WASHINGTON CAPITALS NOTES:
LAST GAME
Washington 3, Nashville Predators 0
October 29, 2022 * Bridgestone Arena * Nashville, TN
Shots: WSH: 35; NSH: 34
Power Plays: WSH: 0/3; NSH: 0/5
Three Stars: 1. Kuemper (WSH), 2. Malenstyn (WSH), 3. Protas (WSH)
INJURIES/ILLNESSES
Nicklas Backstrom: 10/12-10/29 (9 games)
Carl Hagelin: 10/12-10/29 (9 games)
Tom Wilson: 10/12-10/29 (9 games)
Connor Brown: 10/20/22-10/29/22 (5 games)
Man Games Lost: 32
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Nov. 1, 7 p.m. ET vs. Vegas (NBCSW, 106.7 The Fan/Caps Radio 24/7)
Nov. 3, 7 p.m. ET at Detroit (NBCSW, 106.7 The Fan/Caps Radio 24/7)
Nov. 5, 7 p.m. ET vs. Arizona (NBCSW, 106.7 The Fan/Caps Radio 24/7)
Nov. 7, 8 p.m. ET vs. Edmonton (NBCSW, 106.7 The Fan/Caps Radio 24/7)
Nov. 9, 7:30 p.m. ET vs. Pittsburgh (TNT, 106.7 The Fan/Caps Radio 24/7)
TONIGHT’S GAME
The Capitals conclude their three-game road trip on Monday when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena for the first of three meetings between the teams this season. Washington is 103-56-14-9 all-time vs. Carolina and 9-2-1 in their last 12 games against the Hurricanes dating back to the 2018-19 season. In addition, the Capitals have won three-straight games at Carolina and have a record of 5-1-0 in their last six games at PNC Arena. In 2021-22, Washington won the season series with Carolina 3-1-0. John Carlson led the Capitals with five points (2g, 3a) in four games against the Hurricanes last season.
AWAY vs. CAROLINA HURRICANES
Record Goals For Goals Against Streak
48-29-10-4 273 260 3 WSH wins (1/3/20-3/18/22)
CAPITALS vs. HURRICANES ALL-TIME (CAREER TOTALS)
Games Goals Assists Points
Ovechkin (85) Ovechkin (46) Ovechkin (52) Ovechkin (98)
Backstrom (64) Backstrom (15) Backstrom (47) Backstrom (62)
Carlson (50) Eller (11) Carlson (28) Carlson (37)
TOP CAPS FACTS
Kuemper Clean Sheet
- Goaltender Darcy Kuemper recorded his first shutout as a Capital on Saturday against Nashville, stopping all 34 shots faced. Kuemper’s 34 saves marked the fourth-most saves he has made in a shutout.
- It also marked Kuemper’s 26th career shutout. Last season, Kuemper recorded five shutouts, which ranked tied for fourth in the NHL and tied his single season career high.
- Kuemper has a 2.16 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage at five-on-five this season, per Natural Stat Trick. In addition, Kuemper has saved 2.22 goals above average at five-on-five, per Natural Stat Trick.
- Kuemper’s 67 wins since 2019-20 are the most among goaltenders with 125 or fewer starts in that span. Kuemper has a career record of 147-98-36.
- Among active goaltenders currently on an NHL roster with at least 300 games played, Kuemper ranks second in save percentage (.918) and goals-against average (2.48).
- Since 2017-18, Kuemper ranks first in the NHL in save percentage (.921) and second in goals-against average (2.43) (min. 150 GP).
HistOvi
- Alex Ovechkin has recorded 98 points (46g, 52a) in 85 career games vs. Carolina. Ovechkin ranks first among active players in career points against the Hurricanes and seventh in points all-time vs. the Carolina/Hartford franchise.
- Ovechkin scored an empty net goal on Saturday against New Jersey, marking his fourth goal of the season. It marked the 398th goal he’s scored on the road, which trails only Wayne Gretzky (402) for the most in NHL history.
- Ovechkin now sits 18 goals shy of passing Howe (801) for second place on the NHL’s all-time goals list and three goals shy of passing Howe’s mark for the most goals scored by a player with a single franchise (Howe: 786 goals with Detroit).
- Ovechkin, who has recorded a team-high seven points (4g, 3a) in nine games this season, is four points shy of passing Adam Oates (1,420) for the 19th-most points in NHL history.
PK Performance
- The Capitals have killed off 15 straight opposing power plays and all 13 power plays over their last four games, including all five of Nashville’s power play opportunities on Saturday.
- During the stretch, which began on Oct. 22 vs. Los Angeles, Washington has allowed 17 totals shots against while shorthanded, for an average of 1.31 shots against per opposing power play.
- Darcy Kuemper has faced 29 shots against while shorthanded this season, tied for the third fewest in the NHL among goaltenders with at least seven games played.
- Washington’s 81.5 penalty kill percentage this season ranks tied for ninth in the NHL.
- Through nine games, Washington has been shorthanded for a combined 44:36, which is the eighth-lowest total in the NHL.
- On average, the Capitals have been shorthanded three times per game (shorthanded 27 times through nine games), which is tied for the fifth-lowest rate in the NHL.
Defensive Stalwarts
- Dmitry Orlov skated a team-high 26:38 on Saturday against Nashville, including 5:48 of shorthanded ice time. Orlov’s 26:38 of ice time was the eighth highest single-game total of his career and his 5:48 of shorthanded ice time was the second highest single-game total of his career.
- In addition, Orlov posted a +2 plus/minus rating and tied for the team lead in hits (4) against the Predators.
- Through nine games this season, Orlov ranks second on Washington in time on ice per game (21:49) and fifth in hits (27).
- Nick Jensen logged 25:25 of ice time on Saturday, the fourth highest single-game total of his career and the highest since joining the Capitals in February 2019.
- Jensen was on the ice for all three of the Capitals’ goals and added an assist against the Predators, giving him six points (1g, 5a) in nine games this season.
- The Capitals are 5-0-0 this season when Jensen records a point.
Effective Line
- Beck Malenstyn scored the Capitals’ first goal on Saturday at Nashville, his second point (1g, 1a) in three games this season.
- Malenstyn’s goal, which was assisted by linemate Nic Dowd, stood as the game-winning goal and marked the first game-winning goal of Malenstyn’s career.
- The line of Malenstyn, Dowd and Garnet Hathaway have skated together for 23:52 at five-on-five over the last three games and have recorded a 75.0 goals for percentage (3 goals for, 1 against).
- Dowd, who has recorded five points (3g, 2a) in nine games this season, has either scored or assisted on the Capitals’ first goal in four
games this season (3g, 1a). - Dowd leads Capitals forwards in shorthanded ice time per game (2:15) and leads the team in penalties drawn (6).
- Hathaway skated a season-high 15:12 against the Predators, tying for the team lead in hits (4) and blocked shots (3).
- Hathaway’s 31 hits this season rank third on the Capitals (Martin Fehervary: 36; Alex Ovechkin: 33).
Carly Climbing
- John Carlson is one point shy of passing Michal Pivonka for the fifth-most points in Capitals franchise history and becoming the first defenseman in franchise history to reach the 600-point mark.
- When Carlson passes Pivonka, Washington will be one of three franchises (excluding Seattle and Vegas) to have three active players rank in the top-five on their all-time points list (Washington: Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Carlson; Pittsburgh: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang; Tampa Bay: Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman).
- Carlson is also four games shy of 900 career games, where he would become the sixth player to play 900 or more games with
Washington, joining current teammates Ovechkin and Backstrom, and alumni Calle Johansson, Peter Bondra and Kelly Miller.
Lavi Moving Up
- Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette recorded his 722nd career win on Saturday against Nashville, tying him with Alain Vigneault (722) for the eighth-most wins in NHL history.
- Laviolette can pass Vigneault against Carolina on Monday, a team he coached for parts of five seasons from 2003-04 to 2008-09 and won the Stanley Cup with in 2006.
- Laviolette has a career record of 722-470-25-140 (.593 point percentage) and a 85-45-17 (.636 point percentage) record with Washington.
Road Warriors
- The Capitals are allowing 2.60 goals against per game on the road this season, which ranks tied for fourth in the NHL.
- Washington has a road record of 46-20-8 since the 2020-21 season, good for the most wins, points (100) and point percentage (.676) in that span.
Did You Know?
- The Capitals are 4-5-3-0 all-time in games played on Halloween.
- Since the start of the 2020-21 season, the Capitals are 27-14-3 in games following a regulation loss. This season, Washington is 3-1-0 following a regulation loss.
- The Capitals are averaging 31.11 hits per game and their 280 total hits ranks third in the NHL.
- Eighteen of the 21 skaters the Capitals have dressed this season have recorded at least one point.
REAL TIME LEADERS
Goals: Alex Ovechkin, Conor Sheary – 4
Assists: Evgeny Kuznetsov, Dylan Strome, Nick Jensen, Dmitry Orlov – 5
Points: Alex Ovechkin – 7
Shots: Alex Ovechkin – 39
Hits: Martin Fehervary – 36
Blocked Shots: John Carlson – 21
TOI Per Game: John Carlson – 21:56
CAROLINA HURRICANES NOTES:
LAST GAME
The Hurricanes posted a 4-3 overtime win against the Philadelphia Flyers at PNC Arena on Saturday despite trailing 3-2 with under three minutes left in regulation. Martin Necas tallied two points (1g, 1a), with the game-tying goal in the third period and an assist on the overtime winner, and Jordan Staal added two points (1g, 1a) of his own in his 1,100th career NHL game. Brent Burns scored at 4:06 of the extra frame, marking his first overtime goal with Carolina and the 16th of his NHL career. Brady Skjei earned an assist for the third consecutive game, marking the longest assist streak by any Hurricanes player this season, while Antti Raanta made 26 saves in net to improve to 2-0-1 in 2022-23.
INJURY REPORT
Jake Gardiner, upper-body, missed eight games (10/12-10/29)
Ondrej Kase, concussion, missed seven games (10/14-10/29)
Max Pacioretty, torn Achilles, missed eight games (10/12-10/29)
2022-23 Man-Games Lost Due to Injury: 23
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Oct. 28 Acquired a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft from Vancouver in exchange for Ethan Bear and Lane Pederson.
STREAKS
Brent Burns has tallied a point in three consecutive games (10/24-10/29: 2g, 1a)
Martin Necas has recorded a point in three straight games (10/24-10/29: 2g, 2a)
Brady Skjei has registered an assist in three consecutive games (10/24-10/29: 3a)
Brent Burns has scored a goal in back-to-back games (10/28-10/29: 2g)
Jordan Martinook has earned a point in back-to-back games (10/28-10/29: 1g, 1a)
Martin Necas has scored a goal in back-to-back games (10/28-10/29: 2g)
Brett Pesce has posted an assist in back-to-back games (10/28-10/29: 2a)
UPCOMING GAMES
DATE OPPONENT TIME TV RADIO
Oct. 31 Washington 7 p.m. BSSO/NHLN HRN
Nov. 3 at Tampa Bay 7 p.m. BSSO HRN
Nov. 4 Buffalo 7 p.m. ESPN+/Hulu HRN
Nov. 6 Toronto 5 p.m. ESPN HRN
Nov. 9 at Florida 7 p.m. BSSO HRN
- All times are Eastern | BSSO = Bally Sports South | HRN = Hurricanes Radio Network
UPCOMING PRACTICE SCHEDULE
DATE DAY LOCATION TIME
Oct. 31 Monday PNC Arena 10:30 a.m.
Nov. 1 Tuesday Invisalign Arena 12 p.m.
Nov. 2 Wednesday Invisalign Arena 11 a.m.
Nov. 3 Thursday Amalie Arena 11:30 a.m.
Nov. 4 Friday PNC Arena 10:30 a.m.
- All times are local. Times and locations are subject to change.
Carolina Hurricanes: Media Notes
HURRICANES vs. CAPITALS SERIES NOTES
— Carolina is facing Washington in the first of three meetings between the teams during the 2022-23 season. The Hurricanes travel to Capital One Arena on 2/14, and the Capitals return to Raleigh for the NHL Stadium Series at Carter-Finley Stadium on 2/18.
— The Hurricanes and Capitals are meeting for the 183rd time in their regular-season histories. Carolina holds a 65-90-14-13 overall record, including a 33-42-10-6 home record and a 44-57-7-13 record since relocation.
— The Hurricanes are 3-7-2 in their last 12 regular-season games against the Capitals.
— Washington won the season series 3-1-0 in 2021-22 (Carolina: 1-2-1).
— The Hurricanes suffered a 4-2 loss against the Capitals on 11/28/21. Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Nino Niederreiter scored for Carolina, and Frederik Andersen made 21 saves in net.
— Carolina fell to Washington, 4-0, at Capital One Arena on 3/3/22. Frederik Andersen made 29 saves in net.
— The Hurricanes suffered a 4-3 shootout loss against the Capitals at PNC Arena on 3/18/22. Seth Jarvis (2g) and Vincent Trocheck scored for Carolina, while Antti Raanta made 37 saves in net.
— Carolina posted a 6-1 win over Washington at Capital One Arena on 3/28/22. Max Domi (2a), Martin Necas (2g, 1a), Brady Skjei (1g, 1a), Teuvo Teravainen (2a) and Vincent Trocheck (2a) each posted multi-point games, while Frederik Andersen stopped 25 of 26 shots faced in net to earn the win.
— Sebastian Aho has recorded 19 points (9g, 10a) in 20 career regular-season games against the Capitals.
— Brent Burns has earned 19 points (6g, 13a) in 22 career regular-season games against Washington.
— Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Martin Necas have registered six points (3g, 3a) in eight career regular-season games against the Capitals.
— Paul Stastny has tallied 15 points (1g, 14a) in 18 career regular-season games against Washington.
— Teuvo Teravainen has posted 16 points (5g, 11a) in 22 career regular-season games against the Capitals.
— Trevor van Riemsdyk recorded 38 points (7g, 31a) in 206 NHL games with the Hurricanes from 2017-20. Acquired from VGK along with a seventh-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft (Riley Hughes) in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft (Jake Leschyshyn) on 6/22/17, he signed with Washington as a free agent on 10/10/20.
— Hurricanes Assistant Coach Tim Gleason skated in 17 NHL games with the Capitals in 2015, earning two assists. He was traded by Carolina to Washington in exchange for Jack Hillen and a fourth-round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft (Callum Booth) on 2/28/15.
— Capitals Head Coach Peter Laviolette coached the Hurricanes from 12/15/03-12/3/08, posting a 167-122-6-28 record and leading the Hurricanes to their first Stanley Cup in 2006.
— Capitals Assistant Coach Kevin McCarthy served in the same capacity with Hartford from 1992-95 and with Carolina from 1999-2009. McCarthy also served as head coach of the franchise’s AHL affiliates in Springfield (1995-97) and New Haven (1997-99).
FEEL THE BURN
After scoring the first goal of his Hurricanes career vs. NYI on Friday, Brent Burns scored the overtime winner against the Flyers on Saturday. He is one of five NHL defensemen with an overtime goal in 2022-23, joining Erik Karlsson (SJS, 2), Vladislav Gavrikov (CBJ), Justin Faulk (STL) and Neal Pionk (WPG). Burns has now scored 16 overtime goals in his NHL career, the most by any defenseman and tied for the sixth-most by any player in league history. He has also tied Red Kelly (1947-67, DET/TOR) and Rob Blake (1990-2010, LAK/COL/SJS) for the sixth-most game-winning goals by any blueliner in NHL history (41) and leads all active defensemen in that category.
CZECH IT OUT
Martin Necas tallied two points (1g, 1a) at PHI (10/29), including the unassisted, game-tying goal at 17:55 of the third period. He has now registered four points in his last two games (10/28-10/29: 2g, 2a) and a team-high 11 points (5g, 6a) in 2022-23, including a team-high nine points (4g, 5a) at even strength. Necas is the 16th player in franchise history and the third in the last five seasons (Sebastian Aho, 2018-19: 4-9—13; Svechnikov, 2021-22: 7-4—11) to earn at least 11 points through the team’s first eight games. He has already posted more than one-quarter of his point total from last season (14-26—40 in 78 GP), and he registered just four points (1g, 3a) through Carolina’s opening eight games in 2021-22. Necas also leads the team with three multi-point games, tied for the fifth-most by any player since relocation through the Hurricanes’ opening eight games of a campaign, after finishing tied for sixth on the team with eight multipoint games last season.
SLAVIN’ AWAY
Jaccob Slavin logged a team-high 25:12 of ice time at PHI (10/29), in his 516th career NHL/Hurricanes game. In his next appearance, Slavin will tie Niclas Wallin (2000-10: 517 GP) for the fifth-most games played by any defenseman in franchise history and the fourth-most by any blueliner since relocation. Slavin has tallied two assists in eight games this season to increase his career total to 174 and recently passed Justin Faulk (2011-19: 173a) for the most assists by any defenseman since relocation. He ranks third in that category among all blueliners in franchise history and needs just three more helpers to overtake Glen Wesley (1994-08: 176a) in second.
Most games played by a defenseman, franchise history:
Glen Wesley (1994-08): 913
Adam Burt (1988-99): 626
Justin Faulk (2011-19): 559
Tim Gleason (2006-13, 2014-15): 546
Niclas Wallin (2000-10): 517
Jaccob Slavin (2015-present): 516
Most assists by a defenseman, franchise history:
Dave Babych (1985-91): 196
Glen Wesley (1994-08): 176
Jaccob Slavin (2015-present): 174
Justin Faulk (2011-19): 173
Mark Howe (1979-82): 147
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
Carolina is set to play the 14th Halloween game in franchise history on Monday. The Whalers/Hurricanes have posted a 5-5-2-1 record in those previous 13 contests, including a 3-2-0-1 record since relocation. Carolina defeated ARI on Halloween last season, as Brett Pesce scored the game-winning goal on the power play with 2:27 left in regulation. That victory marked the team’s first Halloween win in 21 years, as the Hurricanes’ only other wins on 10/31 came at BOS in 1998 and vs. TBL in 2000.
ALL THE STAAL THINGS
Jordan Staal recorded two points (1g, 1a) at PHI (10/29), including his first goal of the season. Saturday’s game marked his 1,100th career NHL game and his 669th game with Carolina, as he passed Cam Ward (2005-18: 668 GP) for the seventh-most games played in franchise history and the fourth-most since relocation. Staal became the 50th player in NHL history to score a goal in his 1,100th game and the 35th player to post a multi-point game in that milestone contest, joining Rod Brind’Amour (3/17/04 at CHI: 1g, 2a) as just the second Whalers/Hurricanes player to accomplish both feats. The game also marked his 78th multi-point game with the Hurricanes, tying Jeff Skinner (2010-18) for the sixth-most by any player in team history (since relocation).
Most games played, team history (1997-present):
Eric Staal (2003-16): 909
Glen Wesley (1997-08): 729
Rod Brind’Amour (2000-10): 694
Jordan Staal (2013-present): 669
Cam Ward (2005-18): 668
FLYING FISH
Sebastian Aho recorded the primary assist on Brent Burns’ overtime winner at PHI (10/29), and he has now earned 10 points in his last seven games (10/14-10/29: 4g, 6a), as he found the scoresheet in each contest during the Hurricanes’ recent five-game road trip (10/14-10/24: 4g, 5a). Aho joins Martin Necas (5-6—11) as Carolina’s only two players with double-digit points this season, and they rank tied for the team lead in assists.
CARDIAC CANES
After falling behind 3-2 in the third period at PHI (10/29), Martin Necas and Brent Burns scored at 17:55 of the third period and 4:06 of overtime, respectively, to clinch the comeback win. Carolina’s three come-from-behind wins are tied for the fifth-most of any NHL team in 2022-23. The Hurricanes previously posted comeback wins in each of their opening two games this season (both 1-0 deficits), accomplishing the feat for the fifth time in franchise history. Carolina’s win on Saturday marked the 11th time since relocation that the Hurricanes scored a game-tying goal in the final three minutes of regulation before winning in overtime.
VITAMIN D
Brent Burns (1g), Brett Pesce (1a) and Brady Skjei (1a) each found the scoresheet at PHI (10/29), and those three defensemen have now combined for eight points over the last three games (10/24-10/29: 2g, 6a; 2.7/game) after Carolina’s blue line combined for nine points through the opening five contests (10/12-10/22: 2g, 7a; 1.8/game). With Burns scoring the overtime winner on Saturday, Carolina is one of only six NHL teams with multiple game-winning goals from the blue line in 2022-23. Skjei has now tallied an assist in three consecutive games (3a), marking the longest assist streak by any Hurricanes player this season and matching his season-long assist streak from 2021-22 (4/16-4/21: 3a). Carolina’s defensemen combined for 204 points (41g, 163a) last season, which marked the highest scoring output from the blue line in any campaign in franchise history.
RED OCTOBER
The Hurricanes look to close their nine-game October schedule with a win over the Capitals on Monday. After Saturday’s win at PHI, Carolina has posted a 5-2-1 record to start the season, improving to 27-10-3 in October games during Rod Brind’Amour’s tenure as head coach. The Hurricanes’ .713 points percentage during the month ranks second in the NHL over that span.
