From NHL.com's preview:
The Washington Capitals have finished in last place in the Southeast Division the last two seasons, but they're looking like a different team so far this year.
Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals look to build on their first back-to-back wins of the season when they visit the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday.
Washington (6-4-4) beat the Ottawa Senators 4-3 in overtime on Monday, two days after a 5-3 victory at Philadelphia. The Capitals, who haven't reached the postseason since 2003, ended a 16-game winless drought at Philadelphia and an eight-game home winless skid against Ottawa.
Against the Senators, they came back from a 3-0 first-period deficit.
"Now we know we can score, and that's the difference," said captain Chris Clark, who scored the game-winner on Monday. "We can come back and actually win these games, not just fight hard and make it respectable."
Ovechkin scored two goals for the second straight game, including one with 24.4 seconds left in regulation against Ottawa to force overtime. Last season's Calder Trophy winner as the NHL's top rookie has 18 points through 14 games - three points ahead of the pace he set last season en route to 52 goals and 106 assists.
"My goal is not to score 52 goals, 56 goals," said Ovechkin, who has four straight multipoint games. "My goal is to play hard, try to help the team win."
Ovechkin scored two goals in the Capitals' 5-2 win over the Hurricanes on Oct. 7.
"For a determined guy, he seems to be even more determined when it gets down to the nitty gritty," coach Glen Hanlon said. "When this organization does make the playoffs, you're likely going to see someone who plays even greater hockey."
Olaf Kolzig gave up all three goals Saturday on five shots in less than 12 minutes - his shortest outing since March 2003 - before being replaced by Brent Johnson. Johnson stopped 21 shots against the Senators after making 33 saves against the Flyers.
Johnson owns a 2.21 goals-against average in five games this season, while Kolzig has a 3.45 GAA in 10 contests.
"We never give up," Kolzig said. "Last year, going into the season, it was, 'Let's go out and have some fun and then see what happens.' Now we believe we can actually win games."
From Mike Vogel's washingtoncaps.com short shifts, injuries and probable lines:
Short Shifts: Matt Bradley has two assists in his last two games … Donald Brashear has two goals and eight points in 32 career games against Carolina … Chris Clark has three goals and nine points in 12 lifetime contests against the Canes. Clark has a four game point streak working. He has two goals and five points during that span … Ben Clymer has two goals in his last two games … Steve Eminger has two assists in his last two games … Jamie Heward has two assists in his last two games … Brent Johnson is 4-0-1 with a 2.27 GAA and a .937 save pct. lifetime against the Hurricanes. Johnson has allowed three or fewer goals in each of his four starts this season … Olie Kolzig is 22-10-9 with three shutouts, a 2.15 GAA and a .926 save pct. over his career against Carolina … Brooks Laich has a goal and four points in seven career games vs. the Hurricanes … Shaone Morrisonn has a goal and three points in 11 career games against the Canes. Morrisonn has a goal and four points in his last four games … Bryan Muir has played plus or even hockey in all seven of the games in which he has played this season. He is plus-4 overall … Alex Ovechkin has five goals and 12 points in nine career contests vs. Carolina. Ovechkin is tied for fifth in the NHL with 10 goals. He has four straight multi-point games and two straight multi-goal games. Ovechkin has four goals and eight points in his last four games … Alexander Semin has five goals and seven points in six career games against the Hurricanes … Brian Sutherby has four assists in 13 career games vs. the Canes. Sutherby has two assists in his last two games. Sutherby is slated to appear in his 200th NHL game against Carolina on Thursday … Richard Zednik has nine goals and 19 points in 29 lifetime tilts against the Hurricanes … Dainius Zubrus has 10 goals and 25 points in 39 career games against Carolina. Zubrus has totaled more points against Carolina than against any other opponent. He has four goals and five points in his last four games … Rod Brind’Amour has 33 goals and 66 points in 79 career games against the Capitals. After going pointless in his first four games of the season, Brind’Amour has five goals and 20 points in his last dozen games. He is tied for fourth in the league in scoring with 20 points. At 23:35 a night, Brind’Amour is second among all NHL forwards in average ice time per game. Brind’Amour recorded the 1000th point of his NHL career in Ottawa on Saturday, becoming just the 71st player in league history to reach that milestone … Erik Cole has four goals and nine points in 17 career games against Washington. Cole has two goals and seven points in his last five games … John Grahame is 5-4 with two shutouts and a 2.71 GAA in his career vs. the Caps … Eric Staal has four goals and 11 points in 15 career contests against Washington. Staal has eight goals and 16 points in his last 12 games … Cory Stillman has six goals and 22 points in 24 lifetime tilts against the Capitals … Scott Walker has four goals and five points in his last seven games … Cam Ward is 2-2 with a 3.70 GAA lifetime against the Caps. Ward has surrendered four or more goals in five of his last seven starts … Glen Wesley has four goals and 14 points in 68 career games against the Capitals … Ray Whitney has 12 goals and 25 points in 32 career games vs. Washington. Whitney has five goals and 18 points in his last dozen games. He is tied for fourth in the league in scoring with 20 points … Justin Williams has nine goals and 22 points in 24 career games against the Caps. Williams has four assists in his last five games.
Injuries
Carolina Hurricanes
Defenseman Frantisek Kaberle had shoulder surgery and is out indefinitely.
Defenseman Tim Gleason has an upper body injury and is day-to-day.
Left wing Cory Stillman had offseason shoulder surgery and is out indefinitely.
Washington
Defenseman Jamie Heward has an upper body injury and is day-to-day.
Right wing Richard Zednik has an upper body injury and is day-to-day.
Possible Line Combos and Defensive Pairings
Carolina
Forwards
24-Walker, 12-Staal, 11-Williams
26-Cole, 17-Brind’Amour, 13-Whitney
16-Ladd, 25-Belanger, 27-C. Adams
59-LaRose, 14-K.Adams, 19-Letowski
Defensemen
6-Hedican, 22-Commodore
7-Wallin, 48-Babchuk
2-Wesley, 28-Hutchinson
Goaltenders
30-Ward, 47-Grahame
Washington
Forwards
8-Ovechkin, 9-Zubrus, 17-Clark
43-Fleischmann, 38-Klepis, 18-Pettinger
10-Bradley, 16-Sutherby, 27-Clymer
28-Semin, 15-Gordon, 87-Brashear
Defensemen
2-Pothier, 26-Morrisonn
6-Heward, 52-Green
44-Eminger, 47-Muir
Goaltenders
1-Johnson, 37-Kolzig
Team Leaders: WSH - CAR
Goals: Ovechkin (10) - Staal (9)
Points: Ovechkin (18) - Brind'Amour (20)
+/-: Clark (5) - Wallin (3)
Team Stats (rank): WSH - CAR
Goals for/game: 3.36 (8) - 3.12 (12)
Goals against/game: 3.21 (21) - 3.38 (25)
Power Play Pct.: 17.8 (14) - 15.8 (17)
Penalty Kill Pct.: 83.5 (16) - 84.4 (12)
The JET's Take:
The Capitals are coming off a huge, come from behind win against Ottawa, but now they face some more stiff competition in the Carolina Hurricanes. The Caps claimed their first win of the season against Carolina at home, but now they travel to Raleigh. Even though the Caps have been above .500 on the road, this will still be a tough game.
The Caps defense is still their achilles heel. They still allow above 35 shots per game. Their special teams are in a good place but if they want to win in Carolina, they should try to limit the 'Cane's number of shots. I wince, but will give the Caps the chance to take this one, but I think it'll go to OT.
The Washington Capitals have finished in last place in the Southeast Division the last two seasons, but they're looking like a different team so far this year.
Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals look to build on their first back-to-back wins of the season when they visit the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday.
Washington (6-4-4) beat the Ottawa Senators 4-3 in overtime on Monday, two days after a 5-3 victory at Philadelphia. The Capitals, who haven't reached the postseason since 2003, ended a 16-game winless drought at Philadelphia and an eight-game home winless skid against Ottawa.
Against the Senators, they came back from a 3-0 first-period deficit.
"Now we know we can score, and that's the difference," said captain Chris Clark, who scored the game-winner on Monday. "We can come back and actually win these games, not just fight hard and make it respectable."
Ovechkin scored two goals for the second straight game, including one with 24.4 seconds left in regulation against Ottawa to force overtime. Last season's Calder Trophy winner as the NHL's top rookie has 18 points through 14 games - three points ahead of the pace he set last season en route to 52 goals and 106 assists.
"My goal is not to score 52 goals, 56 goals," said Ovechkin, who has four straight multipoint games. "My goal is to play hard, try to help the team win."
Ovechkin scored two goals in the Capitals' 5-2 win over the Hurricanes on Oct. 7.
"For a determined guy, he seems to be even more determined when it gets down to the nitty gritty," coach Glen Hanlon said. "When this organization does make the playoffs, you're likely going to see someone who plays even greater hockey."
Olaf Kolzig gave up all three goals Saturday on five shots in less than 12 minutes - his shortest outing since March 2003 - before being replaced by Brent Johnson. Johnson stopped 21 shots against the Senators after making 33 saves against the Flyers.
Johnson owns a 2.21 goals-against average in five games this season, while Kolzig has a 3.45 GAA in 10 contests.
"We never give up," Kolzig said. "Last year, going into the season, it was, 'Let's go out and have some fun and then see what happens.' Now we believe we can actually win games."
From Mike Vogel's washingtoncaps.com short shifts, injuries and probable lines:
Short Shifts: Matt Bradley has two assists in his last two games … Donald Brashear has two goals and eight points in 32 career games against Carolina … Chris Clark has three goals and nine points in 12 lifetime contests against the Canes. Clark has a four game point streak working. He has two goals and five points during that span … Ben Clymer has two goals in his last two games … Steve Eminger has two assists in his last two games … Jamie Heward has two assists in his last two games … Brent Johnson is 4-0-1 with a 2.27 GAA and a .937 save pct. lifetime against the Hurricanes. Johnson has allowed three or fewer goals in each of his four starts this season … Olie Kolzig is 22-10-9 with three shutouts, a 2.15 GAA and a .926 save pct. over his career against Carolina … Brooks Laich has a goal and four points in seven career games vs. the Hurricanes … Shaone Morrisonn has a goal and three points in 11 career games against the Canes. Morrisonn has a goal and four points in his last four games … Bryan Muir has played plus or even hockey in all seven of the games in which he has played this season. He is plus-4 overall … Alex Ovechkin has five goals and 12 points in nine career contests vs. Carolina. Ovechkin is tied for fifth in the NHL with 10 goals. He has four straight multi-point games and two straight multi-goal games. Ovechkin has four goals and eight points in his last four games … Alexander Semin has five goals and seven points in six career games against the Hurricanes … Brian Sutherby has four assists in 13 career games vs. the Canes. Sutherby has two assists in his last two games. Sutherby is slated to appear in his 200th NHL game against Carolina on Thursday … Richard Zednik has nine goals and 19 points in 29 lifetime tilts against the Hurricanes … Dainius Zubrus has 10 goals and 25 points in 39 career games against Carolina. Zubrus has totaled more points against Carolina than against any other opponent. He has four goals and five points in his last four games … Rod Brind’Amour has 33 goals and 66 points in 79 career games against the Capitals. After going pointless in his first four games of the season, Brind’Amour has five goals and 20 points in his last dozen games. He is tied for fourth in the league in scoring with 20 points. At 23:35 a night, Brind’Amour is second among all NHL forwards in average ice time per game. Brind’Amour recorded the 1000th point of his NHL career in Ottawa on Saturday, becoming just the 71st player in league history to reach that milestone … Erik Cole has four goals and nine points in 17 career games against Washington. Cole has two goals and seven points in his last five games … John Grahame is 5-4 with two shutouts and a 2.71 GAA in his career vs. the Caps … Eric Staal has four goals and 11 points in 15 career contests against Washington. Staal has eight goals and 16 points in his last 12 games … Cory Stillman has six goals and 22 points in 24 lifetime tilts against the Capitals … Scott Walker has four goals and five points in his last seven games … Cam Ward is 2-2 with a 3.70 GAA lifetime against the Caps. Ward has surrendered four or more goals in five of his last seven starts … Glen Wesley has four goals and 14 points in 68 career games against the Capitals … Ray Whitney has 12 goals and 25 points in 32 career games vs. Washington. Whitney has five goals and 18 points in his last dozen games. He is tied for fourth in the league in scoring with 20 points … Justin Williams has nine goals and 22 points in 24 career games against the Caps. Williams has four assists in his last five games.
Injuries
Carolina Hurricanes
Defenseman Frantisek Kaberle had shoulder surgery and is out indefinitely.
Defenseman Tim Gleason has an upper body injury and is day-to-day.
Left wing Cory Stillman had offseason shoulder surgery and is out indefinitely.
Washington
Defenseman Jamie Heward has an upper body injury and is day-to-day.
Right wing Richard Zednik has an upper body injury and is day-to-day.
Possible Line Combos and Defensive Pairings
Carolina
Forwards
24-Walker, 12-Staal, 11-Williams
26-Cole, 17-Brind’Amour, 13-Whitney
16-Ladd, 25-Belanger, 27-C. Adams
59-LaRose, 14-K.Adams, 19-Letowski
Defensemen
6-Hedican, 22-Commodore
7-Wallin, 48-Babchuk
2-Wesley, 28-Hutchinson
Goaltenders
30-Ward, 47-Grahame
Washington
Forwards
8-Ovechkin, 9-Zubrus, 17-Clark
43-Fleischmann, 38-Klepis, 18-Pettinger
10-Bradley, 16-Sutherby, 27-Clymer
28-Semin, 15-Gordon, 87-Brashear
Defensemen
2-Pothier, 26-Morrisonn
6-Heward, 52-Green
44-Eminger, 47-Muir
Goaltenders
1-Johnson, 37-Kolzig
Team Leaders: WSH - CAR
Goals: Ovechkin (10) - Staal (9)
Points: Ovechkin (18) - Brind'Amour (20)
+/-: Clark (5) - Wallin (3)
Team Stats (rank): WSH - CAR
Goals for/game: 3.36 (8) - 3.12 (12)
Goals against/game: 3.21 (21) - 3.38 (25)
Power Play Pct.: 17.8 (14) - 15.8 (17)
Penalty Kill Pct.: 83.5 (16) - 84.4 (12)
The JET's Take:
The Capitals are coming off a huge, come from behind win against Ottawa, but now they face some more stiff competition in the Carolina Hurricanes. The Caps claimed their first win of the season against Carolina at home, but now they travel to Raleigh. Even though the Caps have been above .500 on the road, this will still be a tough game.
The Caps defense is still their achilles heel. They still allow above 35 shots per game. Their special teams are in a good place but if they want to win in Carolina, they should try to limit the 'Cane's number of shots. I wince, but will give the Caps the chance to take this one, but I think it'll go to OT.
posted by The Jet at 11:15 AM
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