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Caps on the left Coast

October 22, 2018, 6:50 PM ET [0 Comments]
Marcus Boutilier
Washington Capitals Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
For the first time this season the Washington Capitals will go on an extended road trip taking them through western Canada for 3 games against Pacific Division foes Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, and Calgary Flames. All non-playoff teams in 2017-18, the Capitals will need to not let up as all three teams are playing improved hockey so far early in the season. Vancouver and Calgary both have 5 wins in 8 games and while Edmonton currently sits at .500 with 3 wins in 6 games, any game with reigning Art Ross trophy winner Connor McDavid can not be overlooked. The arguably best player in the world is off to a torrid start.

First up for the Capitals is Monday night at 10PM EST from Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC against the young Canucks. With a 5-3 record and winners of 4 of 5 they come into this matchup with plenty confidence beating teams like Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay and Boston over that span. Heralded rookie Elias Pettersson leads the team with 8 points, but has only appeared in 5 games after suffering a concussion. He will not suit up against the Capitals but is skating again.

Caps fans eager to see popular former Capitals forward Jay Beagle will have to wait as the forward suffered a broken arm and is out 4-6 weeks. This bodes well for the Caps in the faceoff circle as this is an area Washington is working on. They sit 29th in the league currently sporting a 45.9% winning percentage. Number one center Evgeny Kuznetsov is 36.2%. That is a number he needs to increase. Coach Todd Reirden is calling on his wingers to start helping out while trying to take possession of the draw. Nicklas Backstrom leads the Capitals at 54.5% putting him only 31st in the league. Lars Eller is at 51.2% and Nic Dowd at 43.8%. For perspective Jason Spezza of Dallas Stars leads the NHL at 65.4%.

Coach Reirden has changed up the lines after last games SO loss to Florida. Devante Smith-Pelley is skating on a line with Ovechkin and Kuznetsov. Chandler Stephenson joins Backstrom and Oshie. The third line is rolling with Eller, Vrana, and Connolly. Andre Burakovsky is demoted to 4rh line duty with Nic Dowd and Dimitrij Jaskin.

Burakovsky is pointless in 7 games so far. With the Capitals scoring plenty of goals it’s surprising he’s yet to register a point. His minutes have been going down and something will have to break with this player soon. Inconsistency is becoming a label he is not having an easy time shedding. The player is too talented to go through these stretches of games as often as he has been. A change in scenery could be coming.

Braden Holtby will get the net.

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