Capitals (3-2-4) @ Oilers (6-4-0)
From NHL.com's preview:
The Oilers will have their hands full with reigning rookie of the year Alexander Ovechkin, who they are facing for the first time. Ovechkin has goals in four straight games, including Friday's 3-2 shootout loss to Vancouver when he recorded also had an assist for his third multipoint game this season.
His second-period goal tied the game and forced overtime, but neither Matt Pettinger nor Ovechkin could solve Roberto Luongo in the shootout. Washington has lost all three shootouts this season and is 0-4 in games decided after regulation.
"We got the point, we were disappointed that we didn't play well," said Ovechkin. "We stayed in because of our goalie. He is our leader, he's a tremendous goalie and saved us a lot of times."
Olaf Kolzig kept the Caps in Friday's game, making 42 saves, but is expected to get the night off Saturday with backup Brent Johnson getting the nod. He's started two games this season, losing in road shootouts to Minnesota and Atlanta.
The Capitals won the last meeting from the Oilers, 1-0, on Jan. 11, 2004 in Washington in behind 26 saves from Kolzig.
From Mike Vogel's washingtoncaps.com short shifts, injuries and probable lines:
Short Shifts: Matt Bradley has four points (two goals, two assists) in his last five games … Donald Brashear has five goals and 10 points in 32 career games against the Oilers … Chris Clark has two goals and four points in 20 career games against Edmonton. Clark has had at least a point in seven of Washington’s first nine games and is tied for second on the team in scoring with nine points (three goals, six assists) … Ben Clymer has a goal and two points in seven career games against the Oilers … Rico Fata has two assists in three career games against Edmonton. Fata has played plus or even hockey in all nine Washington games this season and is plus-4 overall … Mike Green has two goals and three points in his last five games. He is plus-4 during that span … Jamie Heward has three goals and eight points in 11 career games against Edmonton … Brent Johnson was 2-2-1 with a 2.66 goals against average and an .896 save pct. lifetime against the Oilers … Olie Kolzig is 5-4 with two shutouts, a .259 goals against average and an .898 save pct. lifetime vs. Edmonton. Kolzig has made more than 40 stops in each of his last two starts (45 vs. Colorado on Wednesday and 42 against Vancouver on Friday). The last time Kolzig had to make as many as 40 stops in consecutive starts was Feb. 17 and 19, 2004, when he stopped 47 against Ottawa and 43 against New Jersey, respectively. The Caps tied the Sens 1-1 and downed the Devils 3-1 in those two games … Alex Ovechkin has scored a goal in four straight games and has recorded a point in seven of Washington’s nine games this season … Brian Pothier has five assists in his last four games and is plus-3 in his last five games. He leads all NHL defensemen with nine assists. Pothier is averaging 27:25 per game in ice time, fifth in the NHL … Alexander Semin is Washington’s leading scorer with 12 points (eight goals, four assists). He had an eight-game scoring streak snapped in Vancouver on Friday … Brian Sutherby has a goal and three points in his last five games. He is plus-3 over that stretch … Richard Zednik has five goals and six points in 11 career games against the Oilers … Dainius Zubrus has four goals and 11 points in a dozen career games against Edmonton. Zubrus has five goals and eight points in his last seven games … Ales Hemsky has one assist in two career games against the Capitals. Hemsky has a goal and five points in his last three games … Shawn Horcoff is minus-5 in his last two games … Joffrey Lupul has one goal in two career games vs. the Caps … Jussi Markkanen is 0-1 with a 2.03 goals against average in one career start vs. Washington … Ethan Moreau has four goals and six assists in 11 career games against the Capitals … Fernando Pisani has three goals in two lifetime tilts vs. the Caps … Marty Reasoner has four assists in six career games against Washington … Dwayne Roloson is 3-2 with a shutout and a 1.61 goals against average in five career games vs. the Capitals … Jason Smith has four assists in 25 career games against the Caps. Smith is minus-6 in his last two games … Ryan Smyth has two goals and five points in a dozen career games vs. Washington. Smyth has one assist in his last six games and is minus-4 in his last two … Steve Staios has three goals and four points in 16 career games against the Caps … Jarret Stoll has three goals and six points in his last three games … Petr Sykora has five goals and 18 points in 29 career games against the Capitals. Sykora has three goals and six points in his last four games … Patrick Thoresen has a goal and five points in his last five games … Daniel Tjarnqvist has three assists in his last four games and is minus-6 in his last two … Raffi Torres has a goal and two points in his last three games.
Injuries:
Edmonton Oilers
Left wing Ethan Moreau has a shoulder injury and is day-to-day.
Washington
None.
Possible Line Combos and Defensive Pairings
Edmonton
Forwards
28-Thoresen, 71-Sykora, 83-Hemsky
94-Smyth, 10-Horcoff, 15-Lupul
14-Torres, 16-Stoll, 34-Pisani
22-Jacques, 19-Reasoner, 26-Winchester
Defensemen
21-Smith, 29-Tjarnqvist
5-Smid, 24-Staios
2-Greene, 47-Bergeron
Goaltenders
30-Markkanen, 35-Roloson
Washington
Forwards
8-Ovechkin, 9-Zubrus, 17-Clark
28-Semin, 24-Beech, 20-Zednik
18-Pettinger, 16-Sutherby, 10-Bradley
87-Brashear, 38-Klepis, 22-Fata
Defensemen
2-Pothier, 26-Morrisonn
27-Clymer, 44-Eminger
6-Heward, 52-Green
Goaltenders
1-Johnson, 37-Kolzig
Team Leaders: Washington-Edmonton
Goals: Semin (8)-Sykora (7)
Points: Semin (12)-Sykora (14)
+/-: Clark (4)-Hemsky (5)
Team Stats (rank): Washington-Edmonton
Goals for/game: 3.44 (5)-2.90 (16)
Goals against/game: 3.22 (19)-2.80 (14)
Power Play Pct.: 17.6 (13)-15.9 (18)
Penalty Kill Pct.: 81.8 (19)-87.9 (8)
The JET's Take:
The Caps ought to be thanking their lucky stars that they came out of those first two games on the Northwest road trip with 3 points. Actually, they should be thanking Olie Kolzig who's made 87 saves on 92 shots in two games (thats a 94.5% save pct.) That translates into an average of 46 shots per game in two games (the median of shots per game is about 30). Tonight, though, Brent Johnson will be in net and I doubt he'll be able to stop 40 or 45 shots. Edmonton is 2nd worst in shots per game (26.7) but Washington is last in shots allowed per game (37.6).
The Caps defensemen had better step up tonight against a weaker offense and allow few shots if they want to come out of Edmonton with a win. My prediction: they won't do it and will lose.
*One last note: if the game does go to a shootout, the Caps had better score if they want to win (they haven't scored a shoot out goal yet).*
The Oilers will have their hands full with reigning rookie of the year Alexander Ovechkin, who they are facing for the first time. Ovechkin has goals in four straight games, including Friday's 3-2 shootout loss to Vancouver when he recorded also had an assist for his third multipoint game this season.
His second-period goal tied the game and forced overtime, but neither Matt Pettinger nor Ovechkin could solve Roberto Luongo in the shootout. Washington has lost all three shootouts this season and is 0-4 in games decided after regulation.
"We got the point, we were disappointed that we didn't play well," said Ovechkin. "We stayed in because of our goalie. He is our leader, he's a tremendous goalie and saved us a lot of times."
Olaf Kolzig kept the Caps in Friday's game, making 42 saves, but is expected to get the night off Saturday with backup Brent Johnson getting the nod. He's started two games this season, losing in road shootouts to Minnesota and Atlanta.
The Capitals won the last meeting from the Oilers, 1-0, on Jan. 11, 2004 in Washington in behind 26 saves from Kolzig.
From Mike Vogel's washingtoncaps.com short shifts, injuries and probable lines:
Short Shifts: Matt Bradley has four points (two goals, two assists) in his last five games … Donald Brashear has five goals and 10 points in 32 career games against the Oilers … Chris Clark has two goals and four points in 20 career games against Edmonton. Clark has had at least a point in seven of Washington’s first nine games and is tied for second on the team in scoring with nine points (three goals, six assists) … Ben Clymer has a goal and two points in seven career games against the Oilers … Rico Fata has two assists in three career games against Edmonton. Fata has played plus or even hockey in all nine Washington games this season and is plus-4 overall … Mike Green has two goals and three points in his last five games. He is plus-4 during that span … Jamie Heward has three goals and eight points in 11 career games against Edmonton … Brent Johnson was 2-2-1 with a 2.66 goals against average and an .896 save pct. lifetime against the Oilers … Olie Kolzig is 5-4 with two shutouts, a .259 goals against average and an .898 save pct. lifetime vs. Edmonton. Kolzig has made more than 40 stops in each of his last two starts (45 vs. Colorado on Wednesday and 42 against Vancouver on Friday). The last time Kolzig had to make as many as 40 stops in consecutive starts was Feb. 17 and 19, 2004, when he stopped 47 against Ottawa and 43 against New Jersey, respectively. The Caps tied the Sens 1-1 and downed the Devils 3-1 in those two games … Alex Ovechkin has scored a goal in four straight games and has recorded a point in seven of Washington’s nine games this season … Brian Pothier has five assists in his last four games and is plus-3 in his last five games. He leads all NHL defensemen with nine assists. Pothier is averaging 27:25 per game in ice time, fifth in the NHL … Alexander Semin is Washington’s leading scorer with 12 points (eight goals, four assists). He had an eight-game scoring streak snapped in Vancouver on Friday … Brian Sutherby has a goal and three points in his last five games. He is plus-3 over that stretch … Richard Zednik has five goals and six points in 11 career games against the Oilers … Dainius Zubrus has four goals and 11 points in a dozen career games against Edmonton. Zubrus has five goals and eight points in his last seven games … Ales Hemsky has one assist in two career games against the Capitals. Hemsky has a goal and five points in his last three games … Shawn Horcoff is minus-5 in his last two games … Joffrey Lupul has one goal in two career games vs. the Caps … Jussi Markkanen is 0-1 with a 2.03 goals against average in one career start vs. Washington … Ethan Moreau has four goals and six assists in 11 career games against the Capitals … Fernando Pisani has three goals in two lifetime tilts vs. the Caps … Marty Reasoner has four assists in six career games against Washington … Dwayne Roloson is 3-2 with a shutout and a 1.61 goals against average in five career games vs. the Capitals … Jason Smith has four assists in 25 career games against the Caps. Smith is minus-6 in his last two games … Ryan Smyth has two goals and five points in a dozen career games vs. Washington. Smyth has one assist in his last six games and is minus-4 in his last two … Steve Staios has three goals and four points in 16 career games against the Caps … Jarret Stoll has three goals and six points in his last three games … Petr Sykora has five goals and 18 points in 29 career games against the Capitals. Sykora has three goals and six points in his last four games … Patrick Thoresen has a goal and five points in his last five games … Daniel Tjarnqvist has three assists in his last four games and is minus-6 in his last two … Raffi Torres has a goal and two points in his last three games.
Injuries:
Edmonton Oilers
Left wing Ethan Moreau has a shoulder injury and is day-to-day.
Washington
None.
Possible Line Combos and Defensive Pairings
Edmonton
Forwards
28-Thoresen, 71-Sykora, 83-Hemsky
94-Smyth, 10-Horcoff, 15-Lupul
14-Torres, 16-Stoll, 34-Pisani
22-Jacques, 19-Reasoner, 26-Winchester
Defensemen
21-Smith, 29-Tjarnqvist
5-Smid, 24-Staios
2-Greene, 47-Bergeron
Goaltenders
30-Markkanen, 35-Roloson
Washington
Forwards
8-Ovechkin, 9-Zubrus, 17-Clark
28-Semin, 24-Beech, 20-Zednik
18-Pettinger, 16-Sutherby, 10-Bradley
87-Brashear, 38-Klepis, 22-Fata
Defensemen
2-Pothier, 26-Morrisonn
27-Clymer, 44-Eminger
6-Heward, 52-Green
Goaltenders
1-Johnson, 37-Kolzig
Team Leaders: Washington-Edmonton
Goals: Semin (8)-Sykora (7)
Points: Semin (12)-Sykora (14)
+/-: Clark (4)-Hemsky (5)
Team Stats (rank): Washington-Edmonton
Goals for/game: 3.44 (5)-2.90 (16)
Goals against/game: 3.22 (19)-2.80 (14)
Power Play Pct.: 17.6 (13)-15.9 (18)
Penalty Kill Pct.: 81.8 (19)-87.9 (8)
The JET's Take:
The Caps ought to be thanking their lucky stars that they came out of those first two games on the Northwest road trip with 3 points. Actually, they should be thanking Olie Kolzig who's made 87 saves on 92 shots in two games (thats a 94.5% save pct.) That translates into an average of 46 shots per game in two games (the median of shots per game is about 30). Tonight, though, Brent Johnson will be in net and I doubt he'll be able to stop 40 or 45 shots. Edmonton is 2nd worst in shots per game (26.7) but Washington is last in shots allowed per game (37.6).
The Caps defensemen had better step up tonight against a weaker offense and allow few shots if they want to come out of Edmonton with a win. My prediction: they won't do it and will lose.
*One last note: if the game does go to a shootout, the Caps had better score if they want to win (they haven't scored a shoot out goal yet).*
posted by The Jet at 4:09 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home