|
Caps face Trotz and Isles in an Old Barn |
|
|
|
|
|
The season of “big games” is upon us in the National Hockey League schedule as teams look to position themselves in seeding in the playoff race. The 36-21-7 Washington Capitals face the one team ahead of them in the Metro Division standings as they pay a visit to ole Nassau Coliseum to take on former Caps coach Barry Trotz and the surprising 37-19-7 New York Islanders.
It’s been almost 4 years since the Caps last played at the Coliseum during the 2015 playoffs as the Islanders have begun a stretch of games playing at their old home in Uniondale. It was April 15th, 2015 when the Caps lost 3-1 in game 6 of the series they last set skate to ice in the arena. The Caps would win game 7 to close out the series in Washington
With New York having played one less game and holding a 2-point advantage over Washington, it’s important the coach Todd Reirden’s club plays with a sense of urgency and begin to show some of the more consistent play they’ve displayed in stretches over the last couple weeks winning 4 out of their last 5 including an absolute drubbing over the Ottawa Senators in their last game 7-2 last Tuesday night. The addition of Carl Hagelin has certainly helped with some speed on the penalty kill and it looks as though he's about to break out with some scoring.
New York played last night in an emotional game that had star forward John Tavares make his return to New York as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs as they waxed the Islanders 6-1. So coming into the second end of a back-to-back game for the Islanders is something the Caps will have to take advantage of. The need to keep the puck down low in the Isles end and wear down the defense. It won’t be an easy task versus an Islander team who is 9-0-1 in the second games of a back-to-back.
Alex Ovechkin is on a 7-game point streak with 6 goals and 4 assists and continues to lead the NHL in goals with 44 with a fast-tracking Patrick Kane in second place with 40 and Leon Draisaitl has been on a tear lately and is only 5 back with 39.
While it would bode well for the Caps to score some more goals they are facing a Trotz-led squad that has allowed only 2.30 goals against a game to lead the NHL. A stark contrast to the 3.19 goals per game the Caps are giving up so far.
Braden Holtby will get the start for Washington with coach Reirden scratching Dmitrij Jaskin, Chandler Stephenson, and Christian Djoos.
This seems to be the go-to line-up for Reirden and I suspect barring injury, this is the likely line-up moving forward. Personally, I’d like to see Orpik out with Djoos in but I digress. Watch for Nick Jensen’s minutes to steadily increase as I mentioned at the time of the trade. His second game with the Caps was 20:01 versus the 14:16 he had played in his first game vs the Rangers.
Capital Gain:
Alex Ovechkin topped the jersey sales for NHL players
Former Capitals defenseman Madison Bowey will wear #74 in Detroit as a thank you to his mentor current Capitals D John Carlson.
Islanders coach Barry Trotz is going for win # 800 of his career
Washington Capitals Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»