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Pittsburgh Penguins (13-8-0) at Washington Capitals (12-8-1) 8PM at Verizon Center NBCSN
The Pittsburgh Penguins will play the Washington Capitals at 8PM tonight in an NBCSN Rivalry matchup. The Penguins had been in full control of the Metropolitan Division for much of the year but a recent rough patch by Pittsburgh and a hot stretch by Washington has turned the division into a 2 way battle.
This is the first matchup since 1992-1993 that the Penguins and Capitals will play against eachother as members of the same division.
Leading the charge for the Washington Capitals has been Alexander Ovechkin. Ovechkin is tied for the league lead in goals with Alex Steen (17) and is only 2 points behind Sidney Crosby and Alex Steen for most points in the league (26).
Ovechkin was out to lunch for the first half of the last season but since then he has been up to his old ways. Ovechkin is once again one of the league’s best goal scorers and is a danger everytime he is on the ice.
Given that it is an Olympic year and the fact that Russia will be hosting the event, it should come as no surprise to anybody that Ovechkin is playing some of the best hockey he has in recent memory.
Here are some stats from Ovechkin’s past 3 seasons that show he is trending back into the highly successful shooting machine he was a few years back when he was scoring 50 and 60 goals per year:
Some things to notice on this chart are the goals per game have been on the rise the past 3 years and so have Ovechkin’s shots per game. Much like Evgeni Malkin has gone through a stretch of deferring the puck, Ovechkin did too. Ovechkin started to fire the biscuit more often and his elite goal scoring has returned.
A key for the Penguins will be to limit the amount of power plays they give the Capitals. Ovechkin’s shooting percentages sky rocket on the power play when compared to his even strength numbers. The Capitals have the 2nd best power play in the NHL right now and Ovechkin is the centerpiece of that success. Keep Ovechkin playing at even strength and the chances he can burn you goes down dramatically.
In one of the more shrewd roster moves of the offseason the Capitals are enjoying the fruits of signing Mikhail Grabovski. Grabovski was the much publicized and grossly missued player who the Leafs felt was expendable. What was Toronto’s loss is certainly Washington’s gain this year. Grabovski is the Capitals third leading scorer with 18 points in 21 games.
Grabovski could still classified as playing in a shut down role for the Capitals however there is a huge difference from his role in Toronto. Grabovski has way better linemates to work with and he is getting more offensive zone faceoffs. The results has been predictable, Grabovski is a positive possession player, has provided decent offense, and has been sound defensively. A complete upgrade over Mike Ribeiro.
For the first time in a long time the Capitals have a legitimate #2 center playing for them. By having a legit secondary scoring option it has opened up time and space for Nicklas Backstrom. Backstrom is now back to consistently producing at a high level. The proof is in Backstrom’s assist totals and Ovechkin’s goal totals.
The Penguins will need to bring a quality effort against the Capitals tonight which reflects the effort they gave in periods 2 and 3 vs the Ducks. If the Penguins turn in another 1st period where they get dominated, they will most likely find themselves behind on the scoreboard unlike on Monday night.
Line Combos
Kunitz-Crosby-Bennett Dupuis-Malkin-Neal Jokinen-Sutter-Gibbons Glass-Vitale-Adams
Capitals projected lineup:
Johansson-Backstrom-Ovechkin Erat-Laich-Brouwer Chimera-Grabovski-Ward Volpatti-Latta-Wilson
Alzner-Carlson Schmidt-Strachan Urbom-Oleksy
Injuries
No status changes for Scuderi, Kobasew, or Vokoun.
Mike Green (groin) is questionable for tonight’s matchup. Green took part in Tuesday’s practice for Washington and will be a game time decision. However, based on the morning skate it did not appear that Green will be a go tonight. He was out with John Erskine getting extra work in.
John Erskine (knee) is out tonight.
Power Play
Penguins are 12th overall with 20.0%. They rank 11th overall in power play opportunities with 75
The Capitals are 2nd overall with 24.4%. They rank 2nd overall with 86 power play opportunities.
It doesn’t take a sharp hockey mind to figure out why the Capitals power play ranks amongst the best. Alex Ovechkin has been lights out and leads the league with 7 power play goals.
Penalty Kill
The Penguins are ranked 8th at 84.2% as they continue to find success with the man down. They will have their hands full tonight against the Washington power play for sure.
The Penguins rank 1st overall in the NHL with the fewest times shorthanded with 57.
Not only is Washington’s power play amongst the best but their penalty kill ranks 3rd overall at 86.9%.
Washington ranks 28th overall in the amount of times shorthanded with 84.
Fenclose%
The Penguins remain in 5th overall with 54.7%
The Capitals are 27th with 46.2%
Given that the Capitals are terrific on special teams the Penguins will need to take advantage of what appears to be a mismatch at even strength.
Even Strength Save %
The Penguins are 23rd overall at .927%. Marc Andre Fleury is currently sporting a .921 EVSV%
The Capitals are 18th overall at .923%. Braden Holtby has a .925 EVSV%
Trends
Capitals are 4-0 in their last 4 vs. Metropolitan
Capitals are 4-0 in their last 4 games playing on 2 days rest
Capitals are 7-2 in their last 9 overall.
Penguins are 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
Home team is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings
Stats courtesy of Covers.com
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