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Niskanen is Back in Line-Up Tonight

November 14, 2017, 3:43 PM ET [5 Comments]
James Tanner
Washington Capitals Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
After missing 13 straight games, Matt Niskanen is back.

He will go tonight in the game against the Predators.

Niskanen returns to a team that is playing out of it's mind! Well, Braden Holtby is anyways. The Capitals have somehow managed to win four of their last five (losing only to Buffalo) and five of their last seven.

It's been a good run for the 27th best Corsi team in the NHL, one with three of their best guys on the IR (although now only Burakovsky remains out) and a team dressing multiple fourth lines and AHL players.


I read today that the Caps have become a very good defensive team since Niskanen went out. That is simply not true.

Yes, they've managed to limit goals against in recent games, but that is because of Holtby and no other reason.




The Capitals have allowed the sixth-most shots on net this year in the NHL.

They have the fourth-lowest shots-for percentage in the NHL.

The third-most scoring chances.

So to say they are a good defensive team, or have been one, is to look at nothing but the final scores. Which, I admit, have been impressive. But they are impressive for only one reason, and that reason loves to kick a hackey-sack and hang with his bros in the Dave Matthews Band.

Holtby has been so good, and the team in front of him so bad, they should just give him the Vezina right now.

Perhaps with Niskanen back in town he won't have to be so good to get the Caps a win. At the very least, the team should be a lot better, as, at least in my opinion, Matt Niskanen is their best defenseman.
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