Friday, March 29, 2024
Fantasy Guru - Baseball

NHL Preview: Washington Capitals (21-13-6) at Columbus Blue Jackets (11-23-2)

WASHINGTON CAPITALS NOTES:

LAST GAME
Washington 4, Buffalo Sabres 5 (OT)
January 3, 2023 * Capital One Arena * Washington, D.C.
Shots: WSH: 32; BUF: 29
Power Plays: WSH: 0/1; BUF: 1/3
Three Stars: 1. Thompson (BUF), 2. Ovechkin (WSH), 3. Milano (WSH)

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Loaned defenseman Lucas Johansen to AHL Hershey, 12/30
Loaned forward Beck Malenstyn to AHL Hershey, 12/28
Recalled defenseman Lucas Johansen to AHL Hershey, 12/27

INJURIES/ILLNESSES
Nicklas Backstrom: 10/12/22-1/3/23 (40 games)
Carl Hagelin: 10/12/22-1/3/23 (40 games)
Tom Wilson: 10/12/22-1/3/23 (40 games)
Connor Brown: 10/20/22-1/3/23 (36 games)
John Carlson: 10/31/22-11/9/22, 12/27/22-1/3/23 (10 games)
Dmitry Orlov: 11/7/22-12/9/22 (16 games)
Erik Gustafsson: 12/11/22 (1 game)
Washington Capitals: Media Notes
Lars Eller: 12/13/22 (1 game)
Sonny Milano: 12/15/22 (1 game)
Darcy Kuemper: 12/5/22-12/17/22 (7 games)
Nic Dowd: 12/17/22 (1 game)
Hunter Shepard: 12/17/22 (1 game)
Alex Alexeyev: 12/11/22-12/19/22 (5 games)
Beck Malenstyn: 11/3/22-12/27/22 (26 games)
Martin Fehervary: 12/5/22-12/29/22 (12 games)
T.J. Oshie: 10/31/22-11/19/22, 12/19/22-12/31/22 (17 games)
Man Games Lost: 254

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Jan. 6, 7 p.m. ET vs. Nashville (NBCSW, 106.7 The Fan/Caps Radio 24/7)
Jan. 8, 5 p.m. ET vs. Columbus (NBCSW, 106.7 The Fan/Caps Radio 24/7)
Jan. 11, 7 p.m. ET at Philadelphia (NBCSW+, 106.7 The Fan/Caps Radio 24/7)
Jan. 14, 7 p.m. ET vs. Philadelphia (NBCSW, 106.7 The Fan/Caps Radio 24/7)
Jan. 16, 7:30 p.m. ET at New York Islanders (NBCSW, 106.7 The Fan/Caps Radio 24/7)

TONIGHTā€™S GAME
The Capitals visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday at Nationwide Arena for the first of four meetings between the teams this season. The Capitals enter Thursdayā€™s game on a season long eight-game point streak (6-0-2). Washington is 28-13-1-5 all-time vs. Columbus and 4-1-0 in their last five games against the Blue Jackets dating back to the 2019-20 season. In 2021-22, Washington won the season series with Columbus 3-1-0, winning both games at Nationwide Arena. Alex Ovechkin (3g, 3a) led the Capitals with six points in four games against the Blue Jackets last season.

AWAY vs. COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
Record Goals For Goals Against Streak
14-8-0-2 75 71 2 WSH wins (11/12/21-3/17/22)

CAPITALS vs. BLUE JACKETS ALL-TIME (Career Totals)
Games Goals Assists Points
Oshie (47) Ovechkin (21) Backstrom (22) Ovechkin (34)
Ovechkin (41) Oshie (11) Carlson/Kuznetsov/Oshie (16) Backstrom (30)
Backstrom (38) Backstrom/Johansson/Mantha (8) Ovechkin (13) Oshie (27)

POINT STREAKS
Evgeny Kuznetsov ā€“ 6 game point streak (2g, 7a)
Conor Sheary ā€“ 5 game point streak (1g, 7a), 5 game assist streak (7a)
Alex Ovechkin ā€“ 3 game point streak (6g, 0a), 3 game goal streak (6g)
Nic Dowd ā€“ 2 game point streak (2g, 1a), 2 game goal streak (2g)
Anthony Mantha ā€“ 2 game point streak (1g, 1a)

TOP CAPS FACTS
Road Warriors

  • The Capitals have won six-straight road games, which is tied for the longest road winning streak in franchise history (Feb. 26 ā€“ April 1, 1984: 6-0-0; Feb. 20 ā€“ March 16, 2011: 6-0-0).
  • The Capitals will have an opportunity to establish a new franchise record on Thursday at Columbus.
  • During the streak, which began on Dec. 5 at Edmonton, the Capitals have outscored opponents 26-10 (4.33 GF/GP, 1.67 GA/GP). In addition, Washington has converted on six of 16 power play opportunities (37.5%) and have killed off 18 of 21 opposing power play opportunities (85.7%).
  • Washington has allowed 2.78 goals against per game on the road this season, the ninth-lowest rate in the NHL.
  • The Capitals have a road record of 53-25-11 since the 2020-21 season. During that span, Washington ranks second in the NHL in road points (117) and point percentage (.657) and third in road wins (53).

Metro Matchup

  • Thursdayā€™s game marks Washingtonā€™s eighth game against a Metropolitan Division opponent this season (4-2-1). The Capitals have earned at least one point in five of their seven division games.
  • The Capitals have played the second-fewest division games among all teams this season (Arizona: four games played against Central Division opponents; Toronto: seven games played against Atlantic Division opponents).
  • Including Thursdayā€™s game, Washington has 19 games remaining against Metropolitan Division opponents over their final 42 regular season games.
  • Five of the Capitalsā€™ next six games will come against Metropolitan Division opponents.
  • Last season, the Capitals tied for the second-best record (16-9-1, .635 point percentage) among Metropolitan Division teams in division games.

COLUMBUS BUE JACKETS NOTES:

Jan. 5, 2023 Game No. 37 (11-23-2, 24 pts.)
vs. Washington Capitals (21-13-6, 48 pts.), Nationwide Arena Home Game No. 22 (9-11-1, 19 pts.)
The Blue Jackets Press Box website, which includes game notes, stats, releases and video/audio clips as well as the 2022-23 Media Guide can be accessed at bluejackets.com/pressbox. Follow @BlueJacketsPR on Twitter for comprehensive information and updates on the team.

THE LAST GAME: JAN. 3, 2023 ā€“ CBJ 0 at OTT 4
CBJ Goal Scorers:
OTT Goal Scorers: PP ā€“ Brassard (5), Stutzle (15), PP ā€“ Batherson (13), EN/SH ā€“ Watson (4)
Goalies: CBJ ā€“ Korpisalo (30/33; 59:37); OTT ā€“ Forsberg (22/22; 60:00)
CBJ PP: 0/3; PK: 4/6 | Shots: CBJ: 22 / OTT: 34
3 Stars: 1. Stutzle, OTT; 2. Forsberg, OTT; 3. Giroux, OTT
Noteworthy: CBJ failed to score a goal for the 3rd time this seasonā€¦ OTT’s eventual GWG was scored 2:59 into the 2nd period with the club adding two more 2nd period goals (7:00 and 11:31) and one 3rd period goal (16:41)ā€¦ CBJ were led by Kuraly in shots (3), Olivier in hits (6), Marchenko and Sillinger in blocked shots (3) and Gudbranson in TOI (22:21).

OhioHEALTH INJURY REPORT
Danforth (torn labrum); Placed on Injured Reserve (Oct. 25); 6 months (30 games) Voracek (concussion); Placed on Injured Reserve (Nov. 4); out indefinitely (25 games) Blankenburg (ankle); Placed on Injured Reserve (Nov. 10); 6-8 weeks (23 games) Werenski (torn labrum); Placed on Injured Reserve (retro to Nov. 10); rest of regular season (23 games) Bean (shoulder); Placed on IR (retro to Nov. 15); out indefinitely (21 games) Jenner (thumb); Placed on IR (Dec. 19); approximately 4 weeks (6 games) Chinakhov (ankle); Placed on IR (Dec. 20); 4 weeks (5 games) Tarasov (upper body); day-to-day (2 games)
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 232

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Dec. 28 Activated Sillinger off Injured Reserve, added Bemstrom to roster on emergency recall from Cleveland (AHL) and assigned Christiansen to Cleveland (AHL)
Dec. 24. Assigned Dunne to Cleveland (AHL)
Dec. 22 Activated Boqvist and Korpisalo off Injured Reserve, placed Sillinger on Injured Reserve retroactive to Dec. 17 and assigned Greaves to Cleveland (AHL)
Dec. 20 Placed Chinakhov on Injured Reserve and added Greaves to roster on emergency recall from Cleveland (AHL)
Dec. 19 Signed Richards to a one-year, two-way NHL/AHL contract for rest of 2022-23 season
Dec. 19 Placed Jenner on Injured Reserve and recalled Dunne from Cleveland (AHL)
Dec. 12 Recalled Tarasov from Cleveland (AHL) and assigned Greaves to Cleveland (AHL)

TONIGHTā€™S GAME BROADCAST INFO
7pm ET | ESPN | 105.7 FM

AGAINST THE CAPITALS
2022-23 Series: 0-0-0 (0-0-0 vs. WSH)
2021-22 Series: 1-3-0 (0-2-0 vs. WSH)
All-Time Series: 18-21-1-7 (10-11-0-3 vs. WSH)
Last 10 (Overall | Home): 5-4-1 | 4-6-0
All-Time GF/GA: 125/143
All-Time SF/SA: 1,397/1,454
All-Time PP: 29-of-176
All-Time PK: 134-of-164

THE LAST GAME VS. WSH: MAR. 17, 2022 ā€“ CBJ 2 vs. WSH 7
CBJ Goal Scorers: PP ā€“ Bjorkstrand (22), Laine (24)
WSH Goal Scorers: Mantha (5), Mantha (6), Fehervary (5), PP ā€“ Ovechkin (38), McMichael (8), EN ā€“ Sheary (16), PP ā€“ Kuznetsov (20)
Goalies: CBJ ā€“ Korpisalo (6/9; 21:20), Merzlikins (20/23; 38:34); WSHā€“ Vanecek (39/41; 60:00)
CBJ PP: 1/5; PK: 3/5 | Shots: CBJ: 41 / WSH: 33
3 Stars: 1. Vanecek, WSH; 2. Mantha, WSH; 3. Ovechkin, WSH
Noteworthy: CBJ had their 3-game win streak snappedā€¦ WSH won season series (CBJ; 1-3-0)ā€¦ Bjorkstrand scored giving him 2-4-6 in last 4 gamesā€¦ Laine scored his team-leading 24th goal of campaignā€¦ Voracek recorded team-leading 41st assist of the seasonā€¦ Werenski recorded an assist to give him points in 4-straight games (1-4-5).

SEASON SERIES LEFT: Jan. 8 at WSHā€¦ Jan. 31 at CBJā€¦ Mar. 21 at WSH

NOTED (Team Highlights vs. WSH)
CBJ have points in 8 of the last 12 games of the series since 2/26/18 (7-4-1), but WSH has won 4 of the last 5 (CBJ; 1-3-1)ā€¦ CBJ are 3-3-0 in the last 6 games at NWAā€¦ The road team has won the last 2 meetings and is 7-3-1 in the last 11 contests of the seriesā€¦ Winning team has recorded 4+ goals in 4 of the last 7 gamesā€¦ CBJ are 3-of-8 on the power play in the last 2 contests (37.5 pct.)ā€¦ CBJ own 4 of the 6 shutouts in the all-time series, including the most recent one by Joonas Korpisalo (30 saves) on 12/16/19 in a 3-0 victory at NWAā€¦ Teams met in 2018 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals (WSH; 4-2)ā€¦ Most goals scored vs. WSH: 5 ā€“ 4x (MR: 2/26/18)ā€¦ Most goals allowed vs. WSH: 7 (3/17/22).

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