The Capitals were right back to work this morning at MedStar Capitals Iceplex following their 5-2 win over the Devils last night at Cap One. Following today’s practice the team will depart for Long Island in advance of their Saturday matinee with Barry Trotz and the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum. Puck drop for tomorrow’s game is set for just after 1:00 pm.
Following tomorrow’s game the Capitals will be off until Monday, January 27th, enjoying their bye-week and All-Star break.
Practice Notes
Lines at Friday morning’s practice:
Capitals’ Friday practice lines:
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Wilson
Vrana-Kuznetsov-Oshie
Hagelin-Eller-Panik
Leipsic-Dowd-HathawayKempny-Carlson
Orlov-Jensen
Siegenthaler-Gudas*Next game is Saturday @ NYI, last one before the break
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) January 17, 2020
Capitals Head Coach Todd Reirden stated that Braden Holtby would start in goal Saturday against the Islanders.
One of those mornings 😂
Wait for it…and I OOOPS#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/6eCyD4lIiP
— Get Latkes Deep Ferda Boys (@KuzyBeCackling) January 17, 2020
Ovechkin Suspension
In his interview Al Koken following last nights game, Alex Ovechkin noted that he would miss the Montreal game to serve his one game suspension for not attending the All-Star game. The rule mandates that any player electing to miss the All-Star game must sit the game prior or the game after the break.
Essential Links
Ilya Samsonov becomes 10th rookie netminder to win nine consecutive games (NoVa Caps)
After Half a Season Away, Justin Williams Couldn’t Stay Of The Ice Any Longer (Alex Prewitt/SI)
Nicklas Backstrom: They’ve taken care of me like a family member since day one (NoVa Caps)
Five Players Who Raised Their NHL Draft Stock at CHL Prospects Game (SportsNet)
Around the Metro
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- The Columbus Blue Jackets are currently ahead of all 3 teams they lost their superstar players to in free agency in the standings. The Columbus Blue Jackets are currently 14th in the standings. The Florida Panthers (who acquired Sergei Bobrovsky in free agency) are currently 17th in the standings. The New York Rangers (who acquired Artemi Panarin in free agency) are currently 21st in the standings. The Nashville Predators (who acquired Matt Duchene in free agency) are currently 23rd in the standings.
- The Hurricanes Dougie Hamilton suffered a broken fibula last night. Further evaluation today will determine if surgery is needed. Similar injury that shut down Jordan Staal 1/2 season in 2014.
Dougie Hamilton tangles with Kevin Stenlund. The #Hurricanes defenseman needed help off the ice. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/2qno3avt8V
— Alison (@AlisonL) January 17, 2020
Best Of The West
From the oddities files, the Calgary Flames currently lead the Pacific Division with a -9 goal differential.
Daily Caps Clip
Todays “daily Caps clip” is from Alex Ovechkin’s first game. It includes every one of his shifts from that game. If you don’t have 22 minutes to watch all of his shifts, at least watch the first 45 seconds.
SHAVINGS
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- Alex Ovechkin scored his 25th career regular-season hat trick to tie Cy Denneny for the ninth-most in League history and reach the 30-goal mark for the 15th time in as many campaigns.
- Ovechkin scored the 687th, 688th and 689th regular-season goals of his NHL career to move within one of matching Mario Lemieux (690) for 10th place on the League’s all-time list. The tallies were also Ovechkin’s 752nd, 753rd and 754th career NHL goals including the Stanley Cup Playoffs, moving him past Gartner (751) and Marcel Dionne (752) for sole possession of the ninth-highest such total in League history.
- Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom assisted on two tallies by Ovechkin and has now collected helpers on 257 career regular-season goals scored by his longtime partner in crime. Only three players in NHL history have assisted on more regular-season goals by a teammate: Wayne Gretzky with Jari Kurri (364), Bryan Trottier with Mike Bossy (310) and Henrik Sedin with Daniel Sedin (280).
THIS DAY IN CAPS HISTORY
35 years ago today the Capitals beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-2. Craig “Locker” Laughlin had two goals in the tilt. The paper clippings in this tweet include quotes from “Locker”, and also label the Capitals as a team that “prefer to bludgeon opponents into submission…”
35 years ago (1/17/85): #Capitals beat #Penguins, 6-2. #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/sOx9hAfDzB
— PGH Sports History (@PGH_Sports_Date) January 17, 2020
By Jon Sorensen
“The Washington Capitals prefer to bludgeon opponents into submission…” 😂
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