosun) October 29, 2019
Ovechkin on Leafs and whether they are playing as a team or for themselves:
Ovi says the Leafs need to ‘figure out if they’re playing for themselves or for a Stanley Cup’ and if they want to win they need to play differently 👀 pic.twitter.com/oWTV5qUfmn
— Yahoo Sports Canada (@YahooCASports) October 29, 2019
SHAVINGS
- The Capitals are 75-57-10-6 all-time against the Maple Leafs and 1-2-0 during the 2018-19 season.
- Alex Ovechkin currently sits two goals shy of passing Luc Robitaille (668) for the 12th most goals in NHL history. Additionally, with two goals, Ovechkin would pass Robitaille for the most goals in NHL history by a primary left wing.
- On Oct. 24 against Edmonton, Ovechkin became the fourth player in NHL history to score 250 goals on the power play. Ovechkin is now six power play goals shy of passing Teemu Selanne (255) for third place on the NHL’s all-time power play goals list.
- Ovechkin is three games shy of his 1,100th career game. No other player from the 2004 NHL Draft class has reached the 1,000 game mark.
- The Capitals are currently on a six-game point streak (5-0-1), the Capitals are looking to improve on their 8-2-3 record and their NHL-best 6-1-1 record on the road.
GAME PREVIEW: The Capitals conclude their season-long five-game road trip tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Currently on a six-game point streak (5-0-1), the Capitals are looking to improve on their 8-2-3 record and their NHL-best 6-1-1 record on the road. pic.twitter.com/KFecPNOXLo
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) October 29, 2019