The Capitals made their way to North Carolina on Saturday night following their 3-0 win over the Predators in Nashville. The team had the day off on Sunday and returned to work Monday morning in Raleigh. They conclude their four-game set of road games tonight against the Hurricanes. Puck drop is set for 7PM.
LINES AND PAIRS AT MORNING SKATE
The Capitals announced Monday morning that forward T.J. Oshie will be out “indefinitely” and defenseman John Carlson is listed “day to day”, and will not play tonight in Raleigh.
As a result, Connor McMichael returned to the lineup on the right side in place of Oshie and defenseman Matt Irwin made his first appearance on the blueline: [Lines via Samantha Pell/Washington Post]
Alex Ovechkin — Dylan Strome — Conor Sheary
Marcus Johansson — Evgeny Kuznetsov — Connor McMichael
Aliaksei Protas — Lars Eller — Anthony Mantha
Beck Malenstyn — Nic Dowd — Garnet Hathaway
Dmitry Orlov — Trevor van Riemsdyk
Martin Fehervary — Nick Jensen
Erik Gustafsson — Matt Irwin
Darcy Kuemper
Charlie Lindgren
Extras: Joe Snively
Trevor van Riemsdyk was elevated to the top defensive pair in place of John Carlson. Matt Irwin replaced van Riemsdyk on the right side of the third pairing.
SWEET CAROLINA
The Capitals conclude their three-game road trip tonight when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena for the first of three meetings between the teams this season. Washington is 9-2-1 in their last 12 games against the Hurricanes dating back to the 2018-19 season. (Preview here.)
The Capitals have won three-straight games at Carolina and have a record of 5-1-0 in their last six games at PNC Arena. In 2021-22, Washington won the season series with Carolina 3-1-0.
FROM THE OTHER SIDE
It looks like Frederik Andersen will get the start in goal tonight for the Hurricanes.
Hello from #Canes morning skate! 👋🏼
Some great news to start the day as both Derek Stepan and Calvin de Haan are on the ice. Paul Stastny, on the other hand, is absent.
Frederik Andersen in the starter’s crease. pic.twitter.com/z3ety05EfP
— Walt Ruff (@WaltRuff) October 31, 2022
Derek Stepan and Calvin de Haan also returned to the ice this morning for the Canes.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Capitals have killed off 15 straight opposing power plays and all 13 power plays over their last four games, including all five of Nashville’s power play opportunities on Saturday. [More here]
Capitals PP1: Ovechkin, Orlov, Strome, Sheary, Johansson
PP2: Gustafsson, Mantha, Kuznetsov, Protas, TvR
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) October 31, 2022
During the four-game stretch, which began on Oct. 22 vs. Los Angeles, Washington has allowed 17 totals shots against while shorthanded, for an average of 1.31 shots against per power play.
PRE-GAME STATS
STAT OF THE DAY – GOALTENDING PROWESS
Goals saved above expected (GA – xGA) is a good stat to judge how well a goaltender is defending against quality scoring chances.
The Capitals tandem of Darcy Kuemper and Charlie Lindgren is currently ranked 7th in the league, with 5.3 more expected goals against versus actual goals against.
DOWN ON THE FARM
There was a decent dust-up in the waning moments of the Bears 4-1 win over rival Lehigh Valley on Sunday night.
Dylan McIlrath and Jordy Bellerive drop the gloves. #ALLCAPS #HBH pic.twitter.com/sFGQa27DBa
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) October 30, 2022
Things got very chippy towards the end of the game. A Phantoms player swung his stick between the legs of Bears netminder Zach Fucale prior to the dust-up between McIlrath and Bellerive. [More here.]
Capitals forward prospect Jake Karabela scored his third goal of the season Sunday night against North Bay Battalion.
What an absolute laser form the @Capitals prospect! 😱
Jake Karabela opens the scoring for @Storm_City with an unreal snapshot 🎥 pic.twitter.com/p3SEOhMzs0
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) October 30, 2022
When last did MCM play right wing?
Good question.
Checking…..
Maybe he should line up at Center and move Kuz to the wing. The Centers on this team suck at faceoffs. 4 guys with 100 or more faceoffs taken and they all range between 39-43% at the dot. Barf.
Not a bad idea. Kuzy needs inspiration. He responds very well when messages like that are sent.
Great idea except Mcmichael is also terrible at face offs……
He’s probably the only one who can still improve. Strome was 52% last year and below 40% this year. Dowd is down 10%, Eller is down 6.5%, Kuznetsov is down 4.5%. I don’t think it’s a problem that can be ignored all season. Something has to change.
I like that idea. Also they could move Eller to wing and let CMM play his natural position so that it aids in his development. Why hinder his development just to keep playing Eller who will not be here next year and might even be traded by the deadline!
Irwin is serviceable. McMichael on the right side will be an intriguing watch.
was there any indication on who will be wearing “A”s this morning?
I’d go with TVR and Sheary.
I haven’t heard anything regarding “A”s. Will post here if I do.
Whats the Over/Under for McMichael’s time on ice? 8 minutes? Whatever it is I’m taking the under with Lavi behind the bench.
McMichael will double Oshie’s time on ice from the last game
I like Mac on the wing. Just saying. Less responsibility, let him focus on fewer things right now.