SEATTLE KRAKEN NOTES:
LAST GAME
Montreal 4 at Seattle 2
Goals: Wright, McCann
Goalie: Jones (12/16)
PP: 0/3 PK: 4/4 Shots: Montreal 16 – Seattle 33
CURRENT INJURIES – (Man Games Lost: 70)
Chris Driedger (ACL; IR) – 25 games – month-to-month
Joonas Donskoi (upper body; IR) – 25 games – day-to-day
TRANSACTIONS IN PAST 7 DAYS
Dec. 5, 2022: Recalled F Shane Wright from Coachella Valley (AHL)
Dec. 6, 2022: Loaned F Shane Wright to Team Canada for the IIHF World Junior Championship
UPCOMING GAMES
Sunday, Dec. 11: Seattle at Florida, 3 p.m. PT
Tuesday, Dec. 13: Seattle at Tampa Bay, 4 p.m. PT
Thursday, Dec. 15: Seattle at Carolina, 4 p.m. PT
Sunday, Dec. 18: Winnipeg at Seattle, 5 p.m. PT
Tuesday, Dec. 20: St. Louis at Seattle, 7 p.m. PT
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
• Tonight’s game marks the second and final meeting between Seattle and Washington this season. A win tonight would give the Kraken a season sweep over the Capitals, having previously defeated them on Dec. 1 in Seattle, a 3-2 overtime win.
o It would mark the Kraken’s second sweep of the season, having previously defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in both of the teams’ two matchups this season.
• Entering play Thursday, the Kraken ranked sixth in the NHL with a .660 points percentage this season.
• Justin Schultz has totaled 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in his last nine games, dating back to Nov. 17 vs. the Rangers.
• Jared McCann has nine points (seven goals, two assists) in his last nine games played.
• The Kraken were one of six teams (Arizona, Edmonton, Florida, NY Islanders Winnipeg) this season to have three different defensemen score at least three goals entering play Thursday. Jamie Oleksiak (four), Vince Dunn (four) and Justin Schultz (three) have all scored at least three times for the Kraken this year.
o Despite only playing in 20 games this season, Oleksiak enters tonight’s matchup just two goals shy of tying his career high of six that he set during the 2020-21 season while playing for the Dallas Stars.
• Martin Jones’ next win will surpass his 2021-22 season total (12), despite playing in only 19 games so far this season.
o Jones’ 12 wins were tied for the fourth-most in the NHL this season entering play Thursday.
• The Kraken are outshooting their opponents 604-517 at five-on-five this season. Their 53.9 percent shot share was good for fifth in the NHL entering play Thursday according to Natural Stat Trick.
NO CAP
• Former Capital Andre Burakovsky has five points (one goal, four assists) in five career games against Washington.
• Yanni Gourde has three points (two goals, one assist) in his last three games against Washington.
• Adam Larsson scored his first NHL goal on Nov. 11, 2011 against the Capitals.
• Jaden Schwartz has 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in 15 career games against the Capitals. Washington is one of four teams (Boston, Edmonton, Toronto) that Schwartz has averaged a point per game or better against in his career.
• Daniel Sprong has an assist in each of his last two games against Washington.
ROAD WARRIORS
• The Kraken have posted an 8-1-1 record while playing on the road this season and are one of only two teams (New Jersey) to have only one regulation loss on the road this year.
o The Kraken’s eight road wins are just three wins shy of matching their total from last season (11) despite only playing in 10 road games so far this year.
• Seattle enters tonight’s game having won a franchise-best six consecutive road games. The Kraken are one of only four teams (New Jersey, Toronto, Vegas) to win at least six consecutive games on the road this season.
o A win tonight would make Seattle the second team this season to win at least seven consecutive road games (New Jersey).
o The team’s current six-game road win streak was the second-longest active streak entering play Thursday (New Jersey; 11).
• Despite playing the second-fewest games on the road this season (10), the Kraken were tied for fifth in the NHL in regulation wins on the road (seven) and ranked second in road points percentage (.850) entering play Thursday.
• The team’s 4.50 goals-per-game played on the road led the NHL entering play Thursday.
• The Kraken have five players playing at a point-per-game pace on the road this season: Daniel Sprong (1.17), Matty Beniers (1.10), Andre Burakovsky (1.00), Jordan Eberle (1.00) and Jared McCann (1.00).
o Beniers is the Kraken’s leading scorer when playing on the road this season, totaling 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 10. He has recorded at least a point in each of his last three road games, and if extends his point streak tonight it would give him points in four consecutive road games for the first time in his career.
• Andre Burakovsky (four goals, one assist), Jordan Eberle (one goal, five assists) and Adam Larsson (four assists) each enter tonight’s game riding a three-game road point streak dating back to Nov. 25 at Vegas.
o A goal or an assist tonight would give Larsson points in four consecutive road games for the first time in his career.
• Yanni Gourde (two goals, five assists) and Alex Wennberg (four goals, three assists) have each recorded seven points in their last six games played on the road dating back to Nov. 1 at Calgary.
• Justin Schultz has six assists in his last five road games.
FAMILIAR FOES
• Seattle’s roster houses four players that formerly played for the Washington Capitals: Andre Burakovsky, Philipp Grubauer, Justin Schultz and Daniel Sprong.
• Andre Burakovsky was selected by Washington with the 23rd-overall pick of the 2013 NHL Draft and went on to play for the Capitals for five seasons (2014-15 to 2018-19). He totaled 145 points (62 goals, 83 assists) in 328 regular-season games and added 18 points (nine goals, nine assists) in 56 playoff games.
• Philipp Grubauer was selected by Washington in the fourth round (112th overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft. He played for the Capitals for parts of six seasons (2012-13 to 2017-18), posting a 43-31-11 record with a .923 save percentage and a 2.29 goals-against average.
• Burakovsky and Grubauer both won the 2018 Stanley Cup with the Capitals, the team’s first-ever championship.
• Daniel Sprong played for the Capitals for parts of two seasons (2020-21 to 2021-22) prior to being traded to the Kraken. He recorded 34 points (21 goals, 13 assists) in 89 regular-season games for Washington.
• Justin Schultz played two seasons (2020-21 to 2021-22) for the Capitals prior to signing with the Kraken as a free agent. He posted 50 points (seven goals, 43 assists) in 120 regular-season games and three points (one goal, two assists) in 11 playoff games.
• Additionally, Video Coach Tim Ohashi was a video analyst for the Capitals from 2015-16 to 2019-20.
BENNY AND THE VETS
• Since Nov. 13 vs. Winnipeg, forwards Matty Beniers, Jordan Eberle and Jared McCann have played on a line together, totaling 106:28 of ice time at five-on-five together during that span.
• According to Natural Stat Trick, since Nov. 13 when that line is on the ice during five-on-five play, the Kraken are outscoring their opponents 10-2, outshooting them 58-41 and have 53 scoring chances to their opponents’ 34.
• Additionally, according to MoneyPuck.com, the Beniers/Eberle/McCann line ranks 13th in the NHL in expected goals for percentage (60.8) among forward lines that have played at least 100 minutes together.
• One of Beniers, Eberle or McCann have scored in each of the last 10 games the Kraken have played dating back to Nov. 13.
• In the Kraken’s last game on Dec. 6 vs. Montreal, the trio outshot the Canadiens 7-2, out chanced them 6-1 and owned a 75 percent Corsi rating.
WINNING WAYS
• The Kraken have posted an 12-3-1 record in their last 16 games played dating back to Oct. 29 vs. Pittsburgh. Their 12 wins and .781 points percentage during that span were tied for third in the NHL entering play Thursday and their 25 points ranked fourth.
• The Kraken are averaging 3.75 goals per game since Oct. 29, which ranked sixth in the NHL entering play Thursday.
• The team is outscoring its opponents 60-46 in its last 16 games played dating back to Oct. 29. Seattle’s plus-14 goal differential ranked fifth in the NHL during that span entering play Thursday.
• Seattle is currently ranked second in the Pacific Division with 33 points in 25 games played. They trail only the Vegas Golden Knights (39 points) for the division lead.
• The Kraken have a 7-2-1 record in their last 10 games played. Entering play Thursday, they were one of nine teams in the NHL to win at least seven of their last 10 games.
CHEERS TO BENIERS
• Matty Beniers led all NHL rookies this season in goals (10) and points (21), and his 11 assists ranked fourth entering play Thursday.
o Beniers’ 10 goals are ranked second on Seattle’s roster, and his 11 assists and 21 points are good for fifth and third, respectively.
• He enters tonight’s game having totaled 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in his last eight games played, dating back to Nov. 19 vs. Los Angeles. According to NHL Stats, it’s the first time a rookie has had at least 12 points over an eight-game span since Vancouver’s Elias Pettersson had 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in eight games from Dec. 4 to 18, 2018.
• Beniers scored the game-winning goal in the Kraken’s game on Dec. 1, a 3-2 overtime win against the Washington Capitals. It was the first overtime goal of his career and his second game-winning goal of the season (Last: Nov. 1 at Calgary).
o Beniers’ overtime goal came seven seconds into overtime, the fastest overtime goal in franchise history. According to NHL Stats, it was also the fastest goal by a rookie from the start of a regular-season overtime in NHL history. Walter Jackson (0:08 on March 7, 1933) held the previous record.
o Entering play Thursday, Beniers is one of two rookies (Fabian Zetterlund) to score an overtime goal this season and is one of three rookies (Pontus Holmberg, Shane Pinto) to score two game-winning goals this year.
• Entering play Thursday, Beniers was the only rookie this season to have two three-point games, doing so on Nov. 23 vs. San Jose and on Nov. 27 at Anaheim.
• Beniers is also averaging 17:14 of ice time per game this season, which is the second-most among rookie forwards (Noah Cates; 18:04) and ranks fourth among Kraken forwards.
• The 20-year-old is currently on pace to finish the season with 33 goals, 36 assists and 69 points. 34 goals would be the most by a rookie since Patrik Laine and Auston Matthews had 36 and 40 goals, respectively, during their rookie season in 2016-17.
EBS AND FLOW
• Jordan Eberle enters tonight’s game having recorded 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) in his last 20 games played.
• His 22 points and 16 assists this season are both the second-most on Seattle’s roster, trailing Andre Burakovsky for the team lead.
• Among players from the 2008 NHL Draft class, Eberle ranked third in scoring this season entering play Thursday, trailing only San Jose’s Erik Karlsson (35 points) and Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos (30 points).
o Eberle’s 617 career points also ranked third among 2008 draftees, again trailing Stamkos (1,002) and Karlsson (695).
o Eberle was originally selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2008 NHL Draft. He is one of 28 players from the ’08 class that are still playing in the NHL, a list that includes Kraken teammate Justin schultz.
• The 32-year-old is currently on pace to finish the season with 20 goals, 52 assists and 72 points. 52 assists would be the most of his career, surpassing his current career high of 42 that he set in 2011-12 while playing for the Oilers.
o It would mark the first time in his career that he would reach the 50-assist plateau.
o 72 points would be the second-most of his career, four points shy of his career-best 76 points that he had in 2011-12. It would mark just the second time in his career that he would have at least 70 points in a season.
• Eberle leads all Kraken skaters in career goals (268), assists (349), points (617) and games played (883).
ON THE DL
• This season defensemen Vince Dunn and Adam Larsson have played 409:16 together during five-on-five, starting every game of the season on a pair together.
• According to Natural Stat Trick, the Kraken have scored 25 five-on-five goals when Dunn and Larsson are on the ice together. Only New Jersey’s Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler have been on the ice for more of their team’s five-on-five goals (27).
• The pair’s plus-11 goal differential at five-on-five is tied with Vegas’ Brayden McNabb and Shea Theodore for the league lead among defensive pairs this season according to Natural Stat Trick.
• Additionally, according to Natural Stat Trick, the Dunn/Larsson pairing ranks eighth in the NHL with 18.7 expected goals.
• Dunn is pacing to finish the year with 13 goals, 39 assists and 52 points, all of which would surpass his current career bests (12 goals, 28 assists, 35 points).
YOU’RE A BURK
• Andre Burakovsky enters tonight’s game leading the Kraken with 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists) this season. It is the first time in his career that he has played a point-per-game pace through his first 25 games of the season.
• Burakovsky has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in his last seven games played dating back to Nov. 23 vs. Winnipeg.
• According to NHL Stats, Burakovsky ranks third in scoring among veteran players who are in their first season with a new team. He trails Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk (35 points) and Los Angeles’ Kevin Fiala (30 points).
• The nine-year vet is currently on pace to finish the season with 30 goals, 55 assists and 85 points, all of which would set career highs for the forward.
• According to Natural Stat Trick, Burakovsky has a 54.5 percent Corsi rating this season, which ranks fourth among Kraken skaters that have played in at least two games.
SETTING THE PACE
• With 25 games played this year, the Kraken are roughly 30 percent of the way through their second season. Heading into tonight’s matchup with the Capitals, 10 of the 19 veteran skaters on the Kraken’s active roster are on pace to surpass their career highs in scoring.
• Will Borgen, Andre Burakovsky, Vince Dunn, Morgan Geekie and Daniel Sprong are all on pace to set new career highs in goals, assists and points.
o Borgen has already tied his career high with two goals this season.
• Karson Kuhlman (five), Jared McCann (43) and Jamie Oleksiak (15) are all on pace to finish the 2022-23 season with a new career high in goals.
o If the pace holds, it would mark the first time in his career that McCann would surpassed the 40-goal threshold.
• Oliver Bjorkstrand (33), Jordan Eberle (52), Justin Schultz (43), Carson Soucy (13) and Brandon Tanev (23) are all pacing to finish the year with new career highs in assists.
• Karson Kuhlman (11), Jared McCann (61), Jamie Oleksiak (26), Justin Schutlz (52) and Brandon Tanev (36) are all playing at a pace to surpass their career highs in points.
IT’S NOT OVER ‘TIL IT’S OVER
• The Kraken have won four overtime games this season: Nov. 17 vs. NY Rangers, Nov. 19 vs. Los Angeles, Nov. 29 at Los Angeles and Dec. 1 vs. Washington.
• Entering play Thursday, only the Winnipeg Jets (six) and the Tampa Bay Lightning (five) had won more overtime games this season.
o Last year the Kraken won only one overtime game – Jan. 27, 2022 at Pittsburgh (Larsson). The team was 1-5 in 3-on3 overtime last season.
• Four different players have scored in overtime for the Kraken this season: Matty Beniers, Andre Burakovsky, Jordan Eberle and Justin Schutlz. Entering play Thursday, only the Winnipeg Jets (five) have had more players score an overtime goal.
SECOND TIME AROUND
• The Kraken enter tonight’s game with an 15-7-3 record, which is good for a .660 points percentage and 33 points.
• The team won their 15th game of the season on Dec. 1 vs. Washington, their 23rd game played of the season. Last year, it took the Kraken 46 games and 113 days from the start of the season to reach 15 wins, earning their 15th win of the season on Feb. 2, 2022, a 3-0 win at the New York Islanders, the first shutout in franchise history.
• It also took the Kraken 46 games to reach 33 points last season. This year, the Kraken earned their 33rd point of the season in their 23rd game played, a 3-2 OT win against the Capitals on Dec.1.
• Thursday, Dec. 8 marked the 58th day of the 2022-23 NHL season, roughly 30 percent of the way through. Compared to the first 58 days of the 2021-22 regular season, the Kraken have won six more games, earned 13 more points and have improved their points percentage by 0.275.
o The Kraken’s 0.275 points percentage improvement from the first 58 days of the 2021-22 season to the first 58 days of the 2022-23 season ranks second the NHL, trailing only the New Jersey Devils (0.306).
o Their six extra wins are the sixth-best mark in the league. Only the New Jersey Devils (plus-11), New York Islanders (plus-11), Boston Bruins (plus-eight) and Montreal Canadiens (plus-seven) have a better year-over-year win improvement.
o The team’s 13 more points through the first 58 days of the 2022-23 season is tied with Montreal for the fourth-best points improvement, trailing the New Jersey Devils (18), Boston Bruins (15) and New York Islanders (15).
• The Kraken have been at or above a .500 points percentage the entire 2022-23 season. They did not achieve that mark past the first three games of the 2021-22 season.
• The team’s 15 wins this season have come against the Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings (3), Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins (2), San Jose Sharks, Vegas Golden Knights and Washington Capitals. Eight of those 12 teams made the playoffs last season.
WASHINGTON CAPITALS NOTES:
LAST GAME
Washington 4, Philadelphia Flyers 1
December 7, 2022 * Wells Fargo Center * Philadelphia, PA
Shots: WSH: 27; PHI: 30
Power Plays: WSH: 1/4; PHI: 1/3
Three Stars: 1. Strome (WSH), 2. Lindgren (WSH), 3. Hayes (PHI)
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Loaned forward Connor McMichael to AHL Hershey, 11/20
INJURIES/ILLNESSES
Nicklas Backstrom: 10/12-12/7 (28 games)
Carl Hagelin: 10/12-12/7 (28 games)
Tom Wilson: 10/12-12/7 (28 games)
Connor Brown: 10/20/22-12/7/22 (24 games)
Beck Malenstyn: 11/3/22-12/7/22 (17 games)
Dmitry Orlov: 11/7/22-12/7/22 (15 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: 157
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Dec. 11, 7 p.m. ET at Winnipeg (NBCSW, 106.7 The Fan/Caps Radio 24/7)
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)
TONIGHT’S GAME
The Capitals host the Seattle Kraken on Friday at Capital One Arena for the second of two meetings between the teams this season. The Capitals fell to the Kraken 3-2 in overtime on Dec. 1 at Climate Pledge Arena. Martin Fehervary and Conor Sheary scored in regulation for Washington, while Alex Ovechkin recorded two assists. Washington is 1-1-1 all-time and 1-0-0 at home versus Seattle. The Capitals enter Friday’s contest on a two-game winning streak.
HOME vs. SEATTLE KRAKEN
Record Goals For Goals Against Streak
1-0-0 5 2 1 WSH win (3/5/22)
CAPITALS vs. KRAKEN ALL-TIME (CAREER TOTALS)
Games Goals Assists Points
Gustafsson (4) Sheary/Aube-Kubel (3) Ovechkin (4) Ovechkin (6)
Milano (4) Ovechkin/Wilson (2) Kuznetsov/Wilson/Brown (2) Sheary/Wilson (4)
Multiple Players (3) Fehervary/Orlov (1) Multiple Players (1) Aube-Kubel (3)
POINT STREAKS
Dylan Strome – 3 game point streak (1g, 3a), 3 game assist streak (3a)
Evgeny Kuznetsov – 3 game point streak (0g, 4a), 3 game assist streak (4a)
T.J. Oshie – 2 game point streak (2g), 2 game goal streak (2g)
TOP CAPS FACTS
Home Sweet Home
- The Capitals return to Capital One Arena on Friday following a season-long six-game road trip. The Capitals went 3-2-1 on the trip, collecting seven out of a possible 12 points.
- Washington has a record of 7-4-1 at home this season (.625 point percentage) and have won two-straight games at Capital One Arena.
- The Capitals are allowing 2.83 goals against at home, which is the 11th-lowest rate in the NHL.
- Washington’s 86.2 penalty kill percentage at home ranks fifth in the NHL, while their 28.2 power play percentage ranks 11th. 25 Years at Capital One Arena
- Monday marked the 25th anniversary of the Capitals’ first game at Capital One Arena (originally called MCI Center). The Capitals defeated the Florida Panthers, 3-2, in overtime (Jeff Toms scored the game-winner 3:32 into the overtime period) in their inaugural game on Dec. 5, 1997.
- The Capitals have a record of 539-283-34-90 (1,202 points, .636 point percentage) in 946 regular-season games at Capital One Arena. Washington has the fourth-most home wins, the third-most home points and the third-highest point percentage (excluding Vegas) in the NHL since Dec. 5, 1997.
- The Capitals have scored 2,893 regular-season goals at Capital One Arena. Alex Ovechkin (422 in 716 GP), Nicklas Backstrom (155 in 594 GP) and Peter Bondra (130 in 263 GP) are the top-three goal scorers in the arena’s history. In addition, Washington has scored 231 goals in 92 playoff games at Capital One Arena.
- Capitals players have scored 36 hat tricks during the regular season and three hat tricks in the playoffs at Capital One Arena. Alex Ovechkin (15), Peter Bondra (6) and Alexander Semin (5) have the most regular season hat tricks at Capital One Arena.
- 24 Capitals goaltenders have earned a win at Capital One Arena, with the winningest goaltenders being Olie Kolzig (179 in 364 GP), Braden Holtby (177 in 286 GP) and Michal Neuvirth (41 in 75 GP).
- 308 different players have played for the Capitals at Capital One Arena (281 skaters; 27 goaltenders).
- A total of 17,400,952 fans have attended Capitals’ regular season and playoff games at Capital One Arena.
Information courtesy of NHL Stats
Approaching 800
- Alex Ovechkin scored two empty net goals on Wednesday at Philadelphia, marking the 50th and 51st empty net goals of his career. Only Wayne Gretzky (56) has more empty net goals in NHL history.
- It marked the second game in Ovechkin’s career in which he scored two empty net goals (also Nov. 30, 2019 at Detroit).
- Ovechkin is five goals shy of becoming the third player in NHL history to score 800 career goals and seven goals shy of passing Gordie Howe (801) for second on the NHL’s all-time goals list.
- Ovechkin (currently at 159 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 95 times since – an average of 0.60 goals-per-game over that span, a rate just shy of 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 (499).
- Ovechkin is one game-opening goal shy of passing Jaromir Jagr (135) for the most in NHL history.
- Ovechkin has recorded 27 points (15g, 12a) in 28 games this season, which leads the Capitals. Ovechkin has recorded 13 points (7g, 6a) in his last 10 games, which includes six multi-point efforts during that span.
- Ovechkin is on pace to score 43 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
Clutch Carly
- John Carlson recorded two assists on Wednesday at Philadelphia, marking his fifth multi-point game of the season and the 139th of his career. Carlson is tied with Victor Hedman for the fourth-most multi-point games among active defensemen (Brent Burns: 175; Erik Karlsson: 168; Kris Letang: 151).
- Carlson recorded both of his assists in the third period, including the primary assist on Dylan Strome’s game-winning goal. Carlson’s three game-winning assists this season rank tied for first on the Capitals (Erik Gustafsson, Alex Ovechkin, Strome: 3).
- Carlson has scored six of his eight goals this season in the third period. In addition, Carlson has recorded four of his eight assists in
the third period. - 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 nine points (6g, 3a) in his last 11 games.
Kuz Control
- Evgeny Kuznetsov recorded two assists on Wednesday at Philadelphia, marking his 359th and 360th career assists.
- With his two-assist performance, Kuznetsov passed Bengt Gustafsson (359) for the eighth-most assists in franchise history.
- Kuznetsov now sits two assists shy of passing Calle Johansson (361) for the seventh-most assists in franchise history.
- 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: 1.68; Ryan Getzlaf: 1.54; Johnny Gaudreau: 1.54).
Special Teams
- The Capitals have killed off 56 of 67 power plays (83.6 percent) over their last 23 games, dating back to Oct. 22. During that span, Washington’s 83.6 penalty kill percentage ranks third in the NHL.
- Through games played Dec. 7, the Capitals’ 80.3 penalty kill percentage ranks ninth in the NHL.
- Washington has drawn 125 penalties this season – the third most in the NHL – and their +21 net penalty differential ranks tied for first in the NHL.
- The Capitals have had 99 power play opportunities this season, which is tied for the third most in the NHL.
- Washington has scored a power play goal in seven of their last eight games, dating back to Nov. 23 (seven goals on 25 opportunities = 28.0%).
- The Capitals have scored a power play goal in four-straight games, marking their longest stretch of consecutive games with at least one power play goal this season.
Chuck Stops Here
- Charlie Lindgren stopped 29 of 30 shots faced on Wednesday at Philadelphia, including all 21 shots faced at five-on-five.
- Over his last two starts, Lindgren is 2-0-0 with a 1.51 goals-against average and a .950 save percentage.
- The Capitals have earned at least one point in six of the eight games Lindgren has started this season (4-2-2).
- In 39 career games, Lindgren has a record of 19-15-4 with a 2.82 goals-against average, a .911 save percentage with two shutouts.
Strome Cookin’
- Dylan Strome recorded two points (1g, 1a) assist on Wednesday at Philadelphia, including the game-winning goal in the third period.
- It marked his sixth multi-point game of the season. Strome’s six multi-point games are the second most on the team, trailing only Alex Ovechkin (8).
- Strome has recorded 22 points (6g, 16a) in 28 games this season. Strome ranks first on the Capitals in primary assists (11) and second in assists, points and power-play points (2g-9a—11p).
At The Dot
- The Capitals won 30 of 56 faceoffs (53.6%) on Wednesday at Philadelphia, marking the fourth-straight game in which Washington has won the majority of the faceoffs.
- Since Nov. 1, the Capitals have won 52.4 percent of their faceoffs, which is tied for the eighth-highest win percentage in the NHL during that span.
- Lars Eller has won 56.9 percent of his faceoffs since Nov. 1, which ranks tied for 10th in the NHL during that span (min. 200 faceoffs taken).
- Since Nov. 1, all four of the Capitals’ centers have a faceoff win percentage above 50 percent (Dylan Strome: 53.2 percent; Evgeny Kuznetsov: 52.1 percent; Nic Dowd: 51.5 percent).
Did You Know?
- The Capitals are 12-1-1 when scoring three or more goals this season.
- The Capitals have a record of 6-1-2 against Pacific Division opponents this season.
- Washington’s 737 hits this season are the sixth most in the NHL, through games played Dec. 7.
- The Capitals rank seventh in the NHL in blocked shots (423), through games played Dec. 7.
- Nic Dowd leads the Capitals and ranks tied for seventh in the NHL with 14 drawn penalties this season.
