The Capitals begin their annual west coast swing today in Northern California. The Capitals will face the Sharks tonight at the SAP Center in San Jose. Puck drop is set for just after 10:30 PM EST. The Capitals will then depart for Southern California immediately following the game in advance of their tilt with the Ducks in Anaheim tomorrow night. Here is the latest from the Golden State:
The Capitals were 1-0-1 against the Sharks last season. Washington is 14-24-1-4 all-time against San Jose.
The Capitals are playing the Sharks in the first half of a back-to-back, with the team playing the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday. Washington is 5-1-2 in back-to-back sets this season.
Our complete game preview for tonight’s tilt versus the Sharks is here.
NEWS FROM MORNING SKATE
Lines at Morning Skate
Braden Holtby we get the start in goal tonight. Nicklas Backstrom skated as the “extra” forward in morning skate, and will miss a sixth-straight game tonight.
Capitals expected lines vs San Jose:
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Vrana-Eller-Oshie
Hagelin-Boyd-Panik
Leipsic-Dowd-HathawayKempny-Carlson
Orlov-Jensen
Siegenthaler-GudasHoltby
*Backstrom looks like the extra tonight
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) December 3, 2019
Carl Hagelin is set to return to the lineup tonight. He has been out and ultimately on injured reserve since suffering an injury in early November against the Florida Panthers.
Lines from other side:
#SJSharks lines for today’s practice
Kane-Couture-Goodrow
Meier-Hertl-Marleau
Sorensen-Thornton-Labanc
Gregor/Radil-Gambrell-Melker— Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) December 2, 2019
The Captals’ Captain addressed the media following morning skate. He talked about the trading of Chandler Stephenson and Backstrom’s contract negotiations.
The Captain talks with the media as the team was reminded of the tough part of the business yesterday with a big game tonight in San Jose#ALLCAPS #CapsSharks pic.twitter.com/pJNwnko8MZ
— Washington ☃️ Capitals (@Capitals) December 3, 2019
Braden Holtby also met with the media following this morning’s pregame skate:
The starting goalie speaks. You listen.#ALLCAPS #CapsSharks pic.twitter.com/WRazeSnDHq
— Washington ☃️ Capitals (@Capitals) December 3, 2019
ESSENTIAL LINKS
Game Preview: Capitals At Sharks (NoVa Caps)
Augmented Reality Has It’s Limits, But It’s Here To Stay In Sports (Front Office Sports)
Capitals Acquire 5th Round Pick From Las Vegas For Chandler Stephenson (NoVa Caps)
The Latest Capitals Podcast Features Garnet Hathaway, Nic Dowd and Radko Gudas (Capitals)
Nicklas Backstrom Confirms He’s Negotiating New Contract On His One (NoVa Caps)
SHAVINGS
- Alex Ovechkin scored three goals against Detroit on Saturday and ranks second in the NHL with 20 goals this season.
- Ovechkin has recorded 15 consecutive 20-goal seasons, joining Marcel Dionne, Mike Gartner, Jaromir Jagr and Mats Sundin as the only players in NHL history to record 20 goals or more in each of their first 15 seasons.
- Additionally, Ovechkin tied Gartner for the eighth most 20-goal seasons in NHL history.
GAME PREVIEW: The Capitals continue their four-game road trip tonight in San Jose. Alex Ovechkin has registered 20 points (12g, 8a) in 20 career games against the Sharks, including six points (4g, 2a) in two games against San Jose last season. pic.twitter.com/s7W5UejPD1
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) December 3, 2019
By Jon Sorensen