WASHINGTON CAPITALS NOTES:
LAST GAME
Washington 4, Seattle Kraken 1
December 9, 2022 * Capital One Arena * Washington, D.C.
Shots: WSH: 38; SEA: 26
Power Plays: WSH: 1/4; SEA: 0/2
Three Stars: 1. Lindgren (WSH), 2. Johansson (WSH), 3. Larsson (SEA)
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Loaned forward Connor McMichael to AHL Hershey, 11/20
INJURIES/ILLNESSES
Nicklas Backstrom: 10/12-12/9 (29 games)
Carl Hagelin: 10/12-12/9 (29 games)
Tom Wilson: 10/12-12/9 (29 games)
Connor Brown: 10/20/22-12/9/22 (25 games)
Beck Malenstyn: 11/3/22-12/9/22 (18 games)
Dmitry Orlov: 11/7/22-12/9/22 (16 games)
Martin Fehervary: 12/5/22-12/9/22 (3 games)
Darcy Kuemper: 12/5/22-12/9/22 (3 games)
T.J. Oshie: 10/31/22-11/19/22 (11 games)
John Carlson: 10/31/22-11/9/22 (6 games)
Man Games Lost: 169
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Dec. 13, 9 p.m. ET at Chicago (ESPN, 106.7 The Fan/Caps Radio 24/7)
Dec. 15, 7 p.m. ET vs. Dallas (NBCSW, 106.7 The Fan/Caps Radio 24/7)
Dec. 17, 7 p.m. ET vs. Toronto (NBCSW, NHLN, 106.7 The Fan/Caps Radio 24/7)
Dec. 19, 7 p.m. ET vs. Detroit (NBCSW, 106.7 The Fan/Caps Radio 24/7)
Dec. 22, 7 p.m. ET at Ottawa (NBCSW, 106.7 The Fan/Caps Radio 24/7)
TONIGHT’S GAME
The Capitals visit the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday at Canada Life Centre for the first of two meetings between the teams this season. Washington is 21-19-2-6 all-time versus the Winnipeg/Atlanta franchise and have a record of 17-6-4 against the Jets since their relocation in 2011-12. In addition, the Capitals are 8-2-2 in their last 12 games against Winnipeg. Washington swept the season series with the Jets in 2021-22, outscoring Winnipeg 9-5 in two games. Alex Ovechkin has recorded 94 points (50g, 44a) in 69 career games against Winnipeg/Atlanta, tied for the most goals he has scored against a single franchise (Tampa Bay: 50) and marking the second most points he has against a single opponent (Carolina: 99).
AWAY vs. WINNIPEG JETS (Since 2011-12)
Record Goals For Goals Against Streak
7-5-2 34 31 1 WSH win (12/17/21)
CAPITALS vs. JETS/THRASHERS ALL-TIME (Career Totals)
Games Goals Assists Points
Ovechkin (69) Ovechkin (50) Ovechkin (44) Ovechkin (94)
Backstrom (49) Backstrom (18) Backstrom (30) Backstrom (48)
Carlson (33) Eller (7) Johansson (17) Johansson (21)
POINT STREAKS
Evgeny Kuznetsov – 4 game point streak (0g, 5a), 4 game assist streak (5a)
Alex Ovechkin – 2 game point streak (3g, 1a), 2 game goal streak (3g)
John Carlson – 2 game point streak (0g, 3a), 2 game assist streak (3a)
Anthony Mantha – 2 game point streak (1g, 2a), 2 game assist streak (2a)
TOP CAPS FACTS
Approaching 800
- Alex Ovechkin scored an empty net goal on Friday vs. Seattle, marking his 796th career goal. It also marked Ovechkin’s 500th career even strength goal and he became the fourth player in NHL history to reach the mark (Wayne Gretzky: 617; Gordie Howe: 566; Jaromir Jagr: 538).
- Ovechkin is four goals shy of becoming the third player in NHL history to score 800 career goals and six goals shy of passing Gordie Howe (801) for second on the NHL’s all-time goals list.
- Ovechkin (currently at 160 GP) can require the fewest games between milestone goals No. 700 and No. 800 and become the first to make the jump in fewer than 200 contests (Wayne Gretzky: 231 GP from Jan. 3, 1991 to March 20, 1994; Gordie Howe: 256 GP from Dec. 4, 1968 to Feb. 29, 1980).*
- After reaching the 700-goal milestone on Feb. 22, 2020, against the Devils, the Capitals’ captain has found the back of the net 96 times since – an average of 0.61 goals-per-game over that span, matching his overall career average (0.61 G/GP). Gretzky’s goals-per-game rate from No. 700 to No. 800 was 0.44, while Howe’s was 0.39.*
- Ovechkin ranks first in NHL history in power play goals (291) and overtime goals (25), second in game-winning goals (124) and multigoal games (161), and fourth in even strength goals (500).
- Ovechkin is one game-opening goal shy of passing Jaromir Jagr (135) for the most in NHL history.
- Ovechkin has recorded 29 points (16g, 13a) in 29 games this season, which leads the Capitals. Ovechkin has recorded 15 points (8g, 7a) in his last 11 games, which includes seven multi-point efforts during that span.
- Ovechkin’s 16 goals this season rank tied for eighth in the NHL, through games played Dec. 9. Ovechkin (37-years-old) is one of two players over the age of 29 to rank in the top-10 in NHL goal scoring (Sidney Crosby, 35-years-old: 15 goals).
- Ovechkin is on pace to score 45 goals this season. Should Ovechkin reach the 40-goal mark, it would mark his 13th career 40-goal season, passing Gretzky (12) for the most in NHL history.
*Information from NHL Stats’ “The Road to 800” stats pack
Chuck Stops Here
- Charlie Lindgren stopped 25 of 26 shots faced on Friday vs. Seattle, earning his third consecutive win.
- In his last three starts, Lindgren is 3-0-0 with a 1.34 goals-against average and a .953 save percentage.
- During the three-game stretch, which began on Dec. 5 at Edmonton, Lindgren has not surrendered a goal when the Capitals have led (a total of 50:13 of game time), per Natural Stat Trick.
- Over his last three starts, Lindgren has stopped all 40 shots faced in the third period.
- Lindgren’s three-game win streak marks the second longest of his NHL career. Last season with the St. Louis Blues, Lindgren won five-straight games, going 5-0-0 with a 1.22 goals-against average and a .958 save percentage.
- The Capitals have earned at least one point in seven of the nine games Lindgren has started this season (5-2-2).
- This season, Lindgren has a record of 5-3-2 with a 2.87 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage.
900 For Tiger
- Lars Eller is expected o play in his 900th career game on Sunday at Winnipeg.
- Eller has played 457 of his 899 career games with Washington (also 435 GP w/ MTL, 7 GP w/ STL).
- In 899 career games, Eller has recorded 359 points (158g, 201a).
- Among Denmark-born players in NHL history, Eller ranks second in games played (Frans Nielsen: 925), third in goals (Nielsen: 167;
Nikolaj Ehlers: 164), third in assists (Nielsen: 306; Mikkel Boedker: 209) and third in points (Nielsen: 473; Ehlers: 361).
- Eller has won 57.3 percent of his faceoffs since Nov. 1, which ranks 10th in the NHL during that span (min. 225 faceoffs taken).
- Eller has recorded four points (2g, 2a) in his last six games and has 11 points (5g, 6a) in 29 games this season. Turning a Corner
- The Capitals have won three-straight games entering Sunday’s tilt with Winnipeg, which marks their longest win streak of the season.
- The Capitals are 6-2-1 and have earned 13 points in their last nine games, which is tied for the third-most points in the NHL since Nov. 23.
- Since Nov. 23, the Capitals rank second in the NHL in goals against per game (2.22), third in penalty kill percentage (87.0%) and 12th in power play percentage (27.6%).
- Over their last nine games, 18 of the 19 skaters that have played for Washington have recorded a point, led by Alex Ovechkin’s 12 points (7g, 5a).
400 For Dowder
- Nic Dowd played in his 400th career game on Friday vs. Seattle.
- Dowd has played 269 of his 400 career games with Washington (also 91 GP w/ LAK, 40 GP w/ VAN).
- In 400 career games, Dowd has recorded 110 points (49g, 61a).
- Among active forwards that were drafted in the seventh round of the NHL Draft, Dowd ranks eighth in games played (399) and 13th in points (110) and plus/minus rating (+12).
- This season, Dowd has recorded eight points (4g, 4a) in 29 games.
- Dowd ranks first among Capitals forwards in shorthanded time on ice per game (2:11) and fourth on the team in hits (68). In addition, Dowd leads the Capitals and ranks tied for sixth in the NHL with 15 drawn penalties.
Clutch Carly
- John Carlson recorded an assist on Friday vs. Seattle, his second-straight game with an assist.
- Carlson recorded his assist in the third period. Carlson has recorded 11 (6g, 5a) of his 17 points (8g, 9a) this season in the third period
of games. - Seven of Carlson’s eight goals have come when the Capitals have trailed, with two being game-tying goals in games the Capitals won (Oct. 17 vs. VAN; Oct. 22 vs. LAK).
- Carlson’s eight goals this season rank tied for third among NHL defensemen.
- Carlson has recorded 10 points (6g, 4a) in his last 12 games.
Kuz Control
- Evgeny Kuznetsov recorded an assist on Friday vs. Seattle, extending his assist streak to four games (5a).
- With his assist on Friday, Kuznetsov tied Calle Johansson (361) for the seventh-most assists in franchise history. Kuznetsov passed Bengt Gustafsson (359) for the eighth-most assists in franchise history on Wednesday at Philadelphia.
- Kuznetsov leads the Capitals with 18 assists in 28 games this season.
- Kuznetsov is on pace for 52 assists this season. Should he maintain his scoring pace, it would mark Kuznetsov’s fifth career 50-assist season.
- Among Washington’s top-10 assists leaders all-time, Kuznetsov’s 0.58 assists per game rate ranks second, trailing only Nicklas Backstrom (0.71 A/GP).
- Since entering the NHL during the 2013-14 season, Kuznetsov has recorded 1.52 assists per 60 minutes at five-on-five. That’s the
fifth-highest rate in the NHL during that span (Connor McDavid: 1.77; Artemi Panarin: 1.69; Ryan Getzlaf: 1.54; Johnny Gaudreau:
1.53).
Special Teams - The Capitals have killed off 58 of 69 power plays (84.1 percent) over their last 24 games, dating back to Oct. 22. During that span, Washington’s 84.1 penalty kill percentage ranks third in the NHL.
- Through games played Dec. 9, the Capitals’ 80.7 penalty kill percentage ranks ninth in the NHL.
- Washington has drawn 128 penalties this season – the third most in the NHL – and their +22 net penalty differential ranks first in the NHL.
- The Capitals have had 103 power play opportunities this season, which are the second most in the NHL.
- Washington has scored a power play goal in eight of their last nine games, dating back to Nov. 23 (eight goals on 29 opportunities = 27.6%).
- The Capitals have scored a power play goal in five-straight games, marking their longest stretch of consecutive games with at least one power play goal since the 2020-21 season (five games: Jan. 24 – Feb. 1, 2021).
At The Dot
- The Capitals won 25 of 44 faceoffs (56.8%) on Friday vs. Seattle, marking the fifth-straight game in which Washington has won the majority of the faceoffs.
- Since Nov. 1, the Capitals have won 52.6 percent of their faceoffs, which is the eighth-highest win percentage in the NHL during that span.
- Since Nov. 1, all four of the Capitals’ centers have a faceoff win percentage above 50 percent (Lars Eller: 57.3 percent; Evgeny Kuznetsov: 52.6 percent; Dylan Strome: 52.3 percent; Nic Dowd: 52.4 percent).
Did You Know?
- The Capitals are 13-1-1 when scoring three or more goals this season.
- Washington’s 756 hits this season are the seventh most in the NHL, through games played Dec. 9.
- The Capitals rank sixth in the NHL in blocked shots (443), through games played Dec. 9
WINNIPEG JETS NOTES:
Scene Setter
Following a couple wins on the road, the Jets are back at Canada Life Centre for a three-game homestand, which starts on Sunday against the Washington Capitals. The Jets extended their winning streak to four games with a 5-2 win in St. Louis on Thursday and 3-1 victory in Chicago on Friday. Winnipeg’s homestand also includes the Vegas Golden Knights coming to Canada Life Centre on Tuesday and the Nashville Predators on Thursday.
Last Game
Winnipeg Jets 3
Chicago Blackhawks 1
Jets Scorers: Perfetti (6), Wheeler (9), Lowry (6)
Blackhawks Scorer: Raddysh (8)
Jets Goaltender: David Rittich (22 sv, 1 ga)
Blackhawks Goaltender: Arvid Soderblom (29 sv, 3 ga)
Jets PP: 1-for-4
Jets PK: 3-for-3
Recap: The Jets scored once in each period to beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-1 on Friday Night. Blake Wheeler scored on the power play in the second period for the eventual game-winning goal and led the Jets with six shots. Josh Morrissey had two assists for his fifth multi-assist game of the season. David Rittich made 22 saves for his fourth win in six starts this season.
Franchise Best Start
The Jets have won 18 games in the first 26 games of a season for the first time in franchise history… It’s two better than the 16 games the team won in the first 26 games in four consecutive seasons from 2017-2021… Winnipeg’s plus-23 goal differential is also the best in franchise history through 26 games and fourth in the NHL this season.
Reach For the Top
The Jets have climbed to fourth in the NHL with a .712 points percentage, which also ranks first in the Central Division and Western Conference… Winnipeg’s best points percentage in franchise history was in 2017-18 when the team finished at .695… The franchise has finished
a season with a points percentage better than .600 four times.
Goals, Goals, Goals
The Jets have scored five goals or more in six of their past eight games… Since Nov. 25, Winnipeg has been the NHL’s highest scoring team with 36 goals in eight games… The Jets have tallied five goals or more in eight games this season.
String ‘Em Together
With Friday’s win, Winnipeg is 10-6-1 in games following a win this season… After winning three consecutive games on four occasions this season, the Jets have won four games in a row for the first time this season… The Jets had a pair of four-game winning streaks last season, including their final four games of the season… The last time Winnipeg won five consecutive games was from Dec. 9-16/18.
Longest Jets Winning Streaks Since Relocation
Streak Streak Started Streak Ended G GA Diff
7 2017-03-26 2017-04-08 25 16 9
6 2018-03-15 2018-03-27 23 15 8
5 2018-12-09 2018-12-16 27 15 12
5 2018-03-31 2018-04-07 20 12 8
5 2015-03-14 2015-03-23 15 5 10
5 2015-01-13 2015-01-21 21 8 13
5 2013-04-06 2013-04-18 22 10 12
Facing Eastward
This is Winnipeg’s eighth game against an Eastern Conference opponent this season, having gone 4-3-0 so far… The Jets are in the midst of playing five of 10 games against an Eastern Conference team… Pierre-Luc Dubois has a team leading 11 points (4G, 7A) in seven games against the Eastern Conference this season.
Busy Time of Year
Winnipeg plays 16 games in 30 days from Dec. 2-31… The stretch includes three back-to-backs… The Jets only consecutive days off in December are from Dec. 24-26 for the Christmas break… The Jets only played eight games in December last season due to COVID-related postponements, going 4-3-1.
PK Prowess
The Jets are 17-for-18 (94.4%) on the penalty kill in their past six games and haven’t allowed a power play goal against in eight of their past 12 contests… Winnipeg is third in the NHL this season with a penalty kill clicking at 84.5%… The Jets have played 118:54 on the penalty kill this season, which is fourth fewest in the NHL… The last time the Jets had a penalty kill better than 82% was in 2013-14 when they finished the season at 83.2%… The franchise record for penalty kill percentage in a season is 85.2%, which occurred in Atlanta during the 2003-04 season.
On The Power Play
The Jets are 20-for-85 (23.5%) on the power play through the first 26 games of the season… Winnipeg is 9-for-24 (37.5%) with the extra man in the past seven games, having scored a power play goal in seven consecutive contests… Of the nine goals scored during the seven-game power play goal streak, Blake Wheeler has three, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Mark Scheifele have two, and Kyle Connor and Nate Schmidt have one… The franchise record for consecutive power play goals is 11 games (Oct. 14-Nov. 9/18)… The Jets have scored 15 of their 20 power play goals in their past 16 games, going 15-for-50 (30.0%)… Josh Morrissey has assisted six of the nine goals… Dubois (5G, 6A), Connor (2G, 9A), and Morrissey (1G, 10A) lead the Jets with 11 points on the power play this season.
Home Comforts
The Jets are 10-3-0 at Canada Life Centre to start the season, becoming the third team in the NHL to win 10 games at home this season… Winnipeg has won 14 of their past 18 home games dating back to last season… The 24 goals Winnipeg has allowed on home ice this season is the second fewest in the NHL… The Jets are outscoring their opponents 3.3-1.8 at home this season and have scored at least four goals in eight of their 13 games at Canada Life Centre this season… Pierre-Luc Dubois (6G, 11A) and Kyle Connor (7G, 10A) lead the team with 17 points in 13 home games… Connor Hellebuyck has been stellar on home ice this season, going 9-2-0 with a 1.36 goals-against average, .956 save percentage and three shutouts… Winnipeg is 239-152-36 all-time at Canada Life Centre and have posted a .500 record or better at home in six consecutive seasons.
On the Road
With four consecutive wins away from Canada Life Centre, the Jets are 8-4-1 on the road this season… Winnipeg hasn’t lost consecutive games in regulation on the road this season… Defenceman Josh Morrissey (1G, 15A) leads the Jets in scoring on the road with 16 points, while Pierre-Luc Dubois has a team leading seven goals… Winnipeg’s first 15 road games are against Western Conference teams… The Jets were 16-17-8 on the road last season.
Mo Consistency
Josh Morrissey leads the team in scoring with 30 points (5G, 25A) in 26 games… He is one assist from matching the career best 26 assists he had in 2019-20, which he did 65 games… Morrissey is the fastest defenceman in franchise history to reach 25 assists and 30 points in a season… He has a point in 24 of his 26 games this season and hasn’t gone consecutive games without a point… Morrissey is tied for third in the NHL among defencemen in scoring, while his 25 assists rank tied for first among NHL defencemen… Morrissey is on pace for 79 assists and 95 points this season… He had a career best 12 goals and 37 points in 79 games last season… Morrissey is on pace to become the first defenceman to lead the team in scoring in franchise history… The franchise record for points by a defenceman in a season is 56, which Dustin Byfuglien did in 2013-14… Byfuglien (4 times), Toby Enstrom (twice), and Jacob Trouba (once) are the only defencemen in franchise history to post 50 points or more in a season.
Super Six
Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has won six consecutive starts… He has a 2.00 goals-against average and .942 save percentage in the six games… It’s the second longest winning streak of his career, three behind the nine consecutive games he won from Mar. 15-Apr. 7/18… Tuesday’s game against Florida marked the sixth time this season he faced 40 shots or more in a game, improving his record to 5-0-1 with a 2.14 goals-against average and .949 save percentage this season when facing at least 40 shots.
In Tandem
Connor Hellebuyck and David Rittich have combined for a .922 save percentage this season, which ranks second in the NHL in team save percentage… The Jets are one of three teams in the NHL with a team save percentage better than .920… Rittich stopped 22 of 23 shots on Friday against Chicago for a .957 save percentage, which is his best in a game this season.
600
Mark Scheifele had his third two-assist game of the season on Thursday to reach 600 career points, which includes 245 goals… Scheifele is the third player in franchise history to reach 600 points and he’s five goals shy of joining Kovalchuk (328) and Blake Wheeler (254) as the only players in franchise history to reach 250 goals.
The Rookie
Cole Perfetti is third in NHL rookie scoring with 18 points (6G, 12A) in 26 games… Perfetti could become the fifth rookie in franchise history to post 50 points in a season, previously done by Dany Heatley (67 – 2001-02), Patrik Laine (64 – 2016-17), Kyle Connor (57 – 2017-18), and Ilya Kovalchuk (51 – 2001-02).
10 in 10
During the past 10 games, the Jets have five players averaging a point per game or better… Pierre-Luc Dubois (6G, 9A) and Blake Wheeler (5G, 10A) each lead the team with 15 points in the 10 games, while Josh Morrissey has 14 points (4G, 10A)… Kyle Connor has 13 points, including being tied with Dubois with a team best six goals, while Cole Perfetti has 10 points (5G, 4A).
Extra Time
The Jets are 6-1 in overtime this season… Winnipeg’s seven OT games are tied for the second most in the NHL this season and the Jets are the only team with six wins in overtime… Five of Winnipeg’s six OT winners have come in the first two minutes of the extra session… Mark Scheifele holds the franchise record with 12 OT winning goals… The six wins is one better than the five overtime wins Winnipeg had last season in 12 games decided in OT… During the past three seasons, Winnipeg is 17-9 in games decided in overtime.
Goal-Games
Seven of Winnipeg’s past nine games have been decided by three goals or more… The Jets have notched five of their past six wins by at least three goals… Winnipeg’s previous four wins came by one goal… Fifteen of Winnipeg’s 26 games this season have been decided by three goals or more, with the Jets going 9-6.
Zeros
The Jets have registered three shutouts this season, which is tied for first in the NHL… Winnipeg’s first two shutouts were by 4-0 scores (Oct. 24 vs. STL and Nov. 5 vs. CHI), while the Nov. 29 5-0 shutout against Colorado gives the Jets all three shutout wins by at least four goals… The Jets had five shutouts last season, which is two shy of the franchise record.
Jets vs. WSH Notes
Season Series
The Jets and Capitals play twice this season, with both games happening in December… Winnipeg plays in Washington on Dec. 23.
Recent History
The Jets lost both games to the Capitals last season and are 5-4-4 in the past 13 meetings… The home team has won eight of the past nine games between the two squads… Winnipeg hasn’t won consecutive games against Washington since 2013.
In Winnipeg
The Jets are 5-2-0 in the past seven games against the Caps at Canada Life Centre, which includes a pair of shutouts.
Player Notes
Blake Wheeler leads the Jets in career scoring against Washington with 19 points (5G, 14A) in 37 games.. Mark Scheifele has 14 points (8G, 6A) in 16 games against the Capitals, including nine points (5G, 4A) in his past seven games… Connor Hellebuyck is 4-3-2 in nine career starts against Washington with a 2.19 goals-against average and .929 save percentage.
Jets vs. WSH Past 10 Games
Date Opp Res G GA S PPO PPG PIM SA PPOA PPGA PIMA
11/01/2016 Was L 2 3 45 4 0 0.0 8 27 3 0
11/03/2016 @Was OTL 3 4 27 2 0 0.0 12 32 5 1
02/13/2018 Was W 4 3 44 3 0 0.0 4 27 2 0
03/12/2018 @Was OTL 2 3 28 3 0 0.0 8 43 4 1
11/14/2018 Was W 3 1 24 3 1 33.3 6 28 3 0
03/10/2019 @Was L 1 3 34 5 0 0.0 4 18 2 0
02/25/2020 @Was SOL 3 4 33 3 0 0.0 7 37 1 0
02/27/2020 Was W 3 0 32 3 0 0.0 6 34 3 0
12/17/2021 Was L 2 5 42 3 1 33.3 4 39 2 0
01/18/2022 @Was OTL 3 4 33 4 1 25.0 4 31 2 0
Winnipeg Jets Recent Transactions
Date Transaction
Dec. 7 Reassigned F – Dominic Toninato to the Manitoba Moose (AHL)
Dec. 8 Activated D – Logan Stanley from injured reserve
