The Capitals returned to MedStar Capitals Iceplex Saturday morning for their game day morning skate following a day off on Friday. They host the Montreal Canadiens tonight at Capital One Arena. Puck drop is set for 7PM.
LINES AND PAIRS AT MORNING SKATE
Capitals bench boss Peter Laviolette made his first changes to the lines ahead of the third game of the season. Dylan Strome and Evgeny Kuznetsov flipped center positions.
Alex Ovechkin – Dylan Strome – Connor Brown
Anthony Mantha – Evgeny Kuznetsov – T.J. Oshie
Marcus Johansson – Lars Eller – Aliaksei Protas
Conor Sheary- Nic Dowd- Garnet Hathaway
Martin Fehervary – John Carlson
Dmitry Orlov – Nick Jensen
Erik Gustafsson – Trevor van Riemsdyk
Additionally, Aliaksei Protas moved to the right side of the third line and Anthony Mantha moved to the left side of the second line. T.J. Oshie moved up to the second line. For comparison, here were the lines from the start of the last game:
Alex Ovechkin – Evgeny Kuznetsov – Connor Brown
Aliaksei Protas – Dylan Strome – Anthony Mantha
Marcus Johansson – Lars Eller – T.J. Oshie
Conor Sheary – Nic Dowd – Garnet Hathaway
Martin Fehervary – John Carlson
Dmitry Orlov – Nick Jensen
Erik Gustafsson – Trevor van Riemsdyk
The moves were likely made in an attempt to kickstart the top two lines, which has scored just one goal (Anthony Mantha) in the first two games. More on this and the struggling top six below.
Morning skate is underway. As expected, Snively, Irwin and McMichael were on ice early, likely healthy scratches for tonight. Protas also taking rushes with the 3rd line during initial drills. @NoVa_Caps #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/cuvq9dapIq
— KMack Sports (@KMackSports) October 15, 2022
There were also tweaks to the power play. Dylan Strome moved to the half wall and Marcus Johansson moved to the down low position.
Some tweaks to Capitals PP too with Strome to the half wall in place of Kuznetsov and Johansson down low.
PP1: Carlson (point), Ovechkin(left circle), Oshie (bumper), Strome (half wall), Johansson (goal line)
PP2: Orlov, Gustafsson, Brown, Kuznetsov, Mantha
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) October 15, 2022
The Capitals and Canadiens meet tonight for the first of three meetings this season. Washington is 77-74-17-6 all-time vs. Montreal and 10-4-1 in their last 15 games against the Canadiens dating back to the 2016-17 season.
STAT WATCH – EXPECTED GOALS DIFFERENTIAL
We spoke at length about the “expected goals” advanced stat in our run-up to the start of the season (refresher here). The stat is helpful for gauging the effectiveness of a player’s ability to generate scoring compared to opposing players on the ice. (For more, check out our NHL Analytics Glossary). Here are the expected goals differentials for all Capitals skaters after two games: [Click to enlarge].
Data via Natural Stat Trick
A lot has been made of the Capitals power play starting the season 0 for 9, but possibly just as big of a concern in the early going is the ineffectiveness of the top six forwards generating even-strength (5-on-5) scoring chances. The top line of Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Connor Brown has yet to record a point. Something we’ll continue to monitor.
By Jon Sorensen
Glad to see Lavi not waiting until Christmas to make line changes, address lack of productivity from top 6.
Unfortunately, he’s still got Carlson on the top defense pairing.
Call me crazy, but maybe try inserting some youth and speed into the lineup (i.e. Snively, McMichael) for different looks. IMO whenever the Caps finally allow themselves to actually infuse more youth into their lineup, they may benefit from a younger/fresher voice behind the bench. It’s only 3 games in, yes, but thinking of Burakovsky-Trotz, Vrana-Laviolette, it doesn’t seem that promising young players and their veteran coaches gel all that well. Have nothing against Lavy, but think it might benefit the team.
Disappointed Protas had to move down a line, as he has done well in the first two, but Lavi is trying to light a fire under a few other players, so I guess the move had to be done to light the fires.
Protas has no finish, but Mantha/Strome aren’t great finishers either. Sheary or McMichael would be better than MoJo on the third line with Protas.
Carlson is getting exposed, but he’s unmovable now IMO. Caps are fucked.
Were these tweaks supposed to excite me?
Who is in goal?
Kuemper.
not excited.
I have been wanting to see what Strome and Brown would do together. I hope it works as I expect.
Yes, you have mentioned it, I remember, because I too am interested in seeing what the two can muster. And more than one game, please. They need a few to get in a groove.
Change is good. Not the ones I would have made. Glad Protas still in. Sad Eller is.
Let’s get 2 points tonight. I’ll enjoy with lake view tonight on dock.