The Capitals and Rangers kickoff a back-to-back set tonight at Capital One Arena. The Capitals will look to notch their first win of the season against the Rangers, after going 0-2 in the first two meetings.
Washington enters the game in first place in the East Division (19-6-4) and will look to extend a six-game winning streak. Puck drop tonight is set for just after 7:00 PM.
Here’s the latest news from morning skate Friday morning at MedStar Capitals Iceplex.
MORNING SKATE
The Capitals morning skate was optional this morning.
Coach Laviolette confirmed that Vitek Vanecek will get the start in goal tonight. He is 12-5-0-3 with a 2.74 GAA and a .908 save percentage in 21 starts so far this season.
Lars Eller skated again this morning, but will not play tonight. Eller has missed the last two games. He left in the first period of Saturday’s game against the Flyers with a right leg injury.
Laviolette: Vitek Vanecek will get the start in goal tonight. Lars Eller is out for tonight. #ALLCAPS
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) March 19, 2021
Laviolette confirmed the Capitals will go with 11 forwards and seven defensmen again tonight.
Alexandar Georgiev will be in net for New York on Friday. He is 5-4-0-2 with a 3.01 GAA and a .897 save percentage in 12 games started.
TOM WILSON
Wilson met with the media on Friday. He has one more game (tonight) remaining on his seven-game suspension.
Tom Wilson said he reached out to Carlo to see how he was doing. “I texted him the next day”#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/rmdsRlR8ve
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) March 19, 2021
CAPITALS STATS AGAINST RANGERS
REMAINING GAMES AND STRENGTH OF SCHEDULES
Here are the remaining games for each of the East Division teams and the resultant strength of schedule (SOS) for each team. (Click to enlarge)
EVGENY KUZNETSOV
- Evgeny Kuznetsov enters today’s game on a team-high five-game point streak (1g, 5a), three games shy of his career best, which he accomplished twice, most recently from Nov. 30-Dec. 15, 2018 (10a).
- Kuznetsov became the 18th player in franchise history to reach the 400th point plateau on Monday against Buffalo, and the seventh player to reach the mark before his 500th game.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
Coach Laviolette
SHAVINGS
- The Capitals have scored the game’s first goal in five-straight games and are 5-0-0 in those games.
- Washington is 13-3-2 this season when they score the game’s first goal and is undefeated in regulation in one-goal games at 9-0-4.
By Jon Sorensen
Given that 6 of the 8 teams in the division are pretty solid and can beat anybody in the league on a given night, the “strength of schedule” really comes down to “How many games left with the Sabres and Devils”. Therefore, I think you’re better off simplifying things by just tracking games left against those 2 teams and adding those points to the other 6 teams’ totals. Figured that way, the Pens, with 13 games left against the bottom dwellers, have 14 points that they are likely to gain on the Caps who only have 6 games left with the bad teams. Given that reality the Caps’ current 5-pt lead on the Pens looks pretty shaky…
The Sabres and Devils are good enough to burn you if you go into those games thinking it’s an automatic win.
Agree with you on that. It’s statistically more likely that it will be a mix of those games and how teams do against the mid-range teams. Nothing is given, but Penguins have an easier schedule down the stretch.
The Devils can, but shouldn’t, beat a team with Cup aspirations. The Sabres right now? If they beat anybody in the top six then shame on their opponent…
That said, I agree nothing is given, and every team in contention needs to be ready every game, because this is going to be REALLY tight and tough down the stretch. A couple “tired” games could be the difference.
I don’t know if Caps fans are afraid of the Pens or just hate them, but I say bring them on! Should not be afraid and I bet the Caps players are certainly not afraid to face them in a series…
With ya, Marky. I feel pretty confident we can beat them most night.