The Washington Capitals had the day off on Sunday in New York City following their 5-1 win over the Islanders on Saturday night. They next do battle with the Rangers Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. Puck drop is set for 7PM.
Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin took a break from skating this morning and had a “maintenance day. Sonny Milano also missed practice with a non-Covid illness.
#Caps are on the ice for practice this morning at Madison Square Garden.
Alex Ovechkin (maintenance) is not practicing today. Sonny Milano is also out with a non-Covid illness.
— Roman Stubbs (@romanstubbs) March 13, 2023
John Carlson remained in the blue-non contact sweater, but did work with the first power play unit this morning.
For reference, the Capitals forward lines and defensive pairs in their last game against the Islanders:
Alex Ovechkin — Evgeny Kuznetsov — Tom Wilson
Sonny Milano — Dylan Strome — T.J. Oshie
Anthony Mantha — Nicklas Backstrom — Craig Smith
Conor Sheary — Nic Dowd — Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Rasmus Sandin — Trevor Van Riemsdyk
Martin Fehervary — Nick Jensen
Matt Irwin — Alexander Alexeyev
Kuemper
Charlie Lindgren
Extras: Aliaksei Protas
DYNAMIC DUO
The defensive pair of Rasmus Sandin (3a) and Trevor van Riemsdyk (2a) combined for five assists in the victory. Sandin, who has recorded eight points (1g, 7a) in his first four games with Washington, is the first defenseman in NHL history to record at least eight points in their first four games with their new club since Sergei Zubov (1g-8a–9p) with Pittsburgh in 1995-96.
What a crew. What a trip! ❤️#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/yySxk8jURK
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 13, 2023
Washington defensemen have accounted for 27.5 percent of Washington’s points this season, the fourth-highest percentage in the NHL. [MORE HERE]
STAT OF THE DAY
Today’s stat of the day provides an un update to the Capitals game scores for all 67 games played to date. [Click to enlarge]
The Capitals goal count has seen significant improvement since the Anaheim Ducks game on February 23. However, during that same stretch, the Capitals expected goals for percentage (xGF%) has not been above 50% in all seven of the games.
DOWN ON THE FARM
Defenseman Dru Krebs (1LD) was a +3 with an assist against Connor Bedard, Alexander Suzdalev and the Regina Pats on Saturday. Medicine Hat blanked the high-flying Pats, 7-0. Needless to say, shutting down the Regina Pats offense is a job well done for any defense.
Bogdan Trineyev and Moscow Dynamo were eliminated from the KHL postseason on Sunday. You may recall that Trineyev made his first trip to Hershey following the conclusion of last years KHL season, however, nothing has been officially announced with regards to plans for him for the remainder of this year.
Henrik Rybinski scored his fourth goal of the season for the Bears on Sunday. The goal came early in the third period and cut the Providence Bruins lead to a single goal.
Henrik Rybinski with his 4th of the season. Bears cut Bruins lead to 4-3 early in 3rd period. #ALLCAPS #HBH pic.twitter.com/zN0ZXXCMPw
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) March 12, 2023
Per Bears Radio, Vinny Iorio took a hard hit along the boards early in the second period in Sunday afternoon’s game against the Providence Bruins. He subsequently missed stretches of play in the middle frame, and did not return for the third period. No official update was provided by the team. We should know more on Wednesday when the Bears next face the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
SHAVINGS
- Ryan Hofer is Popular With WHL Teammates After Receiving $80,000 Signing Bonus From Capitals [NoVa Caps]
- Previewing The 2023 College Free Agent Market: Forwards [Pro Hockey Rumors]
- Interim GM Daniel Briere says Flyers won’t be a ‘quick fix’ [ESPN]
- And finally, Jakub Vrana wasted little time in notching his first goal with the St. Louis Blues on Sunday night.
Blink and you might miss Jakub Vrana’s power-play goal. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/28B0a3oinT
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) March 12, 2023
Jon, longtime reader first time comment. Your work rules. Anyways, I am curious your opinion on why Protas has been an outsider for the past month or so. He hustles, plays solid defense, does not appear to have an attitude problem– why do you think he is not seeing more ice-time?
Thanks Anon. I’m essentially in the same boat as you with regards to Protas. His advanced metrics have been really good, particularly on the 4th line. In my book , he should be playing.
As far as personality, having tracked him since Prince Albert, through the KHL etc., I can safely say he is a great kid. I have gotten to know his billet family as well over the years, and they can’t say enough positive things about him.
Because Peter Laviolette is a nut, and the game has passed him by
Hopefully he’s a lame duck, and we’re witnessing the few games of his tenure.
Does Ovi have someone with him as a “mentor “?
It’s a good question, one i was thinking about as well. I dont have an answer for you but will do a bit of diggin’ and reply to you here.
His brother Mikhail? He used to be video coach for the Mystics. Wonder if he still has that position
Hi Jon. Is this still the ‘Dad’s trip’ for the Rangers game?
It’s a good question, one i was thinking about as well. I dont have an answer for you but will do a bit of diggin’ and reply to you here.
His brother, Mikhail? He used to be the video coach for the Mystics. Wonder if he still has that position.
Replied the wrong place
With all this free time in NYC it would make sense to include the whole trip for those who could make it.
Thought on Ovi’s maintenance day — perhaps the emotions of having the other Dads and not his was too much and he just needed the space?
Yes it is.
Where are we with the salary cap if / when Carlson comes back?
Not 100% certain but it looks like (on cap friendly) if they bring him up there are no moves that need to be made.
We cleared out several salaries before the deadline: Orlov, Johansson, Hathaway, Eller and Gustafsson, and only brought back two, though we retained some on Orlov. We should be OK
And retained on Eller