NHL Preview: Washington Capitals at Tampa Bay Lightning

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WASHINGTON CAPITALS NOTES:

LAST GAME
Washington 5, Tampa Bay Lightning 1
November 11, 2022 * Capital One Arena * Washington, D.C.
Shots: WSH: 24; TBL: 29
Power Plays: WSH: 0/6; TBL: 0/3
Three Stars: 1. Carlson (WSH), 2. Milano (WSH), 3. Kuemper (WSH)

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Loaned defenseman Lucas Johansen to AHL Hershey and activated defenseman Alex Alexeyev from injured non-roster list, 11/9
Claimed forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel off waivers from Toronto and loaned forward Garrett Pilon to AHL Hershey, 11/5
Recalled forwards Sonny Milano and Garrett Pilon and defenseman Lucas Johansen from AHL Hershey, 11/2

INJURIES/ILLNESSES
Nicklas Backstrom: 10/12-11/11 (16 games)
Carl Hagelin: 10/12-11/11 (16 games)
Tom Wilson: 10/12-11/11 (16 games)
Connor Brown: 10/20/22-11/11/22 (12 games)
T.J. Oshie: 10/31/22-11/11/22 (7 games)
Beck Malenstyn: 11/3/22-11/11/22 (5 games)
Dmitry Orlov: 11/7/22-11/11/22 (3 games)
John Carlson: 10/31/22-11/9/22 (6 games)
Man Games Lost: 81

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Nov. 15, 7 p.m. ET at Florida (NBCSW, 106.7 The Fan/Caps Radio 24/7)
Nov. 17, 8 p.m. ET at St. Louis (NBCSW, 106.7 The Fan/Caps Radio 24/7)
Nov. 19, 7 p.m. ET vs. Colorado (NBCSW, 106.7 The Fan/Caps Radio 24/7)
Nov. 23, 7:30 p.m. ET vs. Philadelphia (TNT, 106.7 The Fan/Caps Radio 24/7)
Nov. 25, 2 p.m. ET vs. Calgary (NBCSW, 106.7 The Fan/Caps Radio 24/7)

TONIGHT’S GAME
The Capitals will complete a home-and-home set with Tampa Bay on Sunday when they visit the Lightning at Amalie Arena. The Capitals defeated the Lightning 5-1 at Capital One Arena on Friday, led by a three-point effort from forward Sonny Milano and a 28-save performance by Darcy Kuemper. The Capitals have a record of 84-34-6-11 all-time vs. Tampa Bay and are 19-6-5 in their last 30 games against the Lightning, dating back to the 2011-12 season. In addition, the Capitals are 5-3-2 in their last 10 games at Amalie Arena. Alex Ovechkin has recorded 95 points (50g, 45a) in 76 career games vs. Tampa Bay. Ovechkin ranks first all-time in career goals and points against the Lightning and his 50 goals are tied for the most he has against a single franchise (50g vs. Atlanta/Winnipeg).

AWAY vs. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Record Goals For Goals Against Streak
37-22-2-5 209 176 1 TBL win (11/1/21)

CAPITALS vs. LIGHTNING ALL-TIME (CAREER TOTALS)
Games Goals Assists Points
Ovechkin (76) Ovechkin (50) Backstrom (49) Ovechkin (95)
Backstrom (53) Oshie (16) Ovechkin (45) Backstrom (63)
Carlson (43) Eller (14) Carlson (23) Oshie (34)

POINT STREAKS
Sonny Milano – 2 game point streak (2g, 2a)
Nick Jensen – 2 game point streak (2a), 2 game assist streak (2a)

TOP CAPS FACTS
600 For Carly

  • John Carlson recorded his 600th career point on Friday against Tampa Bay and simultaneously passed Michal Pivonka (599) for the fifth-most points in franchise history.
  • Carlson is the Capitals’ franchise leader in assists (466) and points (600) among defensemen and ranks second in games played (897) and third in goals (134) all-time among Washington blueliners.
  • Carlson became the sixth active defensemen to reach the 600-point mark, joining Brent Burns (230g-557a—787p), Erik Karlsson (163g-518a—681p), Kris Letang (144g-514a—658p), Ryan Suter (100g-542a—642p) and Victor Hedman (135g-477a—612p).
  • Among the six defensemen, Carlson’s 897 games needed to reach the milestone are the fourth fewest (Karlsson: 730 GP; Letang: 887 GP; Hedman: 896 GP) (courtesy of NHL Stats).
  • Carlson, who returned to Washington’s lineup on Friday after missing the previous six games, skated a team-high 26:12 and tied for the team lead in hits with three. Carlson has missed just 16 total games since the start of the 2018-19 season, with the Capitals going 5-8-3 in those games.
  • Since 2017-18, Carlson ranks first in the NHL in points among defensemen (72g-263a—335p), holding a 24-point lead over the next closest defensemen (Hedman: 311 points; Roman Josi: 311 points).

At 5v5

  • All five of the Capitals’ goals on Friday came at five-on-five, which marked a season high.
  • Through games played Nov. 11, Washington’s 31 goals for at five-on-five rank tied for 11th in the NHL.
  • Four different skaters scored for Washington, including Anthony Mantha and Conor Sheary, who each scored their fifth goals of the season.

Penalty Skill

  • The Capitals have killed off eleven straight opposing power plays, including all three of Tampa Bay’s power play opportunities on Friday.
  • The Capitals have killed off 31 of 34 power plays (91.2 percent) over their last 11 games, dating back to Oct. 22. During that span, Washington’s 91.2 penalty kill percentage ranks second in the NHL.
  • Through 16 games this season, Washington’s 83.3 penalty kill percentage ranks tied for sixth in the NHL, through games played Nov. 11.

Kuemper’s Crease

  • Darcy Kuemper stopped 28 of 29 shots faced on Friday against Tampa Bay, earning his fifth win of the season.
  • Over his last seven starts, Kuemper has posted a 1.86 goals-against average and a .936 save percentage with one shutout. During that stretch, which began on Oct. 27 at Dallas, Kuemper ranks fifth in the NHL in goals-against and save percentage (min. 5 GP).
  • Per Natural Stat Trick, Kuemper’s 5.33 goals saved above average at all strengths this season ranks seventh in the NHL, through games played Nov. 11.
  • Since 2017-18, Kuemper ranks first in the NHL in save percentage (.921) and second in goals-against average (2.43) (min. 150 GP).
  • Kuemper, who won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche last season, posted a 4-2 record with a 2.45 goals-against average, a .908 save percentage and one shutout in the Final against Tampa Bay.
  • In eight career regular season games against the Lightning, Kuemper has a record of 5-2-0 with a 2.15 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage.

Bounce Back

  • Since the start of the 2020-21 season, the Capitals are 29-15-3 in games following a regulation loss. This season, Washington is 5-2-0 following a regulation loss, outscoring their opponents by a combined score of 24-15 in those games.

Bright and Sonny

  • Sonny Milano recorded three points (2g, 1a) on Friday against Tampa Bay, marking his second career three-point game.
  • Milano’s first goal as a Capital was the eventual game-winning goal, the ninth of his career.
  • In four games with the Capitals, Milano has registered four points (2g, 2a).
  • Sonny Milano recorded an assist in his 200th career game on Wednesday against Pittsburgh, marking his first point as a Capital.
  • Per Natural Stat Trick, Milano has generated ten individual scoring chances at five-on-five over Washington’s last four games, which for the most on the team (Alex Ovechkin: 10; Dylan Strome: 10).

Gem-sen

  • Nick Jensen recorded an assist on Friday against Pittsburgh, marking his 100th career point (14g, 86a).
  • Jensen, the 53rd defenseman taken in the 2009 NHL Draft (150th overall), ranks 16th among defensemen in his draft class in games played (423) and points (100).
  • Jensen’s nine points (1g, 8a) in 16 games this season leads Capitals defensemen and ranks fourth on the team.
  • All nine of Jensen’s points have come at even strength. Jensen’s nine even strength points lead the Capitals and ranks tied for sixth among NHL defensemen.
  • Jensen leads the Capitals in total ice time (340:05) and shorthanded ice time per game (2:55), while his 21:15 of ice time per game ranks third. In addition, Jensen’s 46:46 of shorthanded ice time is the seventh-highest total in the NHL.
  • Through 16 games, Jensen has recorded a 63.64 goals for percentage at five-on-five (16 goals for, nine against), which ranks second in the NHL among defensemen with at least 270 minutes of ice time at five-on-five (courtesy of Natural Stat Trick).

Who’s Next?

  • Alex Ovechkin’s goal on Monday against Edmonton marked his first career goal against Stuart Skinner, the 163rd different goaltender Ovechkin has scored on in his career.
  • Ovechkin’s 163 goaltenders scored on ranks fourth in NHL history, trailing only Jaromir Jagr (178), Patrick Marleau (177) and Mark Messier (164). Among these players, Marleau ranks first in NHL history in games played, Messier third and Jagr fourth. Ovechkin ranks tied for 71st.
  • Ovechkin has scored 11 goals in 15 career games against Andrei Vasilevskiy and 11 goals in 22 career games against Brian Elliott.

Goal 787

  • Alex Ovechkin scored his 787th career goal on Oct. 5 against Arizona, passing Gordie Howe for the most goals scored by a player with a single franchise (Howe: 786 goals in 1,687 games played with Detroit).
  • Ovechkin, who scored his 787th goal in his 1,287th career game with Washington, eclipsed Howe’s mark in 400 fewer games.
  • The Capitals selected Ovechkin with the first overall pick in the 2004 NHL Draft. Since entering the NHL in 2005-06, Ovechkin has played in 1,290 of the Capitals’ 1,337 games (96.5 percent).
  • Ovechkin is the Capitals’ franchise leader in games played (1,290), goals (788), points (1,424), playoff games played (147), playoff goals (72) and playoff points (141).
  • Ovechkin ranks first in NHL history in power play goals (290) and overtime goals (24), second in game-winning goals (122), road goals (400) and multi-goal games (159), and fourth in even strength goals (493).

Strome Cookin’

  • Dylan Strome recorded three points (2g, 1a) on Oct. 7 against Edmonton, marking his fourth multi-point game in 14 games this season, which is the most on the Capitals.
  • Strome has recorded 12 points (4g, 8a) in 16 games this season. Strome ranks tied for second on Washington in points and assists, and second in power-play points (2g-5a-7p).
  • Through 16 games, Strome is averaging 17:40 of ice time, which ranks third among Capitals forwards (Alex Ovechkin: 20:32; Evgeny Kuznetsov: 18:33). Prior to the start of this season, Strome had averaged 16:02 of ice time per game in his career.

Did You Know?

  • Washington’s 446 hits this season are the third most in the NHL, through games played Nov. 11.
  • Capitals defensemen have combined for 33 points (4g, 29a) this season, which is tied for the fifth-highest total in the NHL, through games played Nov. 11.

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING NOTES:

LAST GAME
Lightning 1 at Washington 5
The Tampa Bay Lightning have lost two games in a row for just the second time this season after falling 5-1 to the Washington Capitals on Friday night at Capital One Arena…The four-goal loss is tied for the Bolts largest margin of defeat this season…The Lightning have lost nine of their last 12 regular season games at Capital One Arena…The Bolts dropped to 4-4-0 in eight road games this season…The Lightning are 2-4-1 against Metropolitan Division opponents this season…The one goal is tied for the lowest goal total for Tampa Bay this season…The Lightning have not been shutout through 14 games this season…Anthony Mantha opened the scoring for WSH at the 10:32 mark of the first period…After Nicolas Aube-Kubel was given a five-minute match penalty for an illegal check to the head of TBL defenseman Cal Foote, the Bolts were awarded with a five-minute power play, but could not score…Seven seconds after Aube-Kubel’s penalty expired, Sonny Milano scored on a breakaway goal to make it 2-0 Capitals with 12:57 left in the second period…Aliaksei Protas added a third goal for WSH 7:22 after Milano made it 2-0…Conor Sheary scored at the 4:53 mark of the first to make it 4-0…Nick Perbix extended his point streak to a career-best three games with his second goal of the season at the 12:09 mark of the third to make it 4-1…Milano got his second goal of the night with 2:15 remaining to wrap up a 5-1 win for WSH…Andrei Vasilevskiy got the start in goal for the Lightning and made 19 saves on 24 shots against…Foote did not return to the game after the check to the head from AubeKubel…Erik Cernak and Mikhail Sergachev both left the game late in the third period after blocking heavy shots
from Alex Ovechkin.
PP: TBL – 0-3 WSH 0-6
SOG: TBL – 29 WSH – 24
Attendance: 18,573

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP
The Lightning and the Capitals are playing the second of three matchups this season and the first of two meetings at AMALIE Arena after facing off on Friday night in Washington, D.C.…The Bolts and Caps combined for 79 penalty minutes on Friday…The Lightning posted a 2-0-1 record against WSH last season…The Bolts are 5-5-0 in their last 10 home games vs. WSH and 4-6-1 in their last 10 matchups overall…Steven Stamkos (1-2—3) led the Lightning in points against WSH last season and was tied with Victor Hedman (0-2—2) for the team lead in assists…Eight separate TBL skaters scored a goal against WSH last season…Tonight’s contest features the top two goal scorers in the NHL since Stamkos was drafted in 2008 (Alex Ovechkin – 625 goals, 1,045 GP; Stamkos – 488 goals, 936 GP)…The Bolts are 45-75-9 with six ties all-time against WSH, including a home record of 27-35-2 with two ties…Tampa Bay’s .389 points percentage against WSH all-time is their second-worst points percentage vs. a single franchise (worst: .386, BOS)…The Lightning’s first ever playoff series victory came against WSH in 2002-03…Martin St. Louis (29-50—79) holds the TBL franchise record for career points vs. WSH.

TBL ALL-TIME POINT LEADERS VS. WSH

  1. Martin St. Louis – 79 pts. (29-50—79, 72 GP)
  2. Vincent Lecavalier – 70 pts. (34-36—70, 77 GP)
  3. Steven Stamkos – 36 pts. (17-19—36, 48 GP)
  4. Brad Richards – 29 pts. (6-23—29, 43 GP)
  5. Vinny Prospal – 28 pts. (9-19—28, 37 GP)

TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
Tampa Bay is playing the first game of a three-game homestand…The Bolts will play nine of their 13 games in November at AMALIE Arena…Tampa Bay is 3-2-1 at home this season…Since the start of the 2018-19 season, the Lightning have posted an NHL-best .737 points percentage (105-34-11) on home ice.

INJURIES
2022-23 Regular Season Man Games Lost: 31
Current Injuries:
Zach Bogosian (Shoulder surgery; Out) 14 Games
Anthony Cirelli (Shoulder surgery; Out) 14 Games

TRANSACTIONS
Nov. 12 – Claimed F Rudolfs Balcers off waivers from FLA
Oct. 21 – Assigned F Gabriel Fortier to AHL Syracuse
Oct. 17 – Recalled D Nick Perbix from AHL Syracuse

PERBIX: WHERE SCORING IS A PLEASURE
Bolts defenseman Nick Perbix recorded his second career goal Nov. 11 at WSH and extended his point streak to a career-best three games…Perbix’s three-game point streak is tied for the longest point streak among rookie defensemen this season…Perbix’s two goals are also tied for the most among rookie defenders and tied for the team lead among TBL defensemen.

BACK TO BELLY
Lightning forward Pierre-Edouard Bellemare recorded his second helper of the season with one assist Nov. 11 at WSH…Bellemare skated in his 600th career game Nov. 8 vs. EDM…Bellemare joined Antoine Roussel (607 GP) as the only players born in France to skate in 600 career NHL games.

COLE WORLD
Tampa Bay defenseman Ian Cole picked up his second assist of the season Nov. 11 at WSH…Cole has recorded two helpers in his last five games…Cole ranks third among TBL defensemen in shorthanded time on ice (30:31)…Cole ranks fourth among TBL skaters in blocked shots (20).

TBL BLOCKED SHOT LEADERS

  1. Mikhail Sergachev – 38 blocks (14 GP)
  2. Erik Cernak – 33 blocks (13 GP)
  3. Victor Hedman – 26 blocks (12 GP)
  4. Ian Cole – 20 blocks (11 GP)

KLUTCHEROV
Bolts forward Nikita Kucherov failed to record a point Nov. 11 at WSH and had his 11-game point streak snapped…Kucherov’s 11-game point streak was tied for the longest among all NHL skaters this season…Kucherov recorded 20 points (6G, 14A) during his 11-game point streak…Kucherov also recorded an NHL-best (tied) six-game goal streak Oct. 25 – Nov. 5 (7-5—12)…Kucherov recorded the 20th four-point game of his NHL career Nov. 5 vs. BUF and passed Steven Stamkos (19) for the most four-point games in TBL franchise history…Kucherov is the only TBL skater and one of three NHL players to record a 10-game point streak this season…Kucherov (6-15—21) leads all TBL skaters in points and assists and ranks tied for first in power-play points (8) and tied for second in goals (6)…Kucherov ranks tied for sixth in the NHL in points and assists…Kucherov has registered a point in 12 of Tampa Bay’s 14 games this season…Kucherov has recorded a point in 14 of his last 16 games against WSH (11-9—20)…Going back to the end of the 2021-22 season, Kucherov has recorded at least one point in 28 of his last 32 regular season contests and has picked up 56 points (20-36—56) during that span…Since the start of the 2016-17 season, only Connor McDavid (1.49 P/GP) has recorded a higher point-per-game average than Kucherov’s 1.34.

NHL P/GP LEADERS SINCE 2016-17

  1. Connor McDavid – 1.49 P/GP (238-443-681, 458 GP)
  2. Nikita Kucherov – 1.34 P/GP (184-304—488, 365 GP)
  3. Leon Draisaitl – 1.26 P/GP (242-342—584, 465 GP)
  4. Brad Marchand – 1.21 P/GP (202-314—516, 427 GP)

GAME POINT
Lightning forward Brayden Point recorded his sixth multi-point game of the season (0-2—2) Nov. 8 vs. EDM…Point has posted a multi-point effort in four of his last six contests…Point had a season-long, five-game point streak snapped Nov. 11 at WSH (2-7—9)…Point was the fifth TBL skater to record a five-game point streak this season (also: Hedman, Kucherov, Paul, Stamkos)…Point (6-9—15) ranks second among all TBL skaters in points, assists and goals (tied, Kucherov)…Point’s four power-play points are tied with Mikhail Sergachev for the third-most among TBL skaters…Point has picked up a point in four of his last seven games against WSH (3-2—5).

HEATING UP WITH HAGES
Bolts forward Brandon Hagel has recorded a point in seven of his last nine games (5-6—11)…Hagel (5-6—11) ranks fourth among TBL skaters in goals and points and is tied for fifth in assists.

LEADING THE WAY
Tampa Bay’s top line of Brandon Hagel, Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point have combined for 14 goals and 22 assists for 36 points over the last nine games…During the month of November, Kucherov (3-6—9), Point (2-5—7) and Hagel (2-3—5) rank first, second and third in points among TBL skaters, respectively.

GOING FOR THE KILL
Lightning forward Alex Killorn scored his fourth goal of the season Nov. 8 vs. EDM…Killorn has points in four of his last six games with goals in three of the six (3-2—5)…Killorn’s four goals are tied for fifth among TBL skaters (also: Paul, 4-4—8)…Killorn’s 737 games with TBL are the fifth-most in franchise history.