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Darcy Kuemper Gets The Start: Pre-Game Notes From Tampa

By Jon Sorensen·


The Washington Capitals made their way to the Sunshine State Wednesday night following their 2-1 shootout loss to the Islanders. They next do battle with the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight at Amelie Arena. Puck drop is set for 7PM on NBC Sports Washington (local) and ESPN+ (National)..

The team did not hold a gameday morning skate on Thursday due to the late arrival time in Tampa last night. Capitals bench boss Peter Laviolette met with the media when the team arrived at the arena Thursday afternoon.

Darcy Kuemper will get the start for the second consecutive night, per Roman Stubbs/The Washington Post.

SHEAR(Y) MADNESS

Conor Sheary has recorded 35 points (15g, 20a) and a +7 plus/minus rating in 75 games. Sheary is the only Capital to play in all 75 of the team’s games this season and has played in 199 of Washington’s 213 games (93.4 percent) since the start of the 2020-21 season, tied with Nick Jensen for the most games played in that span.

Sheary’s 48 goals since joining Washington for the 2020-21 season rank third on the team in that span (Alex Ovechkin: 116; T.J. Oshie: 52), while his 41 even-strength goals rank second (Ovechkin: 76). Sheary is one of 24 players in the NHL this season to score at least 10 even strength goals, two power-play goals and two shorthanded goals. Among the 24 players to accomplish this, Sheary’s average ice time (15:31) is the lowest. [MORE HERE].

STAT OF THE DAY – THE PERFORMANCE OF DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS

Today’s stat of the day takes a look at the deployment of each and every defensive pairing for the Capitals since John Carlson returned from injury (three games). The graph plots the time on ice (TOI), offensive zone faceoff percentages and expected goals for percentages (xGF%) at five on five. [Click to enlarge].

Pairings with more than 15 minutes of time on ice together (at five on five) have been flagged and given a simple color coding with regards to general performance. So far things are going relatively well for the van Riemsdyk-Alexeyev and Jensen-Sandin pairings. Carlson-Fehervary are getting there…we hope.

[The statistics used in this post are courtesy of Natural Stat Trick, MoneyPuck and the NoVa Caps Advanced Analytics Model (NCAAM). If you’d like to learn more about the statistical terms used in this post, please check out our NHL Analytics Glossary]

DOWN ON THE FARM

Today’s “Down On The Farm” update is brought to you by KimRB (from the comments) Well done, Kim!:

All five prospects in Canadian juniors are in the playoffs. Playoffs start tonight in the OHL. [MORE HERE]

Hitting the books in college: Ryan Chesley’s Minnesota Golden Gophers face Boston University in the Frozen Four on April 6.

Goalie Chase Clark’s Quinnipiac faces Michigan on April 8, but don’t look for the freshman to do anything but model a ballcap on the bench. He’s locked in as backup to junior record setting starter Yanev Perets.

In Europe: Ivan Miroshnichenko’s MHL team Omskie Yastreby goes to the semifinals against SKA 1946 on April 3. Ivan is 26th in playoff scoring, with 2 + 5 in 7 games. [MORE HERE]

Over in Switzerland: Tobias Geisser’s Zug EV is zugging along, going to the semifinals, after beating Raperswil. Their next series starts tomorrow night against Servette. Tobias has 1 + 3 = 4 points in 6 playoff games, good for 24th in playoff scoring.

Still yodeling in the Swiss Alps, Damien Riat’s Lausanne didn’t make the playoffs.

Off for some Swedish meatballs. Oskar Magnusson’s AIK fell to Malmo 4-2, with Oskar going pointless.

Ludwig Person’s BIK Karlskoga was swept by Djurgarden, with Luddy being held off the scoresheet. So he is officially a “Missing Persson” (I pray he makes the NHL. I will NEVER get tired of making puns with his name). Both Swedes play in second tier Allsvenskan, roughly equivalent to the AHL

The Bears, of course, have punched their ticket to the dance, Stingrays haven’t yet, but could soon.

SHAVINGS

    • 2023 AHL Post-Collegiate Signings and More. [Full Press Hockey]

    • NHLPA boss Walsh outlines early priorities in new role. [TSN]

    • Phoenix sues Tempe to stop Arizona Coyotes development deal. [AZCentral]

    • Hobey Baker Award Finalists Announced [Pro Hockey Rumors]
    • And finally, congratulations to Ilya Samsonov and his wife in the birth of their first child: