Capitals vs. Red Wings: Game 41 discussion thread
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Version 0 of 1. The Washington Capitals (21-11-8, 50 points) have reached the official midway point of the 2014-15 season, their first under Coach Barry Trotz, as the NHL’s most successful team since Dec. 4, on a tear thanks to record-setting goaltending stability, the Eastern Conference’s best road record and the league’s second-highest PDO, an aggregation of save percentage and shooting percentage that approximates puck luck. Simply put, everything has come together for the Capitals as the all-star break draws near. Everything except sustained success at Verizon Center. They are 8-5-4 inside this building under Trotz, hardly turning the Chinatown rink into the haunting place he had hoped. But a three-game homestand, beginning Saturday night against the Detroit Red Wings (22-10-9, 53 points), can help change that, particularly after the Capitals underwhelmed their coach over their back-to-back visits to Toronto and Philadelphia. “We need to play better,” Trotz said. “I don’t like the way we played in our last two games, but we got three out of four points, so I don’t want to be greedy or anything, but I’ve seen this movie play a while and we need to ramp our game up again, because our game has slipped.” The cross-divisional Eastern Conference foes have met just once before this season, a 4-2 Detroit victory on Oct. 29 at Verizon Center, the second of what became Washington’s five-game winless streak. Chat about the Saturday night meeting in the discussion thread, check out the lines and links and such, and thanks for reading. The Capitals practice Sunday before continuing their three-game homestand against Colorado on Tuesday. LINES Forwards Alex Ovechkin–Nicklas Backstrom–Andre Burakovsky Marcus Johansson–Evgeny Kuznetsov–Troy Brouwer Brooks Laich–Eric Fehr–Joel Ward Jason Chimera–Jay Beagle–Tom Wilson Defensemen Brooks Orpik–John Carlson Karl Alzner–Matt Niskanen Jack Hillen–Mike Green Scratches F Michael Latta D Steve Oleksy GOALTENDING MATCHUP Braden Holtby (19-8-7, 2.31 GAA, .920 SV%) vs. Jimmy Howard (16-7-7, 2.08 GAA, .921 SV%). With Justin Peters officially in Hershey, Holtby will make his 24th consecutive appearance and 18th consecutive start, backed up by Pheonix Copley, promoted from his rookie AHL season for just-in-case duty. Holtby only faced 22 shots during the 4-2 loss, but was hamstrung by several defensive breakdowns and turnovers, not to mention a tripping penalty that wasted a late power play. But both Holtby and the Capitals have turned things around since, and he brings his strong Saturday record (25-8-3, 2.03 GAA, .932 SV%) into the rematch. Howard, meanwhile, has rebounded from four straight losses — three in overtime or shootout — to win three of five, allowing two goals or fewer in three straight. He made 25 saves against the Capitals on Oct. 29, his third career win in six games against them. INJURIES D John Erskine (neck)* D Dmitry Orlov (wrist)** F Aaron Volpatti (neck)** *injured reserve **long-term injured reserve LINKS In today’s WaPo: Capitals frustrated by loss to Flyers, but continue to climb standings Alex Ovechkin chosen to represent Washington in 2015 NHL All-Star Game Oleksy promoted as reward, Schmidt reassigned to get ‘some touches’ Copley embracing short stay with the Capitals` Holtby is prepared to keep his streak alive Caps call up Copley, send Peters down | Schmidt down, Oleksy up Capitals suffer fourth loss while shorthanded in OT Last time out: Flyers overcome Holtby, win in overtime 3-2 |