GDT#39 Capitals vs Bruins dec. 28, 2017

[alta]

Dec. 28 Capitals vs. Boston Bruins at Capital One Arena
Time: 7:30 p.m.
TV: NBCSN
Radio: 106.7 The Fan, Capitals Radio 24/7
Boston Bruins 20-10-5
Washington Capitals 22-13-3

from scouttherefs.com:
REFEREES
Dean Morton #36, TJ Luxmore #21
LINESMEN
Scott Cherrey #50, Lonnie Cameron #74

anticipated lines;
Forwards
Alex Ovechkin-Nicklas Backstrom-Tom Wilson
Jakub Vrana-Evgeny Kuznetsov-T.J. Oshie
Andre Burakovsky-Lars Eller-Brett Connolly
Devante Smith-Pelly-Jay Beagle-Alex Chiasson
Scratched: Chandler Stephenson (ill), Nathan Walker
Defensemen
Dmitry Orlov-Matt Niskanen
Christian Djoos-John Carlson
Brooks Orpik-Madison Bowey
Scratched: Taylor Chorney
Goaltenders
Braden Holtby (starter)
Philipp Grubauer


By Isabelle Khurshudyan December 28

Despite talent like Nicklas Backstrom quarterbacking the unit from the half-wall, the Capitals’ power play has been lackluster this season. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
NEW YORK — Considering the talent on the power play, the league’s most lethal shot with two elite passers, Capitals Coach Barry Trotz knows his unit has underperformed this season. He expects it to be ranked in the top 10, but it’s fallen to 18th with an 18.8 percentage. When Washington was piling up wins earlier this month, the man-advantage’s slump didn’t matter as much as it does now, when the team is in a three-game losing streak and hasn’t scored a goal in 145-plus minutes.Hot streaks and droughts are expected with a power play during a season, but the Capitals’ 1-for-22 stretch on that unit over the past nine games highlights how it’s surprisingly struggled all season, especially compared to Washington’s standards. A top-five power play has been a staple even before Trotz’s arrival, but even in just his three-plus season tenure, the Capitals have scored on 23.4 percent of their man-advantages, best in the league without and not very close.But with it still struggling 38 games into the season, Trotz is mulling changes.“It’s been pretty standard, and it’s been pretty successful, but we may try to put a couple more wrinkles in here,” he said on Wednesday. “We just haven’t been hitting as much on it. … We can execute better. We move it around pretty well, and we’ve got some dynamic people, but we’re handcuffing certain players. We’re getting the passes over to them, and it’s in a bad spot.”Washington’s power play has been a predictable monster. There’s Alex Ovechkin in the left faceoff circle, firing one-timers. T.J. Oshie is almost just as dangerous shooting from the slot. John Carlson is at the point, often shooting from there with Oshie serving as a net-front presence. Nicklas Backstrom quarterbacks the unit from the half-wall, though Evgeny Kuznetsov’s promotion to the top power play has allowed him and Backstrom to occasionally switch roles, an added element of movement for a feature that’s known for being stagnant in a 1-3-1 formation.Though the power play lost forward Marcus Johansson, traded away in the offseason, Kuznetsov is arguably an upgrade at the goal line and on zone entries. The Capitals rank 29th in high-danger chances per 60 minutes (16.05), [size=inherit]according to Natural Stat Trick[/size]. Last season, Washington was 20th in that category with 18.61.
“I think we don’t execute,” Ovechkin said. “We have to play simple. That’s the key for us. We don’t move the puck well. We know we’re better than that. We just have to realize what we have to do out there and start from basics and play the right way.”Trotz said he’s unlikely to make any personnel changes to the top unit, though the second group could see some. Washington’s second power play is typically on the ice for less than a minute per man-advantage, and the Capitals have the third line (center Lars Eller, Andre Burakovsky and Brett Connolly) out there with the top defense pair (Dmitry Orlov and Matt Niskanen), making it an easy transition back to even strength when the power play expires. On Thursday night, the Capitals host the Bruins, who have the fifth-best penalty kill with an 84.1 percentage.“It’s easy to say it’s this or that, but at the end of the day, it’s just getting that puck in the net,” Carlson said. “Sometimes you go through droughts like this. There are games that they’re deserved and games that they’re not. You can’t overreact and try to throw out what’s made us so good. You’ve just got to stick to what’s made you made you successful since I’ve been here.”
Stephenson bit by the flu bug
It’s unclear if the Capitals will have Chandler Stephenson back in the lineup on Thursday night. Trotz said before Wednesday’s game that Stephenson caught the flu over the recent Christmas break. If healthy, he’d likely play on the fourth line in place of either Alex Chiasson or Devante Smith-Pelly.“Guys have been fighting that off a bit in our room for the last little while,” Trotz said on Wednesday. “We just left at home and we’ll see where he is tomorrow.”

[ArJunaZ]

Thanks for posting GDT again Alta. I just got back home. Another crazy day.
I'm looking forward to the mental break of watching a game.  A win would be nice tonight.

[alta]

   we’ve got penis mcguire two nights in a row. I knew we, the authentic fan, were gonna get screwed with nbc taking over comcast


and there is collage football on 106.7 tonight

[ArJunaZ]

NBC Sports completely screwed the Formula One racing coverage by putting a brainless non-F1 talking head in charge of the broadcast.  Even SpeedTV was better, and they absolutely sucked compared to European coverage like EuroSport, Sky Sports, and BBC.  Americans get the dregs of the sports announcers.

[washcapsfan]

This team fukking sux. No Defense.. No offense

[alta]

what the flock

[ArJunaZ]

Well crap!  Next 5 minutes will set the tone for the rest of the game.

[ArJunaZ]

Ok, two minutes.  No damn fucks given.

[washcapsfan]

A 3rd shutout and Trotz is gone.. This team is not playing, and you can't fire the team, although I can think of about 4 trades that can be made right now

[apace41]

This team has zero heart.

[washcapsfan]

Sit Niskanan.. He is worse than Schultz right now.

[apace41]

Don’t know why I continue to do this to myself.

[ArJunaZ]

Well that was a good shift.

[ArJunaZ]

Don’t know why I continue to do this to myself.

I'm sure most of us on here would love a dollar for each time we've said that to ourselves.

[DC_1908]

sorry we’re at BWI tryin to get the game on

[ArJunaZ]

sorry we’re at BWI tryin to get the game on

You coming or going?

NBC SPorts App?

[Maacoshark]

Sit Niskanan.. He is worse than Schultz right now.

Agreed

[apace41]

Niskanen has fallen off a cliff.

[apace41]

Can’t win with zero goals every night.

[apace41]

Another failed clear by 2 on the PK.